Paddy Pimblett may have just been crowned the Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion although it is highly rumoured that the Brit won’t be hanging around on the European scene, a scene which has seen him amass a professional record of 12-1-0 and picking up the FCC and Cage Warriors 145lbs belt in the process.
And that is because it is highly likely that Pimblett’s next move will take place inside the UFC’s Octagon. Pimblett’s current win streak stretches eight fights long with six coming inside the 15 minute distance further giving support that he is arguably one of the best 145lbs fighters outside of the UFC at the moment.
So in typical #WHOATV fashion we have come up with a few names that we would like to see welcome Paddy Pimblett to the UFC Octagon;
Artem Lobov
I think this fight pretty much sells itself given the history between these two on the European scene. Stick it on the Belfast card and they are off to a winner for sure. Pimblett and Lobov have been exchanging messages on social media for as long as I can remember but it’s a fight that’s never come to fruition on the European scene and since Lobov made his way into the UFC seemed as though we wouldn’t see it happening. Lobov showed clear progression in his last bout picking up a decision win over Chris Avila and a bout with Pimblett would be a very solid test for the Russian.
Arnold Allen
The UFC do have a habit of throwing European fighters together and I think this is certainly a bout we probably would have seen on the European stage, had Allen not been signed up to the UFC when he did. Allen has a tough test ahead of him at UFC 204 when he takes on Mirsad Bektic and so timing wise might not work out for UFC Belfast which is when its rumoured that Pimblett will make his debut. But all things going well and with Allen picking up no injuries at UFC 204 its definitely a fight I would pay good money to see and would pit two of the best British Featherweights head to head.
Dan Hooker
Another great submission fighter who would certainly be a testing opponent for Pimblett in his UFC debut. Hooker has bounced between wins and losses during his UFC career to date and is coming off the back of a submission win over Mark Eddiva in March. Pimblett’s ground game is on another level to the rest of the European Featherweights outside of the UFC and so it would be good to see him tested in this area against the next level of competition, something which I think he would relish at. Hooker doesn’t have any fights lined up, well not officially anyway and so I am sure he would love to welcome Pimblett to the UFC if given the opportunity.