Paddy Pimblett called out Conor McGregor among other top fighters on Saturday night after sealing a stunning submission of Benoit Saint-Denis.
Liverpudlian star “Paddy The Baddy” submitted “BSD” in 52 seconds with a D’arce choke, bouncing back from his interim-title fight loss to Justin Gaethje in January.
The fight played out just minutes before McGregor’s first fight in five years, a rematch with Max Holloway – 13 years after their first bout – in the main event of UFC 329.
“Sub of the year, b***hes,” Pimblett told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview in the cage. “I knew he was out [unconscious], you know what I mean? They had to check him.
“I told everyone all week: he’s gonna shoot in, I’m gonna grab him, and I’m gonna choke him out. He was facedown on the canvas.
“I’m like a f***ing spider, mate. When I get ahold of you, you don’t get out – simple as that.
“I’ll beat Ilia (Topuria) up, I’ll f***ing rematch Justin (Gaethje), I’ll fight Conor (McGregor) or Max (Holloway) next.
“I don’t give a f***. give me anyone and I’ll punch their head in.”
Pimblett then followed up the call-out with a touching tribute to former Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, following the first anniversary of their tragic deaths in a car crash.
The Scouser sung Jota’s “Number 20” chant and urged all Liverpool fans in the crowd to join in.
However, his callout of the Irish former two-division champion would age poorly with McGregor suffering a serious knee injury seconds into his comeback bout against Holloway, leading it to be waved off in 69 seconds.
The most devastating, underwhelming outcome to his long-awaited return, McGregor is speculated to have suffered an ACL tear which would leave him sidelined for the next year.
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