Paddy Pimblett Would Like to See Tony Ferguson Win Again Before Retiring

Paddy Pimblett would like to see upcoming opponent Tony Ferguson return to the win column — just not at his expense.

Pimblett is scheduled to return to action at UFC 296 on Saturday after being shelved for a year due to an injury that that was aggravated in his last fight against Jared Gooden and needed surgery. “The Baddy” is unbeaten in his last six outings, including four in the UFC. Ferguson, by contrast, has lost six straight.

While Ferguson was once touted to be the only threat to former lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov, “El Cucuy” hasn’t appeared to be the same fighter since a lopsided beating against Justin Gaethje in 2020.

Pimblett is also a fan of Ferguson and wants the former interim champ to register one more win before hanging up his gloves. However, the 28-year-old Liverpudlian can’t let it happen in their upcoming clash on Dec. 16.

“I really respect Tony Ferguson. He’s one of the Top 5 lightweights of all time. Who wasn’t [a fan]? Even I want Tony Ferguson to get a win and then retire,” Pimblett told TNT Sports. “I just can’t let him do it at my expense, lad. It’s not happening.

“I’m going in there expecting an ‘El Cucuy’ that turned up against Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis. I’m not going in there expecting the slow version that turned up against Bobby Green. I’m expecting the best version of Tony. It’s gonna be an absolute honor to share the cage with him.”