Paddy Pimblett Has No Respect for Michael Bisping

Paddy Pimblett Has No Respect for Michael Bisping

Cage Warriors featherweight champion Paddy Pimblett says UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping lost his roots.

Oct 25, 2016 by Jim Edwards
Paddy Pimblett Has No Respect for Michael Bisping
Paddy Pimblett is currently one of the hottest young talents in UK mixed martial arts, but his youth doesn't mean he's afraid to speak his mind.

The 21-year-old Pimblett is the reigning Cage Warriors featherweight champion and is well on his way to bigger and better things should his rapid ascension continue on its current trajectory.

One man you would think he'd try to emulate--at least career-wise--is current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, a man who grew up not far from Pimblett in North West, England, in Liverpool's rival city, Manchester.

Pimblett, a proud Liverpudlian, spoke to the Three Amigos podcast this past week, making it very clear that he didn't look up to Bisping.

"I've got no respect for Bisping, to be honest," Pimblett said. "He's forgotten his roots and doesn't even know where he's from anymore. He goes on like he's from Manchester, but he doesn't sound like he's from Manchester. He's not from the North no more, he's American."

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When asked what his own path to the top would be, Pimblett reiterated that he had no master plan. He would simply take on anything or anyone that comes his way. 

"Nah, I've not planned it out," Pimblett said. "I just take everything one step at a time, but I know where I'm headed. I've said it before: It's my destiny.

"I know where I'm going, and I know whoever Cage Warriors put in front of me and then whoever the UFC put in front of me, they won't be able to handle me. They won't be able to cope in there with me. None of them. I don't care what they are good at."

Dubbed "the next big thing" by many experts within the industry, you would've thought the pressure may be too much for Pimblett. However, he's been telling people all his career he's destined for the top and that all this new attention he's getting isn't overbearing in slightest.

"I've always said it--I knew that I was going to become the next big thing," Pimblett said. "I knew everyone was going to be looking at me one day, I've always said it. I've said it since I started.

"I've told everyone this. You can look at my amateur career and I've been telling everyone I'm the best in the country ever since day one. That's the way it's going to continue. The people jumping on the bandwagon now are saying it, but I've been saying it for the past seven years. All the people in the gym have, all my mates in the gym have. They're the people that have believed in me."