Paddy Pimblett is set for a huge co-main event clash at UFC 314 against Michael Chandler.
He now takes on the man who was supposed to fight Conor McGregor last year, in the Irishman’s intended comeback fight.
Pimblett is one of the UFC’s most popular starsCredit: Getty
He submitted Bobby Green in his last octagon appearanceCredit: Getty
The Liverpudlian fan-favourite had been calling for a top 10 ranked lightweight bout ever since submitting Bobby Green at UFC Manchester in July.
Speaking on Instagram live, UFC President Dana White fulfilled Pimblett’s dreams by announcing some epic future fights.
“There is a five-round, co-main event between number seven ranked Michael Chandler and number 12 ranked Paddy Pimblett,” White said with 40,000 fans watching as he announced details of a stacked UFC 314 card.
“Chandler is a two or three-time lightweight champion in another organisation. He’s always fun, how fun? He’s fought six times in the UFC and won five bonuses.
“And Paddy is on an eight-fight win streak and has never lost in the UFC.”
Should Pimblett get past Chandler in what is his biggest step up in competition to date, he will likely burst into the top seven UFC lightweight rankings.
This means that the 30-year-old could be just one more fight away from a UFC lightweight title shot.
Islam Makhachev is the current UFC lightweight king, but also faces one of his toughest tests to date this year, as he is expected to take on Ilia Topuria in a champ vs champ bout.
This follows news that Topuria has vacated his UFC featherweight title in the hope of securing a fight with Makhachev.
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will headline UFC 314 to fight for the vacated belt.
‘The Baddy’ last fought in the octagon in July last year at UFC Manchester
He has victories over the likes of MMA legend Tony Ferguson in his UFC careerCredit: Getty
Chandler will be Pimblett’s toughest fight to dateCredit: Getty
In January, talkSPORT MMA pundits named Pimblett as the only UFC fighter McGregor could beat on his MMA return in a fight that now has even more potential following White’s revelations.
Chandler was scheduled to lock horns with McGregor in the main event of UFC 303 last June in what would have been the latter’s first fight in four years.
However, much to the dismay of MMA fans around the world, the showdown never came into fruition as McGregor pulled out of the bout with to an injured little toe.
Chandler instead faced Charles Oliveira in November, and although he lost lost via unanimous decision after five incredible rounds at UFC 309, the 38-year-old still proved he could mix it with the very best.
McGregor last fought in White’s promotion back in July 2021 at UFC 264, where he broke his leg at the end of the first round in a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier.
There is yet to be any official announcement as to whether the Irishman will make a UFC return this year, although MMA fans remain hopeful.
Chandler proved he is one of the best fighters in the world against OliveriaCredit: Getty
‘Iron Mike’ was meant to face McGregor after the pair coached on The Ultimate FighterCredit: GETTY
Should Pimblett get past Chandler he will likely climb into the top seven UFC lightweight rankings and only be one more fight away from a title shot.
White also announced that Volkanovski would fight Lopes in the main event of UFC 314, following Topuria’s decision to vacate his featherweight title.
He then revealed that Patricio Freire, commonly known as Patricio ‘Pitbull’, would make his UFC debut against the number five ranked featherweight Yair Rodriguez.
“Pitbull is a former two-division champion in another organisation,” White said.
“But recently he has publicly asked for his release, and now we get to see him compete against the best in the world.”
Former Bellator featherweight champion ‘Pitbull’ asked to be released from the Professional Fighters League in a viral dispute with the promotion in January.
White had been questioned for weeks on whether he was interested in signing the Brazilian MMA star, and refused to reveal much until now.
“When he left the organisation he was the featherweight champion, so basically the same thing happens,” White added.
“When the first punch is thrown in this fight, he’s no longer their champion, and obviously standing in his way is Rodriguez, probably one of the most unorthodox fighters in UFC history.
“That should be a badass fight.”
UFC 314 will also witness Geoff Neal have it out with Carlos Prates, while 41-year-old UFC legend Jim Miller returns to fight Chase Hooper.