Paddy Pimblett has called Conor McGregor a “lizard” and challenged the two-time UFC champion to a fight at Wembley Stadium, Anfield or Dublin’s Croke Park after beating Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
McGregor picked former Bellator champion Chandler to beat Pimblett in a social media video released by the Irishman before the co-headline event in Miami.
“He said he’d put a bet on Chandler by knockout,” Pimblett told TNT Sports. “I should have mentioned him in the cage, you little lizard.
“Irish and Scouse – thought you would have backed your own. If you’re coming back, lad, let’s do it – Wembley, Croke Park. You could get excited about that. You could do that at Wembley. Me and Conor sells Wembley out, sells Anfield out, sells Croke Park out.”
THE KING OF THE NORTH 👑
Paddy Pimblett earns the Round 3 TKO for the biggest win in his career!
[ #UFC314 | LIVE NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/2vC9ygf7Nv
— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
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Paddy vs Chandler: UFC 314 result
Pimblett extended his perfect UFC record to seven bouts by stopping Chandler in the third round as part of a dominant display.
“I was born to do this s***,” he said afterwards, sharing a video of himself celebrating in the octagon with his Instagram following of more than 3.6 million.
The 30-year-old is 12th in the UFC’s lightweight rankings but is pushing to enter the top 10 after beating seventh-ranked Chandler.
A HUGE KNEE TO START ROUND 3! 🤯
Paddy Pimblett | #UFC314 pic.twitter.com/aNHVE6U4l0
— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
Conor McGregor vs Paddy Pimblett?
McGregor has not fought in any discipline since suffering a second successive UFC defeat to Dustin Poirier in January 2021, although he said in February that he will scrap in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).
At the time, McGregor named UFC fighters-turned-BKFC-competitors Mike Perry, Jeremy Stephens and Eddie Alvarez – who he beat in the UFC in 2016 – as potential opponents.
The 36-year-old became a BKFC part-owner in 2024, adding to his business interests outside of sport including a hugely popular whiskey brand.
He remains one of the most marketable and in-demand athletes in the world but said he would go without pay to brawl bare-knuckle for the first time.
OHHHH PADDY THE BADDDDDY 🗣️
Paddy Pimblett is ready to shine tonight at #UFC314 🌴 pic.twitter.com/x9MKj8zV0d
— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
McGregor next fight: UFC 303 withdrawal
McGregor has been involved in some of the most lucrative sporting events in history, including a crossover boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017 and all of the top four and eight of the top 10 highest-grossing UFC pay-per-view fights ever.
He had been set to headline UFC 303 on June 30 2024 but withdrew from his fight with Chandler because of a “very painful” toe injury.
‘The Notorious’ has lost three of his last four bouts but remains the promotion’s most high-profile competitor and previously made numerous predictions that he would fight multiple times in 2024 and 2025 for the UFC.
Dana White, the president of the UFC, has said McGregor could return for the MMA powerhouse in late 2025.
