Paddy Pimblett | Starting MMA, Overcoming Adversity & Anfield Ambitions | Energized Show

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What is up and welcome to the latest Energized Show! On this episode we have Cage Warriors MMA Star Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett on to discuss Starting MMA, Overcoming adversity & His dream to main event at Anfield. Check it out, enjoy, subscribe for more and as always Stay…

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Kind: captions Language: en Okay, what's going on guys and welcome to a brand new episode of Energy Guys. Today we have a very special guest on the show. We have former Cage Warriors champion Paddy the Baddy Pimblett live from his kitchen fresh off a workout. Paddy, how are you doing? What is happening the lads all right? Good good good. How's that isolation life in Liverpool? It's all right like you know what I mean? It's a I think of worse places to be isolated but I'd rather be isolated in Thailand. It's only a week ago. Yeah, that sounds a that sounds a bit sexist. Uh Paddy, tell us how how did you get started off in mixed martial arts? Um well to be honest one of the lads in the UFE down the corner he was one of me mates growing up. Um he started to watch it and I remember him in the UFE put on Pierre Go Sanchez basically we did. Oh my god. I was like 14. He was like 14 and then he just come out and started me with all this stuff. This is sick. This is sick. Uh and then I remember staying up and watching UFC 103 Belfort vs. Franklin. And uh Belfort being golden and then I went out and run it like half hour in the morning. Huh. I must have looked like a proper weirdo and then I just decided to go. It was in 2010 just not long after me birthday when I was 10 15. Yeah, did you do any other sports growing up as well cuz I hear you're an avid football fan. No? Yeah, I was I was I'm I played footy but I was [ __ ] I was I was I was I was good when I was about 9 10 and then I just stayed that level and I'm about I'm only a little bit better than that now. That sounds like me. Yeah, I like that. I'm [ __ ] at footy lads but I play footy with the lads for a laugh and that but like the only other sport I had I was all right at it in me life was tennis and table tennis but you have to be playing that from when you're about 3 years of age to be good at it so in when I first done MMA I didn't think it was going to go this far. You know what I mean? I just started doing it. Um just someone told me about Next Gen uh through Joe Neal. And then I just went and fell in love with it. Yeah, how long how long were you there for until you and then you start realizing well, I can actually I can go far in this. Well, it was like 15 months in and I had me first fight and I was 16. It's one of the lads in the gym pulled out a week before with a ankle injury. So what happened I jumped in. And I was What weight class was that at? Bantam. The bantamweight, yeah. Okay, yeah. Yeah, and I had to lose about a kilo in a week. You know what I mean? One of them. Yeah. And yeah. I never even thought it would get me that far when I was an amateur. You know what I mean? I was an amateur and then I fought every amateur and Paul just said to me, "Do you want to go pro? Cuz you've got no one else to fight." So I said, "Yeah." And then like I went four or I went four and no pro then I had me first loss. And then it was before that show that I'm fighting I was thinking, "Oh, am I going to make enough money doing this?" And that's something that you have to think today and then I'll do another stuff. Just like I told them I'm not going to do this. And then Paul said, "Just start Just start working in the gym." So I started working in the gym. And got me better and better and then obviously after the fourth like getting shown and said he was like everything just blew up and so where it is now. Yeah. What was the What was the real blow up moment for you, Paddy? Cuz like obviously you'd be the most recognizable person in Cage Warriors and like uh When when was that real moment that it just really blew up for you? Liverpool was like a hotbed you know what I mean? About 10 years ago for like the amateur scene. And then uh went to Cage Warriors. And I done a few interviews and that but then like when I went when I I won on Cage Warriors and then they the thing you have on the Cage Warriors where there was no fights for a while. I went and fought on FCC. Yeah. And I was selling loads of tickets for FCC. Everyone was made up with me on FCC. And then getting shown that was like me first one where people thought, "Oh, we'll see if he's a hype job or not." You know what I mean? So, I like I fought him and beat him. Yeah. And then when when I fought Eddie Valentine said Scouse is don't get knocked out. That was when everything just went bananas. Yeah. Oh, man. Like what what what what what sort of like feedback or support would you get from uh the Liverpudlians, like? Uh I think the only I can compare it's like the Irish fans with the Irish fighters on I mean, that's Yeah. Just I wouldn't say there's any other support in the world like it. And for as Paddy, you've blown the roof off the Echo a few times now, haven't you? Yeah, yeah. I've I've had land the Echo a few times. Like I won the belt there, and then I've won by flying triangle twice there. And I've lost two five-round decisions there. But Paddy, it's mad to think that you're what You won the belt what? Were you at 21 I think at the time? And Yeah, 21. And like you've had what? 12 or 13 fights in Cage Warriors alone? Like you you mean like you're you're you're actually so experienced for someone your age. Yeah. had five fights outside of Cage Warriors. Me first three and then the two on FCC. So, yeah, 13 fights on Cage Warriors. And did you almost become the champion too soon and too early in career? Like getting ready to tell five-round fights is very different from getting ready for a three-round fight. Like that must take a massive toll on you. Yeah, it does. Especially when you're [ __ ] cutting 8 kilos overnight to make 66. That's what I'm saying, the damage. And in terms of weight class now, where are you set at lightweight now or Yeah, I am for now, yeah. That was When I fought the feather he's all of me years ago. I was very unprofessional. You know what I mean? I wasn't doing everything by the book like I should have. I was arsing around and that. So, The last The last time I weighed I cut like three three kilos, three and a half when I fought Decky. But when I was meant to fight G and then here I cut about a kilo literally in the bath. So, I could have made featherweight that night. If we would have known that Steve Aimable was going to miss weight, you never know, I might have went to 145 for months and months. And like obviously it's been well publicized that like you you've turned down the opportunity to fight in the UFC a couple of times. Um when you first got that call, what like what weight division was it at and what was the main thing that made you turn it down? It was going to be featherweight, wasn't it? Because it was after it was the as soon as me and Fishy had won the belt cuz they come back in. The UFC come in to sign both of us. Yeah. But then Cage Warriors gave us both bumping new deals, you know what I mean? Big ones. Yeah. So, we stayed with Cage Warriors. You know what I mean? And I don't regret it cuz I look back now and think if I would have went to the UFC when I was 21, I probably would have got me head punched in. That's the thing, man. Like some people like just jump at the bit when they have that huge opportunity and like you actually like stood your ground like you know what? I'm just going to keep on my craft and keep going and going and going. And because you know fair MMA guys who went in the UFC and had about two or three fights or four fights, went like one and three or one and two or two and two and then you'd be cut, you know what I mean? Yeah. Well, that's the thing. I like I like obviously you would like if that could have happened to you then like I know I wouldn't say you'd be washed up but like people would be like ah he's That's what people would say though. Yeah, no yeah but that's that's the thing. So, like being smart about it is is was a brilliant idea. Like who did did you just come up with that yourself or did your team be like here just you know what? There's big things to come from you. Like you know hold back a bit and then like let yourself go until you start hitting like 26, 27. Boom. There you're like you have your man strength. You're like ready to rock and roll really, you know? Yeah, Paul's a big part in that, you know what I mean? And so is Graham as well. But then let me see, you know what I mean? It's mainly me, see, me, family, keep me family. And they don't know much about MMA but they care about me. So, they stay in the same stick with Cage Warriors for the biggest you Like I said, they give me a bump and a new deal. It's like UFC. Yeah, because uh That is that That is one thing that Graham Boylan seems to be doing very, very well. He seems to be really looking after people in Cage Warriors. And he's still chopping at the bit to try and get Cage Warriors back up and running for an event. And obviously, Paddy, you're probably the most experienced fighter in the world fight on a big show in an either an empty or small arena cuz you did the BT Sport arena against Arosa. And you fought a 113. I don't know anyone else who's fought in those circumstances twice. You know, when they like this two fights there and that uh it's weird like I'm not going to lie, but if there was a lightweight that wanted to fight at like say 77. I don't even know if I'll make 77 in a few weeks. No one's just letting me know what's going Well, if someone wants to catch weight at 80 kg, you normally fight at lightweight in Cage. It's all Yeah, but if so if someone else is uh from the COVID way and wants to give uh Paddy Pimblett a uh no knock, his game over. And then tell us about tell us about the lightweight division. Uh Mason Jones is looking very, very good up there. How do you How do you see yourself matching up against him? Um well, no offense to be honest. He was in the changes with me for the last five years. He's a nice lad. You know what I mean? I was speaking to him. Uh we wished each other luck in that. Uh I'm not going to say nothing bad about him, but uh I obviously I I think I'd beat him lads. Just like I think I'd beat anyone. I think I'd beat Mason. His striking's good, but no one's seen my striking recently. Like I haven't As you know, I haven't fought. That the other week doesn't even count. Like we were standing for about 15 seconds. Got him with a left hook and it's a bit of a one-two and then [ __ ] end up on top of him. Yeah. And I am So like 80 I don't know. It was all a laugh when I met him for a photo. But um like people underestimate my striking still, which I love. And then I know for a fact that it's up me and Dana will be able to show them. Yeah, well, in fairness, I I I wouldn't doubt you. You're an absolute phenom on the ground. And uh obviously that's where your your sort of strong point would be to most people. But, if you were to sort of rank 50% ground game, 50% stand up, where would you rank it? Would say 60% you're better on the ground, 40% stand up, or where would you put it? Yeah, I'd say about 60% ground, 60 65% ground, 40% stand up. And have you heard from Cage Warriors on whether they will have a show in the NFC Arena? Yeah. Another one. I really don't know cuz they've put they've pushed a few shows back, haven't they? Mhm. The only thing is at the minute I will have I will have me fight at the Cathleen. Yeah. All right. I can't be fighting lads. I can't. If someone else is like in like what in the position where I'm in, but they've only been able to use your elbows and do stuff like that, and run and do [ __ ] like that, and they want to fight lads, and they get paid, I'll be doing it with them. But It's just that I don't think he's even playing fair. Yeah, I also saw that uh Cage Warriors put out that video of like all the fighters in the like well, nearly all the fighters in the roster doing the punch, and then like reacting. First of all, what a brilliant video. But, uh you can really see how much of a push you get by you being the the first person on the video, you know? That's what That's the chance that the people think that lads. They think that, but I'm just glad they never had to take a shot, lads. I'm just there like You're the only one that had to take a shot. Yeah, both of you had a shot, didn't you? Yeah, yeah, the face that runs the place. That's That's Paddy Pimblett, all right? Yeah, but it is a it is a belter that video, though, lads. It's a belter. I was watching it myself. I showed me ma and all that. I was like, "Yeah, this this is a [ __ ] belter." Yeah, it's brilliant. He was in Gary and Oban Elliott were there having a virtual fight on it as well before. Did you see that one? Yeah. I like he he and I know when not to speak to the pair of them sometimes like the sound. Yeah, I've got a bad Is there anyone in the Cage Warriors who does not like Ian Garry? No, I have to be honest. He is a cool guy like he was he was there at the weigh-in when I was meant to fight G and he was just stood next to me laughing his head off. Me and him were having a back and forth with them and he was just laughing his head off. I always I always ask like Ian cuz like he's a good friend of the show and I'm like I'll watch them go I was only texting them yesterday I texted them last night. Do you ever text Ian Garry cuz he seems to text everyone? Instant message me did. Yeah. Oh, that that's absolutely brilliant. And Paddy, obviously your end goal is probably to move towards the UFC. I know you've turned it down but I assume you will move there eventually. Yeah, of course it's like it's the the main thing in MMA, isn't it lads? [ __ ] like playing in the Champions League for a footballer. And then how do you feel like you stack up against that those guys in in the UFC? I think I can beat anyone on me day. That's simple. Anyone in the whole [ __ ] roster, never mind what division. Would you fancy yourself against Khabib? Can't say no, can I lads? That's simple. That's [ __ ] I wouldn't put it that way. I wouldn't [ __ ] choke to tap to a neck crank. Oh. That's a bit bit of shade for Conor. I wouldn't choke to a neck crank. Paddy, that confidence is unbelievable, you know that man? Like obviously like you did like you blew up there and then just watching watching you work. I know obviously you're out for a year but like having that confidence is just so needed in this in this game. Like I mean we had Ian on and he is like confidence to burn and like like all the fighters like you just have to do it. If you if you don't back yourself, shouldn't be in the game really but uh Exactly. You shouldn't be there if you don't. If you're not your own [ __ ] biggest believer lads, you're in the wrong game. Yeah, cuz we've loads of people that follow MMA, rugby, football, everything and like getting people on like yourself or have that mind frame and attitude. Like people that watch the shows, they may not be athletes or but they can put it into like the work or the workouts or any sort of part of their life, you know, and it's just it's good good really good thing to see. But like you were obviously off for over a year and like Like when during that year, what were you sort of doing? Were you like were you looking at yourself? What what were you trying to like improve on or even your mindset? Like what what were you sort of doing in that year? Like were reflecting on what you could do? I don't know. Well, the first in the the first in the set well, the first of September the night and then I wanted to just [ __ ] brush it away and get a fight in straight away in November so I can forget about that fight against Dez May the first time and then we were just looking at me hand and stuff. We were just like you've broken it again, you can't fight and that. So the NHS then sort of pissed with me operation. I didn't get that done May. So I was still training and I was still doing stuff but it was just wasn't the same and I didn't have like nothing to focus on and we had fell off lads I was just in a bad way and then when I got the operation everything was worse again like cuz I couldn't do absolutely nothing for a bit. I had to just [ __ ] leave it like I never done nothing. I started having all all of the stuff like health problems because of infections lads in me wrist where the [ __ ] they hadn't put the cast on properly and I had all goo coming out of me wrist lads and having all that and got the yips lads. It was [ __ ] horrible lads. People think it was just a broken wrist lads and then I ended up having pure infections and [ __ ] and all [ __ ] like that. Yeah, like that lads see if you can see me wrist. Can you see a scar on that? Yeah, I can, yeah. Yeah, that's scar from one side and then the second time they went in there. [ __ ] hell, man. Jeez, that is awful. But like I obviously see the the thing is about bolt marks and that where they had the bolt. They come up mad like you mentioned that. They come up on me timer. I did ago today yesterday of me and me Aussie looking and like I'm moving me hand like that and where the pins are keeping it in place, the pins are moving and all yellow crust was moving with the pin where it was all crazy infections and in that. And then obviously that made me depressed lad. I was [ __ ] suicidal lad. Me head was chocker. Yeah. Well, you see that that's it. That's another thing like people watch the glory of the entrances, the celebrations, but then You think that's it? Yeah, but then but then what about the guy who's on the ground? Like what what about the like going back to hospitals and all this stuff and then like obviously being out for a year and then people like will constantly be like I get I bet you the question you get asked "Paddy, when you're going to the UFC?" It's like "When's your next fight? When's your next fight? When's your next fight?" It's never like lad. How was the last fight? I was asked Someone asked me the other day the most annoying question you get. I think it was Lydia and I was like "When are you going to the UFC?" Lad, it's the most annoying question ever lad. "When are you going to the UFC?" I'm like lad, 10 times a week. "Oh, are you messing you lad?" You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Listen lad. Ah, shush lad. Sweet. You're the expert. See you later. Yeah, but like Paddy, what you just brought up there about mental health as well. Like you're a bit really like like creating your own sort of line. Like you know what I mean? You had the opportunity to go to the UFC at 21. You're like "Look, I'm not ready yet. I'll call it like if the I know they'll come calling again. I'm like I'm going to just march to the beat of my own drum." And now now like you're you're very very experienced. Like if this this like if the last if the the wrist situation didn't happen, who knows what situation you'd be in right now. But like um for people like watching now and like knowing that like you didn't just jump at that chance cuz if you could have they could have thrown you to the lions and then who would have known what happened. But like to for people watching now like like taking that time to relax and being like right, I'm actually just going to take my time with this this is my career. I'm not going to rush. I'm going to take it at my own footsteps. Also bear with the mental health stuff. At the end of the day, like what would you have to say to people that who are just sort of watching now cuz like you're you're a big figure in the in the company and I'm sure people watching this now are like one day I want to be like Paddy, you know? See that the dude loves to love people to like take motivation, inspiration, and stuff like that, but I just see myself as a normal kid, lads. Yeah, but like you've got to take chances. You're you're you're bigger than the than the normal kid, you know? You're still in the Echoes and like it's not No one normal can just do that. I don't like to [ __ ] be bigger than [ __ ] Like people say to me, "Oh, you're a celebrity." I'm like, "Fuck off." I'm not. Don't go I'm not. You want to be the fifth Beatle. Yeah, I like that. That's a compliment to that one. A few people have said that. I'll be the fifth Beatle all day. [ __ ] off. I don't shout, lads. You know what I mean? Like I can't get Mickey's sports, but celebrity and that, no. Yeah, no, but okay, wipe the celebrity thing away, but just being like a brilliant athlete, like what would you say to people there and like they're overcoming a loss, like they've been out for a year, like that sort of stuff, you know? Taking the time to actually really get ready to go into the UFC cuz obviously you mentioned Gary earlier, he was dying to get on the UC Dublin card, but like now he's like taking time to reflect and be like, "Look, my time will come. It doesn't need to be right now. The it will come." Like This is the worst thing you can do in them situations is just think negative. I'm just being negative and that's what I did for a few months. Just thinking, "Oh my god, I'm never going to fight again. Me wrist is never going to be the same. I'm going to be this. I'm going to be that." People are saying this about me, they're writing, you know what I mean? And you just got to be like, "Fuck them. [ __ ] what they think. You've got to think about yourself and think about what the people who care about you think. That's all that matters. Your family, your friends, your team. What everyone else says doesn't mean [ __ ] What the people around you who care about you say means stuff and that's what I got from it. You realize who your real mates are as well. You realize the clean guns and that. Who was really there for you? That stuff. Who was really there for you? That's what I figured out over the past 18 months and I'm I'll be honest, I'm glad it's happened. There's a lot a lot of [ __ ] happens that made me realize the people who were who were there for me, you know what I mean? Yeah, who's who's who's for you? Obviously me me family, me fiance, all me [ __ ] proper mates. You know what I mean? And all me teammates and I don't even call them teammates anymore. I call them me gym family. You know what I mean? Those are like me second dad. Fair play to you, Paddy. You know what I mean? Like I feel as if overcoming, you know, stuff is always what makes the story better in the long run. And when you do, you know, leave your gloves in in the octagon, you know what I mean? You you can say Paddy Pimblett, what a story. You know what I mean? And like to have not been out for a year was definitely part of that story. Yeah, I've I've I've always said that. You know what I mean? I've mentioned it with me wrist. All the greats have had to come over it an injury and change the style of fighting to do it and to win a different way. And that's that's what I'm going to do. Some say I won't, but like I've done it in the Decky fight. Didn't rely on me wrist to go for the choke. I flattened him out and I [ __ ] punched his head in till the ref stopped it. Yeah. Let me ask you a non-MMA related question. What do you think's going to happen with your beloved Liverpool with the Premier League? You've been getting asked this a lot, lads. Yeah. It's getting finished. Yeah. It's getting finished. What's getting What's getting finished more? The Premier There's too much money at stake. What's getting finished more? Decky Dalton or the Premier League? The Premier League. I never enough to clean out. The Premier League. Uh I think um Do you think we should start start with the French League? Yeah, yeah. They crowned PSG champions, didn't they? PSG champions, isn't that yet? And give them Champions League spaces out. I think they're waiting for someone else to do that, weren't they? Yeah, waiting for someone else to do that, but I think if if that [ __ ] who's in number [ __ ] 10 says that he can't do it behind closed doors, then they're going to do it. They're going to finish it. How do you feel about that? Like obviously they're going to win the league in an empty stadium. It's not going to be too bad cuz we do it in an empty stadium this year and then next year we do it in a full one. Oh, no the conference. Come from Come from man. Come from man. Who's your favorite player there? Actually. Who's what? Who's your favorite player there? Um Well, I don't I [ __ ] Obviously it's center scout and he but then you got Rob who was just one of the lads was [ __ ] playing in the divisions [ __ ] two team or something putting on uh putting on I think I spoke about 7 years ago he was going to offer me a job for me. Yeah. But then I like Fabinho me and Salah and then not Salah Mane Mane being our best player this season. And Henderson you can't forget about him. I I used I used to call Henderson Herrenderson cuz he used to be that [ __ ] And now like he's just [ __ ] a different player. It's weird. It's amazing what hard work and dedication does. Don't forget about Van Dijk and Alisson and Firmino cuz he had the the rest of the team. And you need lads? Yeah. And then Gomez lad if if Gomez was playing against Watford lad we wouldn't have lost. You you You want to go to a couple of your games, don't you? Yeah. Yeah. Have you been to Anfield? support? Uh Who do you actually support? What? No, I wasn't joking. United. United as well, mate. Well, I went to Old Trafford this year and I went to Anfield with me [ __ ] slappers. All right, mate. You don't need to rub it in, man. We're having a good conversation now. You're just rubbing it in. The I put a picture up of it that I actually cuz the sky Did you see the sky that night? The sky was like a red color. Yeah. And I had to swap it out. Yeah, you saw it in Anfield. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, we saw that. Yeah, yeah, when they beat United. What um What actually fighting in Anfield would that be one of your biggest goals? Yeah, that's someone asked me that the other day. Where's your dream place to fight in? And I know people say the MGM and people say um New York and that but obviously for me it's Anfield. Would you let Aunt Hill fight on the card? What? Would you let that Hill in the car as well? If he wants to jump on that, yeah. I think that's like a brilliant way to finish it. But honestly, like watching you go like going through everything is a great story to follow man, especially over here. But we're going to have to get you on again in the future next fight, you know. Well, you know what though, you were saying about being a good watch, lad. Just after the fourth bath, some someone offered it to us. He's now a friend of mine. Started coming to the gym and videoing me and coming to my house and stuff and videoing a little bit of training. And now he's been videoing me for about 18 months now. Yeah. And like he's going to start doing more and more footage of that and put it forward to someone and hopefully in the future like that's going to be like a little that McGregor documentary where the Irish lads are. That's great. Pimblett, the fifth wheel. That's what I'll call the documentary. You know. Money McCann's also getting loads of footage as well. That's brilliant to see. But yeah, Paddy keep going man. Like uh I'm sure some people who have tuned in now like I've just listened to your story there like coming through all coming adversity and stuff man. It's brilliant to see. And just keep stay strong and just keep going man. We're proud of you, you know. Thank you, fellas. Yeah, so yeah, so if you enjoyed the show, make sure to like, share, subscribe. And as always, stay energized.