Paddy Pimblett vows to never fight in the O2 again and targets Anfield bout

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Paddy Pimblett has vowed never to fight at the O2 Arena again and is instead targeting a bout at Anfield – the home of his beloved Liverpool.

Paddy the Baddy went two for two at the O2 Arena in UFC on Saturday night as he defeated Jordan Leavitt with a submission in the second round of their clash. A packed house witnessed the Scouse fighter take his UFC record to three out of three, but the 27-year-old doesn't believe the iconic venue is big enough for his future ambitions.

Pimblett reckons he's now destined for pay-per-view bouts, and with it, bigger arenas. Speaking after his victory, he said: "I know for a fact now I'll be fighting on pay-per-views.

READ MORE: UFC London finale ends after 16 seconds with horror knee injury as Tom Aspinall collapses

"I know I won't be fighting in the O2 again – it's too small. As I say, we will do Anfield, I promise you now. Dana's said that he won't do Anfield, but he also said women wouldn't fight in the UFC years ago and Ronda Rousey came along. He said he won't do a stadium in the UK, but the Baddy's come along. So we will."

The blonde-haired brawler has several potential options for next fight, including German-born Georgian star Ilia Topuria. The 25-year-old is also making his way in UFC and is currently 4-0 with the promotion and 12-0 overall.

He called out Pimblett after his victory over Wolverhampton's Jai Herbert in March. "Your guy here, Paddy Pimblett is a b****," he said to a chorus of boos. "I want to kick your arse. F*** you. I want that blonde b**** that Paddy b****."

Pimblett dismissed a clash at the time, but it could now make sense with both of their stars on the rise in UFC. Matt Frevola is another potential option for the Baddy.

The 32-year-old hasn't stepped foot in the octagon since January but has set his sights on the Scouser in the past and suggested that they could still meet in the future.

Do you want to see Paddy Pimblett fight at Anfield? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

"I wanted that fight bad," Frevola told MMA Junkie of his previous attempt to arrange a bout with Pimblett. "I guess maybe the UFC didn’t offer or maybe Paddy turned it down. Who knows?"

Speaking before Pimblett's victory on Saturday, he added: "We didn't get the fight, but I'm rooting for Paddy. I'm hoping Paddy wins. Jordan Leavitt, he's no pushover.

"Hopefully, Paddy goes in there and gets it done, then I get a big win hopefully in September and our paths cross hopefully by the end of the year or something."

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