Liverpool lightweight Paddy Pimblett already dreaming of UFC fight at Anfield

Liverpool lightweight Paddy Pimblett has promised another spectacular finish when the UFC returns to London next month but is already dreaming of a fight at Anfield.

The 27-year-old will take on Kazula Vargas at the O2 Arena on March 19 aiming to build on a memorable debut victory over Luigi Vendramini in September.

Plenty of attention was already on Pimblett before his maiden outing at UFC Fight Night 191 and it has only ramped up since an absorbing first-round win but despite earning a performance bonus, he is yet to have a proper meeting with president of the sport Dana White.

“The first ever time I met Dana, I was in the Barstool studio and he was on the podcast before I was,” Pimblett said on Tuesday at a UFC London media event.

“I had a quick, short conversation with him but I haven’t got the chance to speak with Dana much. I hope he is in the O2 Arena when I walk out and get the finish because it is going to be spectacular.

“The amount of people saying they want to see the UFC back in Liverpool, they’ll have to do a football stadium real soon.

“I am not being funny or trying to put other fighters down, but I can sell the O2 out on my own. Just put me on and I would sell it out, so they need a football stadium when I’m the main event – that’s a fact.”

For now ‘Paddy the Baddy’ is happy to build up more experience before he is given a title shot, hitting back at criticism of his selected opponent Vargas, who has lost two of his three UFC fights.

I can sell the O2 out on my own. Just put me on and I would sell it out, so they need a football stadium when I’m the main event - that’s a fact.- Paddy Pimblett

The mixed martial arts fighter from Huyton boasts a record of 17 wins from 20 MMA bouts but will be stepping into