Paddy Pimblett could make UFC return after landmark London announcement

The UFC is returning to England after a blockbuster 304 show saw Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett star in July. The mixed martial arts promotion will once again headline London's O2 Arena in a landmark 30th UK event.

Pimblett sent a message to his doubters in one of his toughest fights to date, submitting King Green in the first round at the Co-Op Bank Arena in Manchester. The event was criticised after the promotion delayed the start time to meet peak viewing time in America - resulting in the main card fighters stepping into the octagon after 1am local time.

Both Pimblett and Tom Aspinall made no mistake in seeing off their opponent, with the Liverpudlian scoring a €200,000 fight bonus, but it was a frustrating homecoming for Leon Edwards, losing his welterweight crown to Belal Muhammad. The Huyton-born fighter's win moved him into the UFC rankings for the first time since crossing over from Cage Warriors and the card, scheduled for March 22, 2025, poses an opportunity for the 29-year-old to return.

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In a post on X, UFC Europe broke the news that MMA's largest promotion would return to England and its capital. UFC have confirmed that early access tickets will be available from January 23.

Despite being out of the squared-circle since July, Pimblett has remained in the gym following criticism over his post-fight rest in recent years. There have been suggestions that both The Baddy and Edwards could make their returns to the octagon for the card at the turn of the year.

"I don't think anyone is a bad matchup for me," he said, when asked about rivals in the lightweight decision in a recent video on his YouTube channel.

Pimblett discussed his ambitions for a title shot, adding: "I've seen a lot of people saying I'm like two fights away from a title right, and that is nice but two fights from a title shot would have to be like (Renato) Moicano, ranked 10, then do like a (Sean) O'Malley, fight rank two straight away that'd be (Charles) Oliveira.

"I'd do that, I'd fight Moicano, beat Moicano, then I'd fight Oliveria. That's probably my quickest route to a title shot to be honest. I really like watching both of them fight so it would be a pleasure to, even more of a pleasure to be in there with Charles. A former champ someone who I've watched for years and years.

"It would be an honour to get in there with Charles and a pleasure. But you know, they're just in the way of me getting the belt, so I'd have to run through them."

Pimblett's next opponent is yet to be confirmed, but that hasn't stopped a war of words with Moicano. Following his win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC Paris, the Brazilian mixed martial artist said, "Don’t accept the fight, or I will elbow your skull.

"Please, don’t accept the fight. I’m gonna hurt you. I’m gonna elbow your skull." Pimblett responded with a post on Instagram, where he said: "Let's do this."