Paddy Pimblett has Liverpool plan to convince Dana White to sanction Anfield UFC fight

UFC superstar Paddy Pimblett has admitted fighting at Anfield would mean more than winning the lightweight belt - as he called Dana White to bring MMA's most lucrative promotion back to Liverpool.

The city of Liverpool hasn't hosted a UFC card since Darren Till defeated Stephen 'Wonderboy' Thompson in front of 8,000 fans at the M&S Bank Arena in May 2018.

But the rise of Next Generation Gym duo Pimblett and Molly McCann has prompted talk of a potential fight night coming to Anfield in the near future.

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UFC president White has previously expressed his reluctance to host cards at stadiums rather than arenas as he believes it detracts from the experience.

But lightweight contender Pimblett, who defeated American Bobby Green at UFC 304 in July, believes White would be fully on board with staging an event at Liverpool's iconic home if he were to sample a match at Anfield beforehand.

“I hope I can convince him [Dana White] to go outdoors at Anfield," Pimblett told OLBG. "He needs to come to a footy match to see what the atmosphere is like because I think he thinks it takes away from the atmosphere [going outdoors]. But at Anfield it doesn't. When you've got 60,000 scousers in there, it won't."

And if the UFC were to debut in L4, the 29-year-old, a lifelong Liverpool supporter, says it would be a more significant occasion for him than a fight for the lightweight belt.

“No matter who I was fighting, that would probably mean more than actually winning the belts,” added Pimblett, who is 6-0-0 in the UFC since making his debut three years ago. “Walking out on Anfield and touching the badge. That would be heavy.

"But, yeah [losing in front of home fans] that is always playing in your mind, you can't think about that. You've always got to have it in the back of your mind, it certainly can happen like that.”

Ahead of UFC 304 in July, Pimblett told the ECHO that Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan was more than happy for a fight night to take place at Anfield.

"I've spoken to people at Anfield about it. I've spoken to the CEO of Liverpool and they are all willing and happy to get it on. They want to do it," said Pimblett.

"They've said it to me plenty of times. I sit in the Legends Lounge when I go to the [Liverpool] games and I've been to the boardroom where the CEO sits and they want to do it. I'd love the UFC to get in contact with them and get it done."

Pimblett added: "It doesn't need to be a title fight, I'd sell it out without a title. What's Anfield now? 60,000 and with seats on the floor 70,000, 80,000? I'd sell that out, I promise you now."