When Paddy Pimblett signed with the UFC in 2021, he had a serious amount of hype surrounding him.
The Liverpudlian joined MMA‘s premier promotion off the back of a hugely successful run in Cage Warriors, where he picked up the company’s featherweight strap.
Yet his triumphs outside of the UFC didn’t translate to the amount of money he received under his first contract.
In fact, he was actually earning more with his former employer.
“When I got offered the first (UFC) contract, I got offered a new Cage Warriors’ deal, and that deal was worth more than the base contract for the UFC – and I’ve done a lot with that money,” Pimblett told the FULL SEND PODCAST.
“I saved that money over the years to get a house deposit myself and pay my mum’s mortgage off.
“I’ve done a few things like that, and that money’s done a lot for me over the years. I’m very thankful for Cage Warriors.
“They set me up for the start of my adult life, really, because that’s when I was 21 when I first started to get that wage.
“When I first signed with the UFC, I took a pay cut. The UFC standard deal is ($10,000 to show, $10,000 to win).
“I signed for a pay cut at first. My first two fights were 10/10 and then 12/12, and obviously, after I won my second fight, we got a new deal, and it went up.”
Signing with the UFC was a huge financial risk for Pimblett, but luckily, it paid off.
The 30-year-old is 6-0 inside the UFC and is ranked No.12 in the lightweight division.
A first-round submission win over King Green last July saw Pimblett break into the top 15, and now he is vying for a top 10 spot against No. 7-ranked Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 314 on Saturday night.
Chandler is a former UFC lightweight title challenger, and a win over him could bring Pimblett to within one fight of challenging for 155lbs gold.
Pimblett recently revealed that he intends to fight twice this year, including his upcoming clash with Chandler.
The proud Scouser intends to return to the UFC Octagon in October in Abu Dhabi and wants to face either Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje.
Providing he comes through his next two fights unscathed, Pimblett is setting his sights on a shot at reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev next year.
