Paddy Pimblett has an offer to take on a familiar face should Michael Chandler drop out of their UFC 314 clash.
The Liverpudlian is set to make his latest UFC bow in a huge clash with No.7 ranked Chandler on the next pay-per-view show in Miami.
Pimblett could leap into the top ten of the lightweight rankings with a seventh straight victory, which would be the biggest of his career so far.
He has already been given a stern examination of his credentials against Jared Gordon in December 2022.
The MMA fraternity largely deemed Pimblett hugely fortunate to have taken a decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Gordon pleaded for a rematch in the aftermath of the contentious decision, but to no avail.
But ‘Flash’ believes now is his time nearly three years on, and is keeping in fighting shape in case Chandler gets injured.
“I doubt it, unless my teammate Chandler falls off the card and I get my rematch with Paddy,” he said of a sequel any time soon.
“I’ve been manifesting it. No offence to Mike, he’s my buddy but you know, that’s how opportunities come about and you have to seize the moment so of course, in my mind, I’m like I want it to happen.
“I think it’s gonna be a great fight and I’m rooting for Mike, he’s my teammate.
“But you know, I just want him to for some reason have an emergency and pull off the card and I’m right here.
“I’m walking around like 171lbs, 172lbs, I can make weight on three, four, five days notice. I’m ready bro.”
Pimblett nonetheless will be keen to face Chandler, and will desperately be hoping the American is fit to get it on.
Chandler himself looks in sensational shape to face the Briton, and will look to put behind him a frustrating 2024.
The American missed out on a shot with Conor McGregor after he cancelled their long-awaited bout.
And when eventually entering the cage, Chandler was beaten by Charles Oliveira in November.
Pimblett as a result, having got in fantastic shape, still believes he won’t get the credit he deserves if he beats Chandler.
He said: “No, everyone underestimates me, lad, the goalposts get moved whenever I win.
“Like before the Bobby [Green] fight it was ‘Ah Bobby’s going to knock him out, he won’t be able to stand with him on the feet’.
“And when I beat him, it was like ‘Ah well Bobby’s 38 [years old], Bobby’s old, he’s finished, he only fights people who are old and finished’.
“And it’s going to be the same when I beat Chandler. I’m going to beat Chandler.
“And everyone’s going to say ‘Ah well he was 2-4 in the UFC, he hasn’t beaten anyone, he’s like 38’ – I’m used to it lad, it’s been happening since I was 16.”
