Australian UFC star Robert Whittaker believes charismatic Brit Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has the potential to become “the next Conor McGregor” should he continue his stunning rise.
Pimblett has three fights in MMA’s premier promotion to his name and three wins to boot with two coming via submission and one knockout victory.
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However, the 27-year-old has struck a chord with fans for his catchy sound bites and general cheekiness that makes him all the more endearing.
The Liverpudlian (19-3, 6KO) faces his biggest test to date in the form of Jared Gordon (19-5, 6KO) at UFC 282 on Sunday (AEDT) as he looks to keep the hype train thundering along.
Whittaker knows Pimblett has plenty to prove with tougher opponents to come, but he can’t help feel that the Scouser “looks to have it all.”
Is Paddy Pimblett the next McGregor? | 01:46
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“He has the potential to be the next superstar, the next Conor McGregor, if you will,” Whittaker said on Fight Week.
“He definitely has the attitude and the personality to run that, to draw the crowd in, to make it exciting.
“And he has the skill-set to back it up.
“How far will his skill-set take him, we’ll have to wait and see the tougher opponents and challenging opposition.
“Right now, he looks to have it all.”
Whittaker noted it is the glass-half-full approach that he loves about Pimblett and how he goes about his business.
“Personality-wise, I personally like Paddy’s approach on drawing the crowd in,” Whittaker said.
“He’s not negative, he doesn’t put it on people too much. He just kid of builds up his own character, hypes himself up.
“I think the crowd really loves that and we get drawn into that.”
