British UFC prospect Paddy Pimblett is targeting a stoppage win a £41,000 ($50k) in bonus money ahead of the biggest fight of his life.
‘The Baddy’ has quickly become one of the most popular fighters on the roster after picking up three stoppage wins and three Performance of the Night bonuses since joining the UFC in 2021.
Pimblett knocked out Luigi Verandimi before picking up back-to-back submission wins over Rodrigo Vargas and Jordan Leavitt at massive UFC events in London.
He’ll now face his first serious step up in opposition when he squares off against 24-fight veteran Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in Las Vegas on December 10.
An injury to Jiri Prochazka forced a major reshuffle of the UFC 282 card and Pimblett’s fight was surprisingly elevated to the co-main event despite the fact it’s between two unranked lightweights.
The 27-year-old plans to use his pay-per-view showcase spot to make a statement by stopping Gordon and picking up his fourth consecutive Performance of the Night bonus.
“I’m a finisher, I don’t play with my food,” Pimblett said on UFC 282 Embedded.
“I finish my dinner and that’s what I’m going to do. I don’t decision anyone. I’m coming in to get the finish and another $50,000 bonus because that’s how I roll.”
“I don’t do Fight of the Night. I do Performance of the Night. No one is doing any damage to me to give me Fight of Night, I get Performance of the Night.
“I’m going for my fourth in a row and I’m going to get four in a row. I know I am! Four performance bonuses in four fights, it’s happening.”
That’ll be easier said than done against ‘Flash’ who has seven UFC wins to his name including a dominant decision victory over Pimblett’s former teammate Chris Fishgold.
However, after watching Gordon get stopped in all five of his losses, Pimblett will be confident he can follow in the footsteps of former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira who knocked out the American in 2019.
