Liverpool lightweight Paddy Pimblett is relishing the chance to meet UFC president Dana White for the first time after making a statement on debut in Las Vegas last weekend.
A lot of attention was on Pimblett at the UFC Apex and he did not disappoint, recovering quickly after being staggered by Luigi Vendramini to sensationally stop the Brazilian later on in an absorbing first round.
He was awarded a performance bonus after UFC Fight Night 191, where fellow Britons Tom Aspinall, Molly McCann and Jack Shore also prevailed, and was congratulated by matchmaker Sean Shelby before returning to his hotel to find an assortment of gifts from White.
Pimblett – who is confident of shaking off a thumb injury he sustained against Vendramini to fight in either late November or early December, possibly in the UK – has drawn comparisons with Irish superstar Conor McGregor.
"It's obviously nice to be compared to the biggest name the sport's ever seen," Pimblett added.
"You can understand why people are doing it. Our personalities, we're very polarising, you either like us or you hate us, we've come from Cage Warriors, we both had the featherweight belt.
"But me and Conor are two different entities altogether. He's Conor McGregor and I'm Paddy the Baddy. In a few years our paths might cross but for now there's not really any point in even mentioning us in the same sentence."
