Paddy Pimblett has warned Tony Ferguson that he will be "ground and pounding his unconscious skull" in their UFC fight.
'The Baddy' makes his octagon return this Saturday against Ferguson at UFC 296 in Las Vegas. An ankle injury has sidelined Pimblett since his controversial win against Jared Gordon last December. The Scouser got the nod on the night but many fans felt he lost and labelled it as "one of the worst UFC decisions ever".
Pimblett has mostly been respectful of Ferguson in the lead-up to their fight, hailing the former interim titleholder as one of the best UFC lightweights ever. Things changed at the press conference on Thursday evening as Ferguson stared down Pimblett and tried to intimidate him as soon as they got on stage.
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"You're head has gone lad, you need to grow up. You're about 14 in the head you little not. When I'm standing over your unconscious body on Saturday night like Michael Chandler, you'll know who the f****ng boy is. Cut me open like you said you're going to do, because I'll be ground and pounding your unconscious skull, you f****ng little bum," Pimblett told his rival.
UFC champion demands to know how Conor McGregor has become so "jacked""I can't wait and I can't believe you've actually got a suit on. Every other day you're like an 8-year-old who has just dressed himself for the first time. You look like a f****ng idiot. Bring the blades out then lad, you said you're going to cut your last six opponents and you can't do f*** all against them because you're an old crab.
Ferguson has vowed to make Pimblett bleed and go 'running back to his mum crying'. The 39-year-old hasn't won a fight in over four years and four of his past six defeats have come by stoppage. Pimblett is searching for an emphatic win against Ferguson and wants the old version of 'El Cucuy' to show up on Saturday night.
"I can't wait to bring the heat out of you, I hope the old Tony turns up not this washed out version. Do something then, you know what I mean? Stop talking and take your shades off. You tried to stare me out before and looked away first, I've already beat you mentally. You haven't got a clue," he added.