Paddy Pimblett SLAMS Arsenal Fans, Talks UFC & Merseyside Derby

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1:15And that's exactly why it's exciting to see Cadillac entering Formula One, bringing an American luxury brand with performance pedigree onto the biggest stage in motorsport. But this isn't just about the grid. That same racing mindset, the obsession with engineering, the pursuit of perfection lives in the Cadillac V-Series line-up giving you the chance to experience the precision and performance of the grid on the open road. Cadillac V-Series, distinctive luxury performance, engineered to thrill. Discover the V-Series line-up at cadillac.com I've made two Everton fans celebrate more when Liverpool lose against someone else than when Everton win.

1:54Is that true? No, you're happy when Liverpool lose. Come on City, come on City. I want them to win, you know what I mean? Really? Yeah. I hate Arsenal fans. I've lost before when I've been younger. After all them fights, I was proper devastated, like sat there crying and that. I didn't even cry after this one. Fuck! I hate Arsenal, you know. I still have had that win on City. Yeah, because you're a mank. I'm not a mank. You're a Scouse mank. Do you reckon City would do it then? I don't If they beat them Yeah But if Arsenal win You won't shut off a party So we're all together this week We're not in Manchester for once We're in Liverpool We're at the Munro pub And we've got one of your friends Is he a friend this week?

2:43Given it's Derby week Wayne? I don't think Derby week's always horrible For Evertonians Because Liverpool fans Not this one Yeah Maybe not this one Because Everton in decent form But it is always it's not nice he's more concerned than the Purple Eye Man United that was a dig wasn't it it's a neat example full brown Scouser right I know and then you're a Scouse man he's fought in Manchester more than he fought the Liverpool do you think everyone listening do you think everyone listening to this now knows who our guest is because we haven't actually introduced you but I think we've probably given it away Paddy thank you so much for being with us today is it a good week for you to be on here ahead of the derby?

3:29I don't know if we win but normally I'm very confident I'm like yeah we're going to slap these but this time I'm not I'm not confident I'll be honest Yeah there's been a bit of a sea change hasn't there in how the Evertonians are feeling Yeah Everton have done well I think I have expected them to do better with Moisey and they've done well this season and Liverpool haven't done so well and they're struggling a bit so yeah I think this is one where Everton have to go and try and win go and I have a bit of arrogance about them. Because I think Everton, over the last few months, have been a better team.

4:02The new stadium, the atmosphere has been great in the new stadium. So, just going there with a bit of belief that you can win. Moise just does something for Everton. It's weird. It's proper weird he just does something for Everton. I think he simplifies it. It's not over-complicated. It doesn't try and be something that's not good. Yeah, sometimes in football you can over-complicate it. Probably in fighting as well, you can think too much and trying complicated things rather than just doing your job, what's there in front of you. And I think that's all he's done. I think the Jews are better away from home.

4:33I have been this season, but I still think the first RB is the new stadium. Where do you think it went wrong for you guys this season? First start. No, it's just, I don't know, I can't really explain it myself. It's just weird. like we signed a lot of players but didn't sign areas what actually needed like we needed a center half lad and the owners were being bags with over five million quid for a guy when what's in football at what's five million quid on a transfer fee and he's gone to man city now you know what I mean he's gonna win the league with them so like it's just I'm seeing a stat today when the when city beat us to the first ever player to beat Liverpool five times in one season.

5:23Who gave? Yeah. I hadn't seen that stat. That's impressive. Community Shield. Beaters with Palace in the cup. Beaters with Palace in the league. Beaters with City in the league. And then Beaters with City. There's a weird irony about that, isn't it? When he came so close to signing for that. That was always going to happen when Liverpool didn't sign him. When you're a player, he will have known Liverpool was interested in being ready to go and sign him. but then if Liverpool you know they don't pay that extra bit of money as that player you think because the players put himself on the line with his club it was done in the end though wasn't it he's done his goodbye video to Palace and everything yeah so he's put himself on the line with Palace and then Liverpool pull out and it kills him because then he's left there so as a player there was that Glasner though wasn't it that Glasner said if you sell him I'm leaving that f***ing day that he against Chelsea what a turn and finish Don't rub it in that they didn't sign him.

6:17No, no, no. But I just thought for a centre-back to finish like that. He's quality, lad. He scores goals as well as defends brilliantly. When we didn't sign him, I was gutted. I thought, we signed him, we can go on here. Do you think he was a missing piece? Yeah. Yeah, I think Van Dyke needs help as well. Yeah. Where Van Dyke's been, they want to help the other centre-backs over his career at Liverpool. It's probably the first season where he's needed a bit of help around him. and then the two fullbacks changing with Trent and Robert's not playing and then now all of a sudden he's probably looking around the whole back line thinking I need some help here where he used to like back Canate as well now Van Dijk needs a bit of backing off Canate Canate just fell apart yeah so I think if Liverpool were Gay would have made a difference I think some of the players as well they lost Liverpool obviously Jota which is sad sad loss to everyone but then Diaz Diaz as well was a massive even Nunes Nunes even Nunes he was a nuisance I know he he went you know great he was a nuisance when you go to Anfield the hardest thing was you know you used to have it with Stevie with Dirk Kite the gun pressure and the aggressive I think that's what Nunes and Diaz done where I think they've lost that little bit I would say that's something we haven't done this season we're just sitting back and letting teams come at us and not pressuring them how do you want them to approach Sunday them going absolutely slapping

7:50it's it's evident they've got to be up for it but that's the thing we haven't even really got scouser in the start 11 unless Curtis Jones starts when he went off injured the other day so do you think that has a massive effect on it yeah you need a scouser in the team you just do I agree I agree yeah I think it makes a big difference you need people who know it and understand what the game is and of course the players have been there a long time they do but being a scouser being in them games it's you know you defeat it means so much not just to you but to your family as well and so all that's going to be and you can pass all that on to the players Exactly and you can motivate the other players by doing that saying lad we need to win this like I won't near the end of it if Everton win on Sunday Are you are you from it seems like I mean I know you've got Liverpool fans I mean Colleen's a Liverpool fan isn't she Have you got a split family?

8:44No. Oh. You literally looked at me like I asked him the worst question in the world then. My whole family's a poor fans. Oh, OK, so you don't have... We're not daft. So you don't have mates that are... You probably have mates... Oh, I have loads of mates and a proper, horrible, bitter and twisted. Did you see that word bitter again? Bitter, yeah. Bitter and twisted. Why do they look wee bitter? Because they're so bitter. The bitter blues. They think that we hate them that much. You do hate them quite a bit though. I think it's the same. My mate to it Everton fans celebrate more when Liverpool lose against someone else than when Everton win.

9:19Is that fair? Okay. Is that true? No, you're happy when Liverpool lose. Yeah! Of course, get out! No, of course, get out! You're happy when Liverpool lose, but... They're in the group chat, like, Brighton are beating us and they're all putting our little things in, like the little gifs of people surfing clubs of team and City are beating us. and it's like you usually get slapped by City as well that's the same with Liverpool fans when Man United lose they do the same then maybe when yous were good not anymore I'm not there normally we always ask people when they come on to this show how you got to know Wayne because it feels like everyone in Liverpool knows each other when did you first come across each other?

9:58first time was you fight yeah when we fought in London when we and Molly fought no Molly so we've known Molly for a while so we went to fight and then it was a great card there was Paddy on Molly Tom Asmo was on as well same card so after the one there was an after party so I went to the test room so he's walking around not on

10:21so we're waiting to go to the after party and then I end up carrying Molly's bag I've got the speakers yeah I've got a big massive jukebox thing over his shoulder after party and then I can't remember too much after that to be honest but that was a good night good end to the story is that a sign of a good night though? yeah it was We had a good time. What was funny was to go in and just see loads of people from Liverpool who I haven't seen for years. The whole of Liverpool in the O2 arena in one room. Yeah, that is what it was like. We've said it before when we've had Liverpool guests, it just feels like you do all just find each other.

10:55You must have spoken before that. You couldn't just end up in his... No matter what part of the world you go to, you will find a Scouser. That is just, it's weird. Wherever you go in the world, you'll bump into a Scouser. where you kind of see each other in your nose. I can tell you, look at someone's teenies or something. They just know. What was it you said before? You said they've got a bag. No, you've got... You'll have the little man bag, won't you, on the... Yeah, little man. Sunglasses around the neck. Sunglasses on the string on your neck. Yeah, you'll see them. Now the haircuts are a little bit different, obviously.

11:27You're unique, aren't you, with yours, but now they've all got the little fringe things. I can't have fun of them. So how's the friendship continued then? How have you kept in touch? No, it's more Molly I've been made with and obviously massive respect what these do. Obviously Molly's going to boxing now and Paddy. You get nervous when you're watching him fight. You still get nervous. I haven't known Paddy well, but you're still like, come on. Does he send you messages? It's brilliant. Yeah, of course. Yeah, the new video messages, I think I have. Yeah, before the last one. Yeah, little video messages.

12:10I always get nervous and conscious of doing it because I've known boxers as well who, the week the fight, they wanted to focus and I'm always thinking like... I'm an expert at them now, me lads. I've got so many selfie videos on me. Where I've done a video for someone's kids footy team or something and they're asking me to do them a video and the amount of happy birthdays and that. could make a killing on that for me, oh me. Make a killing. You've got to do those as well, don't you? Yeah, there's loads, yeah. You mentioned Molly then, I'm glad you did because she's fighting this weekend as well and I imagine you're looking forward to that.

12:48Yeah, always. Again, I think it's probably the right time, I think, for her to go into cross over and go into boxing. I feel, and she started off really well in her boxing career and, you know, hopefully she'll have a push and, and then go and try and challenge for the title. I think that's the big thing for her. Yeah, boxing was always her first love. It was always a passion. But when she first started fighting, there wasn't really women's boxing. It just wasn't a thing, but there was women's MMA. So she got into MMA and done very well. But obviously, she can box. She can box to win all the rage as well.

13:27You can box longer because you haven't got to do as many stupid things to train her like we do. so many different positions where you're knee can just snap in half but that's one blow I want to win the weekend you know what I mean have you have you come across Molly a lot then because you said you were friends with her how did that friendship start yeah she's from a similar area Molly and she's good friends with my family as well and yes just always been in touch really and it was after her last fight in Birmingham I ended up back at her house and it seems to be a theme here Wayne the after party always seems to have back of an hour and yeah we were there going to have it and game till all hours and that going to have it and games then when I was in I was in New York last season was it I think it was she's going to Villa game away and then she's FaceTiming it was early in the morning and then she's on the back of one of the the club supporters buses and the whole bus seeing Wayne Rooney on it and Paddy how did you start out because you mentioned Monday then but like what's your journey the start of it like everyone always say like what did you do before it but I didn't do anything I just went to the same gym at the end of it now and done a session so there's always MMA yeah done about three months of boxing when I was a kid when I was about 10 but never stuck with it and then walked into Next Gen on the 20th of January 2010 done a couple of sessions liked it and just that was it was like I'm going to do this as soon as I had my first fight like a year later i was like yeah this is what i'm gonna do did you did you know you could fight when you went into the gym when you first went in or was you just curious no i was just i'd watched a couple of ufc's i remember to watch one live like two weeks before i was went for a run at like six in the morning when i finished and thought i'm gonna have a go with this and then i went to the gym and i talked to jujitsu quite quick you know what i mean first ever session i'd never done anything before and i remember jumping a guillotine on some kid in kids class who had been doing it you know what i mean so kind of some of the lads in there who were pros at the time were like have you ever done anything before i was like nah lad never done i always say as well first ever session i've done because it was kids class then jujia 2 then thai done a thai class and i got absolutely battered by a woman there was a woman who used to come to the gym called millie and as i said i was only 15 i was about 50 key if that and she was obviously been training and she partnered with me and she absolutely battered me for three minutes.

16:03It's weird with like sports like Jiu Jitsu and stuff like that you'll see someone that unassuming you think they're not going to do anything to me and then like they wrap you up into We've had loads of people like that lad who just look unassuming and then they'll just rip your heel off for you. What did that moment do for you though? I just I always say that when I walked in the gym I just knew when I'd done my first couple of sessions it was like I'm going to do this and then it was like 15 months later one of the lads got injured and the coach said do you want to take this fight on a week's notice I was like yeah but I was 16 the lad was 24 and he'd already beat someone from the gym he was a year older than me so people were a bit worried you know what I mean I was like nah it's all good and I won it's my own decision three rounds and as soon as I got my hand raised that first time I was like yeah this is what I'm going to do must be a bit like a drug I guess once you've had that moment.

16:59There's no feeling like it. Getting your hand raised in the cage. There's literally no feeling like it. It must be so hard to stop. Yeah. You see with fights as well where they go on a little bit a little bit too long. Nothing's going to match that adrenaline, is it? Yeah, nothing. It must be hard to stop. I don't have to start skydiving and going skiing. Because it must be such an, I know it's kind of similar for you, but such an adrenaline rush. Yeah. There's no feeling like it. There really isn't. It's unbelievable. You can see it. I've told them before, before we come on, you can see it in their eyes, in the fight's eyes, and, you know, it's that focus.

17:35I've been lucky enough to sit ringside a few times, and when you're looking at them, I always, like, I'm quite curious, and I'm looking, trying to, like, see the face in their eyes, and you can see it, they've all got this look. There's a lot of people who have to go to, like, a really dark place before. Yeah, there's no weirdos like that, like, you know what I mean? Because I've seen my uncle runs to the boxing gym in Crocky. like whether it's boxing or UFC or mixed martial arts, whatever it is. I think the kids, especially in some of the areas in Liverpool, I think what that does for them kids, it's brilliant.

18:09It gets them off the seat of the world. I want to see some of the kids in our gym, lad. Like, it's mad. I'd best be retired in 10 years because I'm not fighting any of them. Really? I've been training since he was like five. You know what I mean? some of them now are like doing like world tournaments at like 13, 14, 15 and winning them and some of them are going to be next level because so much of that sport is as well is like things becoming like second nature to you almost right you don't want to be thinking about alright I'm going to get him into an armbar now the sport's so young it only started in like the early 90s so there's so many new things coming about all the time man I don't know that and these kids do not need to the red of the terror yeah he's um that's what I mean I don't want to be fighting him in 10, 15 years, so it's be cousins, lad, and you're seeing it and you're just like, at that age, it's mad.

18:59I don't know, he's one of the ones I'm on about. He's 11 now, is he? Something like that. But as I say, he's gonna be... How old were you when you started then? 15. Oh, okay, so yeah. We've got kids that are like, at my Jiu Jitsu gym, there's kids that are like three years old that are training. At the kids' classes. Yeah, we don't get them in that young, we think you've gotta be four or five. Is that three? I'm so much older. I was three, they don't really listen to that. They'd cap it out half-hour sessions, but yeah, three years old. What can you teach them at that age? A lot. Like a sponge.

19:31Yeah, I suppose. I think you... I've done a bit of boxing as well. With my lads now, four lads. I had it yesterday. They had five. So I put the gloves on them and said, are you going to fight? Because you don't want them to split their eyes open or whatever. But then you teach them, I think, first, how to handle themselves, which is important. but then also then it's a discipline if you want to go into it the discipline you get from from these is is spring showers bring epic off-road adventures so bring on the mud and bring on the spring at the honda spring event honda vehicles are built for exploring with the rugged honda pilot ridgeline crv and passport the road might stop but you're not done all from the 2025 kelly Blue Book Best Value Brand.

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21:14You're saying you don't want to fight those kids that are coming up, but would you still want to be around the gym, like coaching people and stuff like that, and watch the finish? Yeah, I don't know what I always, for years I said, I don't think I'll ever go into coaching. Really? I'm enjoying it a bit more now as I'm getting older. You know what I mean? I like helping the lads in the gym who are fighting, who are younger than me. I like corner and stuff like that, corner and when they're fighting. And just being there for them. You know what I mean? Some of the lads in the gym say that I'm the captain.

21:39Do they? That's nice to hear, isn't it? Do you like that? Yeah, I do. Because I'm not a coach, you know what I mean? I'm still a fighter. still train six days a week so but I think I think people will you might at the minute now you mightn't think that but I think what you've done for you know for that sport in Liverpool is is you've you've shown them that this can happen and you can you can get to a level and then that's probably why they're in the gym because they've seen you you do it do you know what I mean so you'll inspire them even without knowing it at times as well do you know what I mean hopefully I have do you know what I mean but I'm just me it seems I'm laughing phases you do you don't think about that sort of stuff where it's just like you're like pride of a city and in a wider sense the whole country is all at times when you're going out there nah just get on with it I think that's what maybe people have bought into though and why people like you so much do you agree like he just feels like you're just a normal guy that happens to be pretty talented I'm just one of the lads who started doing MMA yeah no I think that's a game we spoke about before when people represent Liverpool and you've got them fighting in Vegas, you know, representing Liverpool and I think what's great, after this fight you've always got a message, you know, which is about, you know, people in Liverpool or, you know, trying to help other people, which I think is brilliant, or whether you're trying to get the fighters more money, whatever it is, I think that's really important.

23:08I just thought it said nice to be nice, you know what I mean? No matter how much money you've got or how many people recognise you, it doesn't matter, say hello, you're all right. You know what I mean? You've also been really open on mental health as well. Why was that so important to you? I've been there myself years ago before I got to the UFC. I had so many mentors running through my head. And then my mate, like, he wasn't like a proper close mate, but he was my mate, killed himself, like, literally 36 hours before the force. And, like, when I said that in the case, like, nothing was planned.

23:42I don't know what I mean. I just come out. Like, I just said it. And it got a big response. But it's important, isn't it? I think, I feel it as, like, two people that watch these elite sports stars, to hear them say, talk about important things that are happening to everyone, it shows that they're human and it's real life. Yeah, especially for, like, younger children and younger men as well, to see someone in that position, because they often think, oh, it's not, like, it's not hard for you to talk about that sort of stuff or whatever. but for someone like yourself in that position to talk about it and be open with you, I think for kids it shows them it's the right thing to do.

24:19It shows if it affects everyone doesn't it? People look at athletes or whoever that is who are in the public eye a bit and think they're happy that this, this and you can be affected. I've spoken about it, I had my own issues when I was younger and when you've got a voice and you can come out and show people, if you talk as well, it's so important to do that. It does help a lot. You're in the midst of a camp right now. How hard is that? I've just started, really, because I'm going to be fighting in like 12 weeks or something. But I'm just starting my diet now, so I've just started sooner. I can have a couple of cheap meals and that then.

25:00Can we talk about the diet? What extremes do you have to go to? Because he used to cycle in a sauna, you said, to make weight. during pre-season I think you've been doing something similar recently the last week these are going to be weeks but only because I didn't do any training when I was off I used to think right I need to rest oh that's my time to rest so then you just had to cram it in at the end to get rid of the weight before I got weighed you used to get weighed on the first day so before I got weighed I'd sit in the sauna on a bike and just drop loads of pounds get weighed I mean some people would say that's smart you'd think loads of water but it's yeah Yeah, we'd always keep a steady weight and you'd be up a couple of pounds here and there.

25:39It's different for you, isn't it? But then obviously with fighters, it's that intent, I'd imagine, for that training camp and fight. Yeah, talk us through it, like how the diet and the process lead not to it. I know people always say like, oh, what's your trick? What's this? What's that? And there is no trick. It's just you're getting a calorie deficit. Is it that simple? Yeah, I burn more calories than I eat every day. So what are you eating right now? Anything you want or do you have like a sip? When I get off a diet, I eat anything I want, yeah. I'm not asked. I just eat anything. Anything I like.

26:13But you're on it at the moment, you're in one of your... I've just started, yeah, so we're getting meals and that to eat. But... Like yesterday, I only had one meal. I just had a stir fry in the night. After training all day? Yeah. Just because of the calorie deficit? Yeah, I haven't had a day when I've trained for three hours. I can do that. So, I'm not going to eat until I go to the maths. Yeah, do you know what? I was similar because I was, I would put weight on quite easily. So, I've gone into games dehydrated and actually gone into a game dehydrated because I felt better being lighter, whatever, so I was always conscious of my weight and I'd probably eat a lot on a Thursday and then Friday and Saturday I wouldn't eat, I'd eat anything.

27:01People say I should be more conscious of my weight. But I'm not asked. I guess you know what works for you as well, don't you? I make weight, you know what I mean? I've never missed weight. I like weight, so... And I never will. I'll always make it. Even when you're not in camp, do you still train? Yeah, I'm still training every day. Still just a little less intense, you know what I mean? You don't have to do as many sessions, but still training every single morning for two hours. Still spar twice a week, still lift twice a week, still box twice a week, you know what I mean? Oh, so you're doing weight sessions as well as...?

27:31Yeah. So next gen, two hours every morning, and I'll spar Tuesday, Thursday. I'll lift weights Wednesday after and strappy morning, and I'll box twice a week, so Monday, Thursday. And then that's without your runs and that as well. Oh, wow. It's a lot of movement. It's obviously so intense, the training, and that just makes me tired thinking about it, but it feels like you've embraced the social media side and the whole personality side that comes with it as well. How much do you enjoy that? Or does that just come natural? I'm just me, you know what I mean? I don't put no act on. I hate people that do that.

28:06I hate all that WWE s***. I don't do no act for no one. I'm just me, you know what I mean? And if you like it, you like it. If you don't, it's s***. That might... That must be the most stupid question I've ever asked. I knew you were going to say that as an answer. I can tell that from sitting there. You don't care, you're just you. No, I'm just me, you know what I mean? I wouldn't put an act on for no one. So, as you see, when you've got an opponent, do you make yourself hate them? or is it if you hate them, just generally... Or Sam would have calculated him after? That's my last few opponents I've been Sam with, you know what I mean?

28:36I think the last person that I had a little bit like that with in the build-up was Bobby Green. And then maybe a little bit with Tony Ferguson, but that was just because he started the press conference with Bobby Green. We had a little back and forth with them on a fourth channel and one of four days. Was that where you were dancing on his face? Was that Bobby Green? No, that was Levit. He said he was going to twerk on me when he finishes me. How long's your camp for? Well, I've got 12 weeks. Do you know when you're all a promotion, does that do your adding? Yeah, it can do. No one gets more than me as well.