Paddy Pimblett eyes Conor McGregor at MSG if both win at UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett wants Conor McGregor at Madison Square Garden before the year ends, provided both lightweights win at UFC 329 on Saturday.

McGregor returns against Max Holloway in the main event after nearly four years away from the octagon. Pimblett fights Benoit Saint Denis in the Paramount+ co-main event, looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to Justin Gaethje in January. According to MMA Mania, Pimblett named the McGregor showdown as his ideal next step.

Pimblett says McGregor fight is 'perfect' next step

"The perfect fight for me would be Conor," Pimblett said. "If McGregor wins and I win, I want to fight again before the end of the year. I'll fight him at welterweight in MSG, something like that." The Liverpudlian acknowledged his stock rose after the Gaethje war despite the defeat, noting his seven-fight win streak over opponents like Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson drew less attention than five rounds of getting "me head punched in."

Pimblett dismissed his Saturday opponent's ranking jump after Saint Denis beat Dan Hooker, calling the New Zealander "terrible." He sits sixth in the lightweight rankings to Saint Denis' fifth. "I think I'm better than him everywhere the fight goes," Pimblett added, per the report. He expects UFC 329 to set viewership records with McGregor back, though he conceded he would be "the second star of the show" at best.

McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Pimblett stands 23-4 and needs a statement win to re-enter title contention. UFC 329 airs Saturday night from Las Vegas.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — If Conor McGregor wins at UFC 329, Paddy Pimblett wants ‘Notorious’ showdown at MSG — ‘The perfect fight’