• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Paddy The Baddy's Early Fight Footage Shows Just How Far He's Come

Home> Sport

Updated 17:07 25 Jul 2022 GMT+1Published 16:29 25 Jul 2022 GMT+1

Paddy The Baddy's Early Fight Footage Shows Just How Far He's Come

Pimblett, 27, started training in MMA when he was 15, proceeding to make his debut two years later in 2012

Jess Hardiman

Jess Hardiman

Early fight footage shows just how far Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has come since starting out in MMA, having since gone on to become one of the sport’s biggest names. 

Pimblett, 27, started training in MMA when he was 15, proceeding to make his debut two years later in 2012. 

The year before, he took on Scott Gregory in an amateur bout, with commentators noting how his opponent’s ‘long wrestling background’ meant he was the ‘arguably the most accomplished wrestler in UK MMA’ at the time. 

However, as seen in the footage - which was posted by ShareFight at the time - Pimblett ended up winning by first round rear naked choke, much to everyone’s surprise.

Commenting on the YouTube video, some people said he looked like a ‘12-year-old’ and had a ‘nobody’s home’ expression as if he was ‘stoned’. 

Advert

But the outcome of the fight proved Pimblett had promise even then, with others returning to the video to see just how far he’s come. 

Revisiting the clip nine months ago, one person wrote: “That boy didn't look like nothing but he showed everyone he’s something...” 

Someone else said: “That's f**kin AWESOME. 10 years ago WOW.” 

While Pimblett, who successfully took on Jordan Leavitt for the UFC Fight Night 208 at London's O2 Arena last weekend, may not have been the biggest guy when he broke into MMA, he benefited from a bit of sibling rivalry in the past - which he says helped prepare him for the octagon.

Pimblett just before taking on Scott Gregory in an amateur bout.
ShareFight

Advert

Speaking to BBC Sport last September, he said: “I wasn’t exactly a big scrapper when I was younger. 

“My brother’s five-and-a-half years older than me so I’d get beat up and I’d keep coming at him, and keep coming at him. 

“So when I eventually did learn to fight, that’s what I got good at.” 

He explained that he’d initially been reluctant to pursue a career in MMA because ‘the money was bad’, but added: “My coach had to convince me and say, ‘You’ve got a big opportunity here, don’t throw it away.’ 

“And then I went on a nine-fight win streak and became a world champ.” 

Advert

Next Generation Gym coach Ellis Hampson also remembered what it was like seeing a then-teenage Pimblett walk through the door. 

“When Paddy walked in the gym, Paddy was a 14-15 year-old skinny kid giving [bleeped] to all the older ones,” he recalled. 

Pimblett posing on the scale during the UFC Fight Night last weekend.
Alamy

Ellis continued: “In camp, he’s switched on. On the ball. Out of camp, he still trains all the time, but he just likes his food a little bit. 

“People have wanted to see him in the UFC for the last six-seven years. It’s been a long time coming. 

Advert

But Paddy was keen not to rush into UFC too early. 

“A lot of people rush at the chance to get in the UFC,” he said. 

“They’ll take short notice fights, they’ll lose the short notice fight – your dream’s over. I didn’t want that to happen to me. I was only 21 when they offered me a contract. I was very small. 

“I’m so happy that I never took the offer – that money that I got for them few fights off Cage Warriors, I got my own house, I paid my mum’s mortgage off, I helped my sister get a new kitchen.” 

Featured Image Credit: ShareFight

Topics: MMA

Jess Hardiman
Jess Hardiman

Jess is Entertainment Desk Lead at LADbible Group. She graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

X

@Jess_Hardiman

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
  • a day ago

    Pippa Middleton was turned away from Wimbledon's elite royal box after breaking major rule

    The sister of the future queen of England was reportedly turned away from the elite seating area

    News
  • a day ago

    Former Arsenal footballer Thomas Partey charged with five counts of rape

    The former Arsenal footballer has been charged

    News

    breaking

  • a day ago

    Wimbledon breaks iconic dress code after 148 years following death of Diogo Jota

    If players wish to pay tribute to Diogo Jota's memory then they'll be allowed to break the dress code

    News
  • a day ago

    Donald Trump announces UFC title fight on grounds of The White House in front of 20,000 people

    Donald Trump's America is just one big TV spectacle

    News
  • Paddy the Baddy takes two selfies after fight to see how much weight he puts on in just one week
  • Paddy Pimblett reveals huge weight gain after UFC win and admits he's 'heaviest he's ever been'
  • Incredible footage shows just how fast Olympic swimmers have become in the last 100 years
  • Paddy the Baddy shares insane amount of weight he put on in one day after his last fight