Paddy Pimblett | Ep. 154

Summary

Full Send Podcast Episode Summary: Paddy Pimblett | Ep. 154

Podcast Information:

• Title: Full Send Podcast
• Host/Author: Shots Podcast Network
• Description: Full Send Podcast brought to you by Happy Dad Hard Seltzer.
• Episode: Paddy Pimblett | Ep. 154
• Release Date: April 7, 2025

---

Introduction

In Episode 154 of the Full Send Podcast, hosted by Shots Podcast Network, the spotlight is on the charismatic and ever-popular mixed martial artist, Paddy Pimblett. The episode delves deep into Paddy's career developments, his upcoming bout against Michael Chandler, insights into the lightweight division, personal struggles, and future aspirations. The conversation is candid, insightful, and enriched with Paddy's trademark humor and honesty.

---

Upcoming Fight with Michael Chandler

UFC Fight Week Excitement

The episode kicks off with palpable excitement as the hosts introduce Paddy Pimblett, affectionately referred to as "Patty the Baddie." They discuss the anticipation surrounding his upcoming fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 314.

Fight Discussion and Strategy

Paddy shares his thoughts on Michael Chandler’s fighting style and how he plans to counter it:

• Powerful Strikes:
  “He’s got his main thing that you’ve got to watch out for is power in his hands. I mean, he comes forward and he throws big, big left hooks, big overhand rights.”
  (00:35)

• Confidence in Victory:
  “I don’t see where he can beat me. The only way he’s going to beat me is if he throws a Hail Mary punch and it knocks me out. But I don’t get knocked out, lad.”
  (03:23)

Impact on Lightweight Division

Paddy emphasizes the significance of this fight in reshaping the lightweight landscape:

• Elevation in Rankings:
  “Once I beat Michael, that's going to change. I'm not going to be a prospect anymore. I'm going to be a contender.”
  (04:40)

• Future Contenders:
  “I’ll be in the top seven fighters in the world behind Islam, Makhachev, and I’ll be asking for a top four fighter after that.”
  (05:11)

---

Insights on the Lightweight Division

Current State and Future Prospects

Paddy provides an analysis of the current lightweight division, highlighting the aging "old guard" and the potential for new talents to emerge:

• Aging Champions:
  “Chandler, who is 38. You've got Dustin, Justin, and Charles, who are all 35 and older.”
  (07:02)

• Emerging Talent:
  “In the next two or three years, the top 10 is going to look completely different.”
  (07:02)

Potential Matchups

The discussion touches on possible future fights and how they might influence the division:

• Ilia Shamerov’s Move to 155:
  “He’s moving up to 155, and that fight’s there down the line. That fight’s got to happen. That’s a fight that you can have as a pay-per-view main event with no title on the line.”
  (05:30)

• Sean O’Malley vs. Peter Aerts:
  “I still want to see Sean O’Malley versus Peter Aerts too.”
  (31:55)

---

Personal Career Journey and UFC Relationship

Early Career and UFC Decisions

Paddy recounts his early days in MMA, his initial reluctance to sign with the UFC, and the strategic decisions that shaped his career:

• Turning Down Early UFC Offers:
  “I knew I wasn't ready. I was still a child, still a child fighting men. And I know for a fact of order to come into the UFC at that time, I probably would have got rag doll by men where I was.”
  (12:11)

• Gratitude Towards Cage Warriors:
  “I'm very grateful to Cage Warriors. They set me up for the start of my adult life really.”
  (12:54)

Building a Strong UFC Relationship

Despite initial hesitations, Paddy emphasizes his positive relationship with the UFC:

• Contract and Performance:
  “As soon as I knocked Luigi Benzemini out and got the mic and said, scousers, don't get knocked out the UFC ever. Love me, I'm your God, who don't want you.”
  (37:13)

• Current Standing:
  “As I say, I've got a great relationship with UFC. I always have done since the first sign, and I can't see it souring anytime soon.”
  (37:13)

---

Weight Cutting and Physical Preparation

Challenges and Strategies

Paddy opens up about the grueling process of weight cutting, the physical toll it takes, and how he manages it:

• Extreme Weight Cuts:
  “I was like 96 kilo. But, like, that's a lot of water and like keeping all of it because I weighed myself again on the Friday after a week of training, and I was like 90 kilo.”
  (16:05)

• Mental Fortitude:
  “You've got to have the mental fortitude for it. It's more mental and physical, really.”
  (18:21)

Improvements and Current Practices

Reflecting on past experiences, Paddy discusses how he's optimized his weight-cutting regimen:

• Learning from the Past:
  “I've done 30 and a half pound last time. And I was heavier at this stage. Last time, a week out, I wasn't 172, it was more like 174, 175. So this time I'm gonna have less weight to cut.”
  (18:54)

---

Mental Health and Personal Struggles

Facing Adversity

Paddy shares his personal battles with mental health, especially following tragic events and challenging fights:

• Loss of a Friend:
  “He took his own life... It was a rough one, but it was just.”
  (20:17)

• Impact of Fights:
  “After that fight, it affected me bad because in the first round I had a deep rear naked choke on and if my hand weren't so weak it would have put him to sleep. But because my hand was so weak it never...”
  (22:11)

Advocacy and Support

Dedicated to breaking the stigma around men's mental health, Paddy discusses his efforts to support and advocate for mental well-being:

• Charitable Contributions:
  “With the Body Foundation, I try and help charities that help with men's mental health. There's a charity in the UK called James's Place and we donated money to that from my foundation.”
  (20:23)

• Personal Advice:
  “Just talk to somebody, get it off your chest.”
  (24:16)

---

Future Plans and Career Roadmap

Aiming for the Championship

Paddy outlines his ambitious yet structured plan to ascend to the top of the lightweight division:

• Immediate Goals:
  “I’m gonna beat Michael Chandler. I’m gonna finish Michael Chandler in two rounds.”
  (35:36)

• Long-Term Aspirations:
  “And then I’m on a fight. Someone like Charles Oliveira and Abu Dhabi Charles or Justin, I think Dustin will be retired by then... And then once I beat them, fight for the title in 2026.”
  (35:38)

Potential Super Fights

Open to the idea of expanding his horizons, Paddy contemplates the possibility of engaging in high-profile matches outside the UFC:

• Boxing and Super Fights:
  “If someone was offering me millions of pounds, hundreds of millions to box someone, I’m doing it.”
  (36:35)

---

Conclusion

The episode concludes on an optimistic note, with Paddy expressing his determination and gratitude:

• Determined Focus:
  “I'm in the gym every single day, even after a fight, even when you see me fat. I'm in the gym every day training. I don't miss a session.”
  (27:18)

• Final Motivation:
  “I'm gonna bring it. I'm gonna come out and I'm gonna take Michael Chandler's head off... I’m gonna beat him.”
  (42:07)

The hosts wrap up by expressing their support and excitement for Paddy's upcoming fight, reaffirming Paddy's status as a rising star poised to make significant waves in the UFC lightweight division.

---

Notable Quotes

• Paddy on Taking Fights:
  “Whoever I get offered, I say, yeah, I'm never turning a fight down. It's just not in me. I'm a fighter.”
  (02:35)

• On Fighter Evolution:
  “He’s made this. Changed his nickname to a nickname, hasn't he? Like legend or something. Yeah. Should have changed it to El Churizo.”
  (05:30)

• Mental Health Advocacy:
  “It's a proper old fashioned stigma. We shouldn’t be even saying in 2025.”
  (21:53)

• Reflection on Past Fights:
  “If I were to steamroll Jared and then fought someone in the top 15, you never know, my career might be different. I might have got beaten by.”
  (30:22)

---

This episode of the Full Send Podcast offers an in-depth look into Paddy Pimblett's mindset, strategies, and personal journey, providing fans and listeners with valuable insights into one of MMA's most entertaining and promising fighters.

Transcript

[A]

All right, boys, we got a sick pod today. UFC Fight Week. We got Patty the baddie on the pod. It's been a long time in the making. We've been going back and forth for, like, I look today, like, two or three years. So you come a long way. So I'm pumped to have you on, bro.

[B]

Yeah, you're not wrong. It is a long time in the making. Looking forward to this. But, yeah, in them last three years being some big developments in me career, in my life. So it's probably better that we've waited a little bit longer. We've got more to talk about.

[A]

How do you like Miami?

[B]

I love it.

[A]

What's your first impressions?

[B]

It's great. I mean, we've only been here less than 48 hours, and it's a great city. It's probably. Probably my favorite city of this in San Diego. I think of me two favorite cities.

[A]

Ever since COVID too. Miami completely changed. So every time I come to fights here, they're, like, so electric. So I think you're gonna love fighting in the Miami atmosphere.

[B]

I make it electric anyway, you know, that's a winner.

[A]

I saw you say on the interview, you did an interview recently. You're saying, like, there's a ton of fans.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

In the Miami area. You've been getting, like, recognized.

[B]

Like, yeah, I've been quite a few pitches already being. And some very nice words spoken to me, so I can't wait to walk out. I was saying yesterday on an interview that, you know, Chandler trains in Miami, and, like, if it was anyone else fighting them, they'd probably be, like, an away fighter and get booed.

[A]

But is that weird for you, like, coming from overseas and coming to America and being like, the hometown crowd is for you?

[B]

No, I think anywhere I go, when my music comes on, everyone just wants to be a part of the party. The party. So it's just gonna be like, any other night.

[A]

All right, guys, it's UFC Fight Week. We got Patty Pimblet on the pod. So pumped for this one. Before we get into it, if you guys have not tried out the Prize Picks app, you gotta download it right now. You guys know me. I have tried every single app. When it comes to firing on sports and prize picks, hands down is the best app in the game. Baseball's back on. NBA and NHL playoffs are around the corner. The Masters is on next weekend. And UFC314, that Patty's fighting on is next weekend, as we're actually going to be at the fight. So we're doing a Community play on the Prize Picks app. So look out for that on the Prize Picks app. Make sure you tail our pick. Also, we got you guys on Code Nelk. Plug in Code Nelk and put in just $5 and you get $50 free, no strings attached. It's that simple. So, guys, download the Prize Picks app. There's no better time to fire on sports. Literally everything's on. Download it and use Code Nelk. Let's get into the pod. How did this fight come about? And, like, did you have any say in, like, who you were fighting next? Or did the UFC kind of just come to you with Chandler?

[B]

I don't care who they say, you know what I mean? Whoever I get offered, I say, yeah, I'm never turning a fight down. It's just not in me. I'm a fighter. So when Chandler, he first got mentioned in December with a fight, Michael Chandler next. And I was like, yeah, of course I will. It's a lovely jump up the rankings for me and prepare to fight anyone. And it took a while, little while for it to get finalized, really. I think he was recovering from something and he was trying to push it back to June. It's my daughter's birthday is like five days after the fight, so I want to be able to actually enjoy their birthday and enjoy a couple of little months or two off with them and go on holiday and stuff. So I just said, I'm fighting April 12, whether it's Michael Chandler or not. And he stepped up to the plate.

[A]

That's us. Well, he's a big star for sure. No doubt. What do you make of his, like, his actual skill set? Like, as a fighter, he's well rounded.

[B]

Like, he's got his main thing that you've got to watch out for is power in his hands. I mean, he comes forward and he throws big, big left hooks, big overhand rights. As soon as you get punched in the face, he just wants to have a brawl, and I'll be using that against him. I was saying this yesterday and interview. I just. I don't see where he can beat me. He only way he's going to beat me as he throws a Hail Mary punch and it knocks me out. But I don't get knocked out, lad. So I can see me just dismantling them and beating them everywhere. And I can see me beating them more convincingly than Porier Gagy.

[A]

And Charles did, because Charles went to decision, right?

[B]

Five rounds. So did Gagey. Charles went five rounds. Gagey went to decision with him. Poirier Submitted them in the third. And in the first fight with Charles, he dropped him in the first and nearly finished them, but then Charles TKO them in the second round. But as I say, they've all made hard work of them. They've all made a. A tough fight. Most of them have been fight of the night. No fight of the night coming this time. I'm getting performance of the night after a fast finish.

[A]

So after this fight, since Chandler is a fucking huge star. So where do you think if you beat Chandler, where does this elevate you in, like, the lightweight division? I feel like after this win for you, this is going to completely shake up lightweight.

[B]

Yeah, like crazy it is. It's going to shake up lightweight in a big way. It's a. I still get called a prospect, know what I mean? So once I beat Michael, that's going to change. I'm not going to be a prospect anymore. I'm going to be a contender. I'll be coming and taking rank seven. I'll be in the top seven fighters in the world behind Islam, Makhachev, and I'll be asking for a top four fighter after that. Arman, Justin, Dustin or Charles. Want to fight one of them? Just want to beat one of them. I'll be, I'll be number one contender.

[A]

What about Ilia because he's moving up to 155, right?

[B]

Yeah. Oh, he's you guys.

[A]

And you guys have a long history. That press conference two years years ago was one of the most entertaining press conferences of all time. Your chirps like calling him like a chorizo sausage and that's what he should.

[B]

Have changed his name to.

[A]

That's funny.

[B]

He's made this. Changed his nickname to a nickname, hasn't he? Like legend or something? Yeah. Should have changed it to El Churizo, but they're being well for you.

[A]

What do you make of his, like, evolvement? Because that was. That was a long time ago and now he's kind of leveled up, like.

[B]

Yeah, he has. But we always knew he was a good fighter, know what I mean? Like, that's sort of what pisses me off about him, even though I hate him and I think he's a bellend. Like, I wouldn't lie and say he's a fighter because he's not. But that's what he says about me and it made me laugh. And he said. What did he say? He called me fat. I said, lad, you can't make your weight division anymore that you are champion of and you're trying to Call me fat. He's a lad. He's tiny. He's smaller than Michael Chandler. You just see what I do to Michael Chandler next Saturday night when I dismantle him. And it'll be a very similar game plan to be Delia. He's small. He walks forward swinging shots. I'll kick him up and down the octagon and I'll either knock him out or submit him like that. That fight's there down the line. Only 100. That fight's got to happen. That's a fight that you can have as a pay per view main event with no title on the line.

[A]

That gives me, like, chills just thinking about that. The press conferences and that'd be.

[B]

Yeah. Depressed. He'd have to do a world tour for that like they did with Aldo McGregor. That'd be hilarious. Yeah, Ilya, you know, it sits there anytime. Know what I mean? Anytime.

[A]

It seems like. It seems like they don't know what to do because Ilya moved up. I don't know if Islam wants to fight him or not. So, like, he's looking for an opponent.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. It seems like this fight is really gonna decide a lot of stuff in that whole division.

[B]

Yeah. As I've said it a few times, like the old guard of the lightweight division, they're all on the way out. We've got Chandler, who's 38. You've got Dustin, Justin, and Charles, who are all 35 and older. I think even Dan might be 35. Mo's 38. Dariush is 38. In the next two or three years, the top 10 is going to look completely different. The only person in the top 10 I can think of who's on the 35s. Armon Sukiya. He's just a little posh boy who's had everything under term on a silver platter by his dad.

[A]

Do you think he actually got injured or no. Or what do you think happened?

[B]

No, he's a little ass. That's what you are, little boy.

[A]

I was confused too, because, yeah, we had him on the pod that week too. And then. I don't know, he was doing videos too with the Nina. With Nina drama. He was like wrestling and.

[B]

And then he was doing them videos where he flips forward on his neck.

[A]

Right.

[B]

And then he's saying that he's got a bad back. Dana said, didn't he? It was like Dana shot him down in that interview. I was like, whoa, that's heavy. That you don't want the boss saying that a buyer, but because he got asked in the as and still number one, and he was like, no, Right. He's gonna have to go back to the drawing board.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

He basically said that, like, doctors come out and Heather, the best masseuse in the PI, come out and they never said to fight. He decided he's not gonna fight. So basically you. Your pants. Know what I mean? That's what you did. You farted and followed through and had coming down your leg. So that's basically what happened.

[A]

Yeah. As a fan, that pull out sucked for sure. Like, I was pissed when I saw that.

[B]

Do you think.

[A]

Do you think Islam moves up?

[B]

That's what I was about to say. I read something just yesterday saying he's gonna wait until the Bilal Jack De La Mandelina fight and see how that. Yeah, and if JDM wins, he's gonna go up and fight for that belt. But I don't think the UFC would strip Islam or make him vacate the belt like they did with Ilya. Wouldn't surprise me if Islam does move up after this, because he deserves it. Beaten Volk, beaten Poirier, and then vault again. And I know the Moicano one was very.

[A]

You went pretty hard on Moicano, right?

[B]

I was just being honest. Play.

[A]

You say he should have just went to sleep.

[B]

Yeah. He's never going to get that opportunity again. He's never going to fight for the lightweight title again. He shouldn't have fall for it that time. He didn't deserve it. But he got the title shot. If I got a title shot like that on 24 hours notice, I am. Even if I got a title shot on eight weeks notice, I am not going. I'm. I'm not tapping in a choke in an arm bar or a knee bar or a kamora where your arm's going to snap or you. You're gonna have a life career threatening injury. Yeah. But when you go asleep, you just wake back up. So go asleep, go out on your shield, don't be a little ass and tap in like three seconds. Like, I just, I didn't get it. And then he clapped back and he said this and he said that, but want to be Chandler. Moicano's in the rear view.

[A]

You saw Ilya, like recently, right? And you guys dab each other up.

[B]

Yeah. It was quite funny because in the back, all the UFC security was like, yeah, look at Ra like that. And then he's come out and started walking towards where I was. And as I say, all UFC security is themselves. And then he's just looked up at me and went. So I've just started laughing to myself and went and done it back. So obviously then when he was out on stage, I thought, can't. Can't argue with him here. He's just saluted me in the back and being all right. And obviously, my little mate was fighting Nathan Fletcher, so I didn't want to take anything away from him. So as I walked past him, I just, like, thought, what can I do? Yeah, I just felt like that it was quite funny, to be fair. If he was playing 3D chess, he would have won, because if it was Rock Paper, Scissors lady went like that. But, yeah, he said so in an interview after. Like, we weren't in our fighting roles or something like that. But you know what? It just caused absolute havoc on the stage. Would have been murder.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I'm not one of them. I'm not like him. I wouldn't punch someone when they don't expect it or try to punch someone when they don't expect it, like he did to me. I'm not like that. I mean, I wouldn't steal it on someone. I'd let him know and then I'd punch him in the face.

[A]

Would you say this is the biggest fight of your career?

[B]

Oh, yeah, definitely the biggest fight to make it. Yeah.

[A]

Because you haven't started for so long. But I feel like it's. It's been like. Have you been purposely taking your time for, like, a big, big fight like this? Do you know what I mean?

[B]

It's been a slow progression, but me whole career as apart from when I was younger, because I had my first amateur fight when I was 16, and then I turned professional when I was 17 because I had no amateur fights left to do. Would beat everyone. At first, I was going pretty fast. Like, I won. I won a world title when I was 21, but then I lost twice. And then, like, I moved up in weight and my body, I was still too small for the weight class, and I had to grow into me MIA like, me build. And since then, we've. We've took it pretty slow, you know what I mean? We've just took it step by step. Like, I got offered two UFC contacts before I actually signed. I got off of the contact when I was 21, and I got off of the contact when I was 23, and I didn't actually sign until I was 26.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What was the reason for that?

[B]

I knew I weren't ready. Be honest. We spoke about it with me coaches, and I wasn't I was still a child, still a child fighting men. And I know for a fact of order to come into the UFC at that time, I probably would have got rag doll by men where I was. I was a very small fighter, I wasn't big at all. And I had a lot of holes in me game, a lot of things that I needed to work on. And over time we've worked on it and now I feel like a complete fighter. I don't feel like I'm outmatched by anyone in the division. Anywhere the fight goes was that tough.

[A]

To turn down at the time because I'm sure the money in the UFC must have been better than whatever you were fighting for in another league, right? Yeah, that's like a pretty calculated decision. No, it wasn't better.

[B]

When I got offered the first contract I got off of the new Cage warriors deal and that deal was worth more than the base contract for the ufc. And I done a lot with that money, you know what I mean? I saved that money up over years to get a house deposit myself, paid my mom's mortgage off, done a few things like that. And that money done a lot for me over them years. So like I'm very grateful to Cage Warriors. They set me up for the start of me adult life really, because that was when I was 21, when I first started getting that wage. When I first started for the ufc, I took a pay cut because as you know the UFC starting deals 10 and 10, I, I signed for a pay cutter first. My first two fights are 10 and 10 and 12 and 12. And then obviously after, after the one we second fight, I got a new deal and it went up.

[A]

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[B]

Well, now I've got a new contract again, so I'm getting more money to fight. Yeah, I have sponsors outside of the cage and other things like that. Like, me two main sponsors are on Drama. What I've got on now, I've got that.

[A]

That's a dope spot.

[B]

Yeah, it's a heavy sponsor. Great sponsor. I got that. And I've been sponsored by a nutrition company called Applied Nutrition for two or two years now. Three years. They're me two main sponsors there where I get me money. And outside of fighting, what happened with the barstool deal?

[A]

It used to be with them, right?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, used to be a Bar Still. That was. That deal was unbelievable. On the rainbow. It was when Dave bought Bar still back for $1, because the parent company, what other it first, like, had it before Dave bought it back. They added in death, I think. I mean, where they just wanted to do the sports book. So when Dave bought it back, he caught a lot of jobs and caught a lot of thing to make sure it was making profit again, right? And he just said, like, obviously, I'll always be here for you. Anything you need, just let me know. But the sponsorship was gonna run.

[A]

One thing you're always famous for too, is your. Your weight cuts and, like, how you used to fluctuate and wait like crazy. Are you still gaining weight like that in between fights like you used to?

[B]

We'll see when I go to America next. It's America. What does it to me when I go to America, lads? The food here, I put ridiculous amounts of weight on. Never forget being in San Diego. I'm wearing myself one Monday morning and I was like, 96 kilo. 210, 215.

[A]

Holy.

[B]

I was like, 96 kilo. But, like, That's a lot of water and like keeping all of it because I weighed myself again on the Friday after a week of training, and I was like 90 kilo.

[A]

So you probably cut like 20, 25 for a fight too, right? Or whatever it is. And then another like 34.

[B]

Normally walk around about 185 to 195. Walk around about that. Right now I'm only like 172 this way because it's going to be pretty easy, to be honest, compared to other ones I've done in the past.

[A]

What, like you in America? Like what, like after, like, what, Cheat meals?

[B]

Everything. Everything.

[A]

What' what's your three favorite restaurants here?

[B]

In and out, in and out. Loving it. In and out. Burger 4x4.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. Jeff. I like everything. Wings. Wings. I love Italian food. I love Thai food.

[A]

Italians. It's the best.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Pasta.

[B]

We've walked past a few Mexican restaurants here. What I think look fantastic.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Even like the diners and things like that. And then obviously you've got like Dunkin Donuts and things like that. Yeah.

[A]

What donuts? Cookies.

[B]

Yeah, cookies. Like, never had a cookie dough pie.

[A]

Oh, I have. I've tried that. Yeah.

[B]

Well, I had one of them. Cookie dough pies are the best dessert on the planet. The unbelievable. I'm just sitting here now, salivating over it, thinking, wow. And I have a cookie dough pie. Oh, when I get home, there's a shot by ours that does them like big thick ones. I'll be in them, celebrating.

[A]

So this going into this fight, like, what. What weight were you kind of like chilling at for the last few? Like, were you up to 210, not high?

[B]

The highest that I got before this fight was like 88 kilo, which is. I think that's like 193, something like that. What I mean, right. The last fight, when I fought Bobby Green, the night before the wing, I was 169.5. So we're done 13 and a half pound overnight in the bat.

[A]

How much of a toll does that take on you?

[B]

It's one of them. You've got to have the mental fortitude for it. It's more mental and physical, really. A lot of people are when it comes to the bathroom, I want to get. Get out and like, oh, I can't do this.

[A]

That sounds.

[B]

As I say, you've got to be mentally strong to do it. But as I say, this is going to be. This one's going to be pretty easy for me. As I said, I've done 30 and a half pound last time. And I was heavier at this stage. Last time, a week out, I wasn't 172, it was more like 174, 175. So this time I'm gonna have less weight to cut.

[A]

Probably feels nicer.

[B]

Yeah. That's another thing. As long as I've got less than 30 and a half pounds, I'm very happy and I know I'm gonna have less than 30 and a half pound.

[A]

Did you have to change like stuff based on prior weight cuts? Like was there ever a weight cut that was like K.O. i gotta no more cookie cream pie.

[B]

Yeah, I've had a few. It was more when I was making featherweight, when I was fighting a featherweight one time, well, two times that I went five rounds as well. When I fought Juliana rosa, I caught 8.3 kilo overnight. I think it's about 18 pounds, something like that. 17 pound, I caught that overnight.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And then when I thought not of my honey, I've done £16 overnight. I felt like absolute dog in the fight against the Rosa after the third round of gassed and was just surviving for two rounds. And then again in the NAD fight, I was pretty similar. It was just surviving towards the later end of the fight. So doing less weight obviously helps and it'll help me even more because you've seen how jacked Michael Chandler is. Even though. Even though he's very small, he's probably gonna cut a lot of weight as well because he's so wide. Yeah.

[A]

Was it your last fight you gave the post fight speed about mental health?

[B]

No, that was a. That was a few years ago. Yeah, that was 20, 23 to. That night after me mate killed himself.

[A]

That was like a really big moment and I saw that it kind of like affected like a lot of people. Those are like a big response on the Internet.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Is that still like a passion of yours, like men's mental health?

[B]

Yeah, I still get messages about it now. I mean, people I'm going to bump into some people like how you save my life or you save my mate's life or my son's life. I'm just like, I didn't save anyone's life. That I just said what anyone in my position should say, feel like people who are in the public eye, anything like that they should speak about. Know what I mean? Because people do sit up and take notice, things like that. That's proper close to me heart now because Ricky took his own life and as I say, it was 36 hours before I thought it was on early hours on the Thursday morning, what I found out and then I weighed in the next morning and then fought the next night. It was a rough one, but it was just. And I never planned to do that. It just, it comes in my head when I was about. When I was doing me talk me post fight interview and I just thought I need to speak about this because the amount of people that you. Or the amount of men that you hear what kill themselves now, it still happens now news of people killing themselves. A lot of those that same in the San Diego hacker CD killed himself a few months ago and you know, it's, it's heartbreaking, it's tragic. Now with the Body Foundation, I try and help charities what help with men's mental health. There's a charity and live well in the UK called James's Place and we donated money to that from me foundation so that they can employ an extra person for two years and they can be a counselor.

[A]

So it's just like a stigma, right, that like men are supposed to be tough and hard and like they can never feel away or like is that kind of what it's.

[B]

Yeah, it's a proper old fashioned stigma. I mean that's. It's like saying women should only stay in the kitchen. What I mean like saying men shouldn't talk. It's a thing of the past. It's on the. We shouldn't be even saying in 2025.

[A]

Is that something that's ever like personally affected you? Like mental health?

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like as I said before, I lost. I lost two fights out of three at one point in my career. And I went into the second fight injured. Shouldn't have fought Wednesday, the second fight with a broken hand. But I felt like the whole show was riding on me. It needed me, otherwise it wouldn't have, it wouldn't have worked. And I had about 18 mates fighting on it. So I, I didn't pull out. I should have still fought. I had a splint on my hand. Even like a week before the fight signing I had a splint underneath me boxing wraps. Again, I shouldn't have done it but after that fight it affected me bad because in the first round I had a deep rear naked choke on and if my hand weren't so weak it would have put him to sleep. But because my hand was so weak it never. And it burnt my arms out and I lost the fight over five rounds. So just every morning I'd wake up me now wife would give me a kiss and Go to work. And I just lie there crying, just like, what? How's this happened? Have I not won that belt? And I was like that for months and months and months because of that with me. And I didn't, I couldn't fight because I had to have more surgery and I didn't fight for like 18 months. I was meant to fight like 14 months later, but some fat dick head weighed in like nine pound overweight, so I couldn't fight. And then I did, as I said, then end up fighting for 18 months. And then we hold. Well, nearly fell apart again. Because the weekend I was meant to fight was the weekend that all the COVID restrictions came in. So we had to fight behind closed doors. It was luckily enough, like Cage warriors was the first and only sporting event to happen that weekend, the same weekend that UFC London got canceled. Cage while he is at the show, behind closed doors. So I was lucky that I even got to fight, otherwise I would have hit a deeper depression. That place, what I mentioned before, James's place, without them, I don't know if it'd still be here because I went and got counseling and went and spoke to someone in there who helped me a lot.

[A]

So what would be your biggest advice to someone that's like, you know, struggling something.

[B]

Just talk to somebody, get it off your chest. What I mean, like, it's funny because he sat here, he boxing coach Chris, remember sitting with him and I'm saying something like that to me, oh, lads, you speak about, it's not as bad. But I sat there and don't know. I ended up crying, speaking to him and like, I woke up the next day and I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. And as I say, I was going to counsel and stuff like that as well. And I think I told the Mrs. And I told someone else, but even at that time, I had that stigma. I was like, I can't speak to the Mrs. About this. She'll think less of me. I can't speak to me mates about this. Still think I'm a mushroom, especially maybe.

[A]

As a fighter too. Yeah, More is supposed to be like the epitome of like, yeah, a hard ass.

[B]

It's tough and all that. I'm not meant to feel like that, but just shows that anybody can feel like that. Doesn't matter what war life you're in or how, how hard or tough you are or how confident you are, because I am, when it comes to fighting, I'm the most confident person in the world. I don't think Anyone will beat me. But when it comes to your emotions and your feelings, it's a completely different ballgame.

[A]

Real quick, let's talk about making money online. Because if you're trying to do it and you're not doing Shopify, you are missing out. You guys know how crazy our full send merch drops got? The reason it was so successful was the business behind the business was Shopify. They were there for us since day one, since we were selling merch in our garage to when we had 300,000 people on our website at a time. Shopify was there for us every step of the way. So whether you guys are running a side hustle or trying to build a business empire, Shopify has your back. And with Shopify's new feature, shop pay conversions can go up by 50%. That's way more or less abandoned carts. It even allows us to offer you guys free shipping with a purchase of $100 or more on FullSend.com right now. Go to FullSend.com to take advantage of it. Now if you want to get started, you guys can sign up for a $1 per month free trial at shopify.com fullsend so guys, go to shopify shopify.com fullsend Sign up for a $1 per month free trial and take your business to the next level today. What would you say you like fight for now as opposed to maybe in the past? Has it changed at all?

[B]

Well, now that I've had kids and I've got two babies, I fight for them when I've like. Obviously everyone has that little thing in them when they feel like quitting. They don't want to do no more. I just think of me kids and I think of me opponents are to take food out my kids mouth and I think no, this isn't happening. I want to work harder. I want to make sure that I am unbeatable. That is my main motivation. All the lads have said to me since I actually had the kids, there's been like a switch in me. I haven't noticed it personally because I'm just me. But me family, me friends meets me coaches, my teammates have all said that I'm a lot more focused, I'm a lot more switched on. I'm trying even harder than I've ever tried. And it's because I've got a wife and two children alone that I need to look after, I need to provide for and I'm not letting no man beat me and stop me from providing for them.

[A]

I bet that keeps you like, more dialed, right? Just having that. When you were coming up, did you ever go through, like, a little bit.

[B]

Of a. Oh, yeah. When I was younger, When I was younger, when I was 21 and I won that cage while he was world title, it went to me. Edible. I was going out partying all the time, Going out Saturday, Sunday, out till 4:35 in the morning. Then I'd have three hours sleep and get up and go to the gym. And I just wasn't focused. I wasn't all in. Like, you need to be in this game. And that's why I'm so glad that I didn't go to UFC when I first got offered, because I had to have that realization years ago. I had to have that when I was 21, 22, thinking I was the boy, thinking I was the best in the world, already thinking I didn't need to work or not. Like, back then, I wasn't in the gym consistently 365 days a year. I was going in for fight camps, and it was focused on weight cuts. I wasn't really focused on technique and getting better. Where now I'm in the gym every single day, even after a fight, even when you see me fat. I'm in the gym every day training. I don't miss a session. I'm in there whether I'm fast, whether I'm injured, if I'm watching. I'm in the gym training every day, getting better every day. I don't have days off anymore. Like, that's why me physique's the way.

[A]

It is now, because it's like, just as a fan, like, I can only imagine, but it's just the toughest sport to, like, be at the top compared to any other sport. I feel like it's. The UFC is just the most competitive thing. Yeah, be champion. You got to just be, like, fully committed to. To your craft, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So much respect for, like, you guys.

[B]

I didn't let it get to me. I had too much in the ufc, but even going into the Jared Gordon fight, what a lot of people think I lost was a close fight. I thought it was a foregone conclusion I was going to win. I mean, I was like, I was already thinking about the next opponent. I had to get my head screwed on a bit more. That was a proper blessing in disguise. Like, I could have lost on that night very easily. A lot of journalists, a lot of MMA fighters, a lot of people think it was a robbery. I personally watched it back, and I think it was a close Fight. I still think I won, but obviously I have a little bit of bias. Yeah, I have a little bit of bias towards myself and it was very close and I was half lucky to get the win that night. But that fight changed me. Like, oh, really? Yeah, it really did. I'll never overlook an opponent ever again. I overlooked Jared. I thought, this is a foregone conclusion. I'm going to win here. He fought one of my former teammates and he just about beat him over three rounds. And I used to school that teammate every smiling session. So I thought, yeah, it's easy this, but styles make fights. His style on the night was a good, very good style to beat me. I did get injured in the first round. I snapped my ankle in the first round so I didn't have much mobility for like 14 minutes. That's why I couldn't get out the way of his left hook. Kept stepping back and just getting clock at the left off because I couldn't move properly. But at the same time, I can't take nothing away from him. Jared Gordon's still my hardest fight to date. 100. Like, without that fight, I don't think I'd be where I am now. If I were to steamroll Jared and then fought someone in the top 15, you never know, my career might be different. I might have got beaten by. It happens for a reason. Exactly. Everything happens for the reason I see.

[A]

Sugar Sean, he posted recently. He's kind of talking about that too. He's made a lot of lifestyle changes. I think he said he hasn't like jerked off or like that was a weird. I don't know if we needed to know that, Sugar, but he quit cod. He quit smoking weed. So I guess he kind of had a realization like that too, which is interesting. But what do you think about that fight? They just announced that Sugar Merab 2.

[B]

I think it's a mad one, to be honest, because he hasn't fought since he got beat by Murabazi. But Sean's a star. Well, he's one of the biggest stars in the sport. Probably got like one of the most followers out of everyone. And he's pay per view. I mean, people want to see him fight.

[A]

You think he has a chance to beat Merab?

[B]

Yeah, especially if he comes in with some adjustments.

[A]

Yeah, because he didn't look like himself totally in the last fight. But that could have just been Merab being so good. What do you think of his performance against the Umar's quality ladders?

[B]

Crazy. Yeah, there's cardio is ridiculous. Oh no, it really is like it's probably got the best cardio in the UFC at the minute. Like I read something that he does five rounds in the back before he comes out on fights the guys are not. Yeah, wouldn't surprise me. He made Umar look silly in the later rounds. He. He schooled him in round three, four and five. He really did make him look silly. So gonna be a tough one to be for anyone, Never mind Sean O'Malley or whoever. My abs gonna be a tough champion to take the belt off. If anyone could do it, Sean O'Malley can. You mean he knocked Algebraic Stirling out and no one thought he was gonna do that? Yeah. Let's see what happens. Think it'll be a good fight? I still want to see Sean O'Malley versus Peter Gan too.

[A]

That'll be good.

[B]

That was a scrap the first fight.

[A]

So I'd love to see Sugar wins. Maybe that'll happen. Or Umar.

[B]

Yeah. If PTM wins another fight, he's definitely number one contender. Yeah. Because he's back number three or something like that. Number four. Yeah.

[A]

A lot of people are saying that the UFC is just lacking stars as champions right now. Would you agree with that? Pereira just lost. People don't think Bilal is a huge star at welterweight.

[B]

Yeah, he's not. No disrespectful but you know, do you.

[A]

Think they're having a bit of. A bit of trouble with that right now?

[B]

It's one of them though. Like the best fighters in the world have the belt doesn't need to be a star. It's just the best fighter in the world has that belt. I think Sean Brady's a brilliant fighter. If JDM doesn't win, he's next in line with it. While saying that there's still Shavkat. Shavkat's also been laugh at the title, but he's keeps getting injured or Bella got injured the first time. So welterweight's gonna get a shake up. I think like the belt could change hands multiple times. At welterweight goes up there too. Yeah. If his line goes up you never know he could win the belts. Maybe he's bit like if he can. If he can wrestle some of them people at welterweight like these tight on that belt. He is. Was half a pound number one in the world at the minute. Like I've got the toughest division to try to take the belt from. Lightweight's always been the most weight's always been. Yeah. Apart from light heavyweight years ago when I was growing up when you had like rampage shogun Richard.

[A]

Oh, that was what, light heavyweight?

[B]

Yeah, that was. They were.

[A]

That's when I was really started watching ufc.

[B]

That's when I first started watching ufc.

[A]

Machida.

[B]

Yeah, all of them. Yeah, I know what you mean with prayer, losing the belts to ufc, probably didn't want that to happen because he is a big star. That was the first fight. I've watched them live as well. And he got beat by uncle iv.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, it's one of them. The best in the world are gonna have the belt. That's just the way it is, especially with the ufc. It's not like boxing, where you'd have, like, five different belts. You'd have one belt in each weight class, and they are the best in the world, whoever has that belt. But I don't think you need to have a belt to be a star. Definitely not for me. You know what I mean? I'm only ranked 12, but I've got, like three and a half million followers, so I've got more followers than most champs have. And then even earlier. Now he's a star, but he hasn't got a belt. Know what I mean? Kamsat. Everybody loves Kamzat. Comes out, hasn't got a belt, stuff like that. Yeah. Like, I don't think there's a lot.

[A]

Of stars in the making that could be champs.

[B]

Yeah, definitely.

[A]

I think it's gonna get shaken up, like, come a year from now, it's gonna look, obviously, totally different.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Switches and stuff.

[B]

Definitely.

[A]

Do you think the Aspinall Jones fights happens?

[B]

Got to happen. I was sitting next to Tom the other week at the UFC in London and talking to him about it, and, like, it's gotta happen there. There's no way that can't happen.

[A]

How do you think that plays out if they fight?

[B]

I'll be honest. Tom's a friend. I love Tom. He's one of the coolest dudes in the whole of mma. Even though Jones is getting out, I just can't pick against Jon Jones. I've been watching Jon Jones, as I say, since 2010. I can remember watching when he got DQ'd against Matt Hamill live.

[A]

How's he been in the game so long? Like, he's been there since those guys we just mentioned. Like, he's been beat.

[B]

All them guys when GSP was here. Yeah, it's. It's mad. He's got proper longevity. And the one thing I do think Jon Jones has got the best in the world, and the best ever is, is fight iq. He game plans to beat people. I Mean, he doesn't fight the same way every fight. He has a perfect game plan to beat that person. As much as I love Tom and I want Tom to win, I couldn't pick against Jon Jones. It's just something I couldn't do.

[A]

I know you say you don't overlook an opponent, but do you ever think about like, you're like two year plan or three year plan, whatever it is, like, how do you see your career playing out?

[B]

Yeah, obviously I don't look past the opponent, but you probably visualize and think.

[A]

About how you want.

[B]

I'm gonna beat Michael Chandler. I'm gonna finish Michael Chandler in soup.

[A]

Two rounds.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All right, Prize picks right there.

[B]

And then I'm on a fight. Someone like Charles Oliveira and Abu Dhabi Charles or Justin, I think Dustin will be retired by then, so fighter or even Armen, But I think he'll have a fight by then. And then once I beat them, fight for the title in 2026. That's. That's my roadmap. That's the, the path I want to follow.

[A]

That'd be crazy. I think, I think the Ilia fight's gotta happen.

[B]

Yeah, I just wanna, I want to.

[A]

Come to the press conference and sit.

[B]

Everyone was saying to me, would you like Ilya to become champ? Because then I'll probably get a title little shot straight away. I know I don't want it to be champ. I don't want to be champ at all that. Know what I mean? I'd rather win the belt and then he can fight for the title when I've got it and I'll have my first offense smashing his little cheating.

[A]

Would you ever do a fight like outside the UFC one day when your contract's up? Like, do you ever think about those super fights, like a boxing fight or anything like that?

[B]

I'm in this game to be a world champion, you know what I mean? But, but prize fighters, at the end of the day, obviously it's not going to be like a Mayweather McGregor. But if a something like that happened and someone was offering me millions of pounds, hundreds of millions to box someone, I'm doing it.

[A]

Ilia Patty would be like on that level, I think not McGregor, Mayweather, but yeah, that would be.

[B]

That's it.

[A]

Two stars.

[B]

Yeah, that'd do. Pay per view badge 100. It'd do more than most title fights. That's why I'm saying you don't even need the title on the line for that fight. That's just a pay per View headliner, right? There.

[A]

How's your relationship evolved with the UFC over the years?

[B]

I've always had a good relationship with the ufc, you know what I mean, over time. Like, I remember, obviously, when I turned that UFC down the second time I lost my fight after it, the amount of haters getting online, like, he's never going to get the UFC now. They're never going to want him this and that. And then, as I said, I had to sit out for 18 months because I was injured. That's all I heard. Oh, he should have took the UFC when he had the chance. This and that. And then I had two fights in a year and cut off of the contract. And a lot of people thought that the UFC wouldn't like me or wouldn't offer me another contract because I'd turn them down at first. And it was the opposite. What I mean, as soon as I had that first fight, as soon as I absolutely knocked Luigi Benzemini out and got the mic and said, scousers, don't get knocked out the UFC ever. Love me, I'm your God, who don't want you. Look at me all. I mean, I don't look like a fighter. I look like handsome. But I mean. So as I say, I've got a great relationship with dfc. I always have done since the first sign, and I can't see it souring anytime soon. I think we're always going to have a good relationship. The way my career has progressed, it's being perfect. It's been perfect timing now getting a nice jump with the rankings. I can't thank them enough because I'm number 12 fighting number seven. I've got to come in.

[A]

This is your time.

[B]

Yeah, this is my time.

[A]

I've got a start of.

[B]

Gotta come in and show everyone that the old guard is fading out and the new guards coming through. And I am one of the new God.

[A]

Yeah, I like Chandler. He's a great guy. I just think. I just think he doesn't. He gets a little lost, and I think he's gonna try to brawl, and I think you're just gonna definitely. I think you're gonna pick him apart.

[B]

He comes out and tries to entertain. Yeah. Like, obviously, I love entertaining, which is great. It's great. But first and foremost, for fights, we want to win the fight. It sounds bad to say, but I'd. I'd obviously rather have a boring fight and win it.

[A]

He kind of does just say, too. He's like, yeah, we're gonna go out and put on a show. Like, he never Actually says, like, yo, I'm gonna beat him.

[B]

That's what I mean.

[A]

I was just like, we're gonna put on a good.

[B]

I've done a split yesterday. Yeah. And he basically said that, yeah, it's got to be fireworks. We're gonna have this and that.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then when I got off, I was like, he's getting finished in two.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I mean, I just said, yeah, he's getting beat.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And he just said, we're gonna have a great fight in that. And he keeps saying, like, having a test that chair, and I'm gonna this and that. But he's not saying, like, yeah, I'm gonna win. I'm gonna win. He comes off very confident and stuff like that, but at the same time, I don't think he is. I think he has in the back of his mind that he's gonna lose.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

I seen a tweet a couple of weeks ago. Someone tweeted him saying, I'm gonna bet the house on you. Or should I bet the house on you? Tweeted back, no, really? What?

[A]

Someone asked me about the house on channel.

[B]

Yeah. If someone asked me that, though, I'll be like, yeah, bet the house on me, because I'm gonna win.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Chandler needs to get into motivational speaking. Have you seen his Instagram?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Lady needs to get into motivational speaking. And, Lord, he'd be a great motivational speaker on stage. Just talking. I reckon that's what he's gonna go.

[A]

He's actually a great dude.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Vegas.

[B]

I've met him a few times. Like, after the beat, Tony, you come over to me and started talking to me and stuff.

[A]

And, oh, yeah, you guys had that. You had the interaction.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. It's like, I think he's a cool dude. Yeah, he's a cool dude. I can ember when was either when I beat Rodrigo Vargas or Lever in London, he sent me a video, like a selfie video, going, oh, Patty the baddie. And like, I always said, I don't think we'd end up fighting. And he said the same. He didn't. Like, I can remember when he was at UFC London, the second one. What a fought on. When I fought Lever, he was like, the gas fighter. And he was saying, oh, you know, he was saying, he'll be champion the next 12 months, and then I'll come through in years to come. And I don't think we ever thought we'd fight each other, but it's just the way the cookie crumbles, isn't it? We've ended up being around at the same time still. I mean, as I say, he's 38. I'm only 30. I didn't know if he'd still be fighting now because over the years he's had some wars. He's been in a lot of scraps. You know, his body's feeling it on a maid. Doesn't look like he does any wrestler when he trains. And that'll probably because, like Kamar Usman, the knees are like. They've done that much wrestling over the years that the knees are absolutely. Yeah. I've never really had a war. Like, his chin's being tested several times, man. Hasn't really. So I think that's going to play a factor in this fight. The fact that I am more of a spring chicken. And he's. He's getting old. He's a vet. Know what I mean?

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. He fought Eddie Alvarez in a fight of the year in 2011 where they dropped each other about five times. So his chin's been getting tested for years and years. And I just, just see him on the end. The one of me punches that as he lunges in or the end of a knee, that the end of a foot, the end of an elbow, and I'm just folding like a deck chair.

[A]

Well, I'm pumped for this fight. I'm honestly low key, more pumped for this fight than the main event. That lad, I think this is gonna be a sick fight. I think, I think you take the dub and I think this just shakes up the whole lightweight division and everything changes.

[B]

So the amount of people, even lad, I love Volk and I love Lopez. Both very entertaining fighters. I've met the pair of them, they're both proper cool dudes. So in that fight, I'm not picking no one. I wish them both the best, Both the best of luck and whoever wins, wins. But the amount of people this week that have been coming over to me and saying, like, the other people's main event or the people's main events and like, that just fills me with so much joy knowing that people are watching this show to watch me. They know that I come and I bring it and they want to watch me. Even though there's a world title fight at the main event, they're saying they're going to watch the show for me. You know, I am going to bring it. I'm gonna come out and I'm gonna take Michael Chandler's head off. Whether I squeeze his throat that hard as head gets decapitated, or whether I punch him, kick him near, or elbow him that hard that he can't just keep conscious.

[A]

All right, we're locking Patty in hard. Let's go for it. No, I'm pumped about it. We wish you the best luck. I don't want to take up your time. I know you got a busy week, but we'll be there cheering for you at the fight. UFC 314. I'm pumped about it.

[B]

I am.

[A]

Patty.

[B]

Yeah. Let's do this.

[A]

Patty's time, man.

[B]

Can't wait to see his cage side loud. As I say, I'll be jumping on that cage in celebration when I win, lad. I be like that.

[A]

Let's go. I'm pumped. Patty the baddy, baby.

[B]

Let's go.