UFC 304: Paddy Pimblett feeling 'the best 'I've ever felt' ahead of Green bout, Molly McCann 'hunting bonus'

Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett insists he is the fittest he has ever been as he prepares to face Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester on Saturday night. The Scouser, who is undefeated in five UFC fights, is looking to earn himself a ranking in the lightweight division. Meanwhile, his close friend 'Meatball' Molly McCann faces Bruna Brasil in the preliminary bouts.

Animated Pimblett and Green shout each other down at UFC 304 weigh-in

Video credit: TNT Sports

Paddy Pimblett has said that he is feeling "the best" he ever has, ahead of his UFC 304 bout against Bobby Green in Manchester.

The Liverpudlian, who is 5-0 in his UFC career, is searching for a sixth victory in the promotion after his unanimous decision win over Tony Ferguson back in December at UFC 296 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pimblett is on the hunt for a ranking in the UFC's lightweight division, and victory over the American Green - live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+ on Saturday - would earn him that status.

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Green is fresh off beating Jim Miller by unanimous decision in April at UFC 300 in Las Vegas, and he also defeated Ferguson last year, beating the veteran by submission.

However, Pimblett, somewhat characteristically, is full of confidence ahead of his first UFC bout on British soil for over two years.

"Everything’s went sound," Pimblett told TNT Sports after weighing in. "Physically, I’m the best I’ve ever felt.

"Look at me on the scales, you can see how much physically I look better. I’ve put a bit of size on. This is the best I’ve looked."

'The Baddy' was asked whether he felt any different in the lead-up to this fight, with many on the MMA scene thinking that they were seeing a new Pimblett with fresh perspective.

The 29-year-old shrugged it off, but admitted that the doubters - who emerged after he began to seemingly tire during the Ferguson fight - have motivated him to give it his all in pursuit of a ranking.

"I didn’t notice [a shift in mindset in the run-up to fights], but everyone else said it," Pimblett said.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"They’ve said they noticed a difference in me. I don’t notice it; I’m just me - I don’t notice anything different.

"The amount of people that have said, ‘You’ll never be ranked, he’s not good enough to fight anyone in the top 15…’.

"I just can’t wait to punch Bobby’s head in and take the ranking; not just get handed it. Take the ranking.

"I still dominated [the Ferguson] fight. There are some sausages on the internet that say that it was a close fight and that I lost the third round.

"I took him down and sat on top of him for about four minutes punching him in the face. How did I lose that round? People talk absolute pony."

McCann 'hunting for bonus'

Also on the card is Pimblett's close friend and fellow Merseysider 'Meatball' Molly McCann, who is up against Bruna Brasil in the preliminaries.

McCann has seven wins in her UFC career, which started in 2018, when she was submitted by Gillian Robertson.

However, she has become a dangerous contender since dropping into the strawweight division, and she says she feels as strong and as quick as she did in the featherweight class above.

"My strength one-rep maxes are the same at 115lbs as they are at 125lbs," McCann said.

"My velocity and power is faster at 115lbs, so I’m moving the weight quicker at this weight, and I’m lifting the same as what I was at 125lbs. If I can do the same as [TNT Sports pundit and fellow UFC fighter Alex Volkanovski], I’m in for a good night."

McCann can't wait to stand over Bruna Brasil and say 'Up the Toffees' at UFC 304

Video credit: TNT Sports

McCann wasn't shy in revealing her gameplan for Saturday evening, as she faces an opponent who previously beat her good friend Shauna Bannon.

Brasil - known as 'The Special One' - defeated Bannon by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night last July, and McCann is out for revenge this time around.

"[Fans can expect] concise pressure," McCann said. "A steady, calm head, feints and fakes, take her to the cage, try to knock her out against the cage. If I don’t, take her back and choke her head off. I can’t wait to stand over her and go, ‘Up the Toffees’.

"When someone’s got one over your team-mate, it’s like an extra bit of, ‘I might throw one a bit harder’, or a little low blow might come into play."

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Video credit: TNT Sports

McCann went viral after her spinning elbow knockouts against Luana Carolina and Hannah Goldy in 2022, and was asked by the TNT Sports panel whether she would go looking for the manoeuvre again.

"If it’s there," she said. "I won’t go hunting. What I’ve learned is that every time I’ve pushed for the finish, it didn’t come. The times when I never did, it has. I am hunting for a £100,000 bonus, though."

McCann anticipates a raucous atmosphere for her and Pimblett's bouts in Manchester, predicting that the Co-op Live Arena will be buzzing for both fights.

"We know what happens when I come out," she said. "The momentum shifts and builds, and then Patrick comes out and the momentum shifts and builds. We’ll see if anyone’s still awake for the [other] lads because everyone might be [spent]."

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