Paddy Pimblett opens up on downside to Tony Ferguson fight at UFC 296

Paddy Pimblett has expressed that his upcoming fight with Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 is a “lose-lose” situation, according to The Independent.

The Liverpudlian lightweight is on a six-fight win streak, while Ferguson has lost his last six bouts, raising concerns for Pimblett that a win over Ferguson may not be fully acknowledged due to his opponent’s recent form.

“This fight is a lose-lose for me, Tony Ferguson,” said 28-year-old Pimblett on his YouTube channel. “I don’t care what anyone says, it’s a lose-lose. He’s on a six-fight losing streak. If I win – when I win – I’m just going to be like, ‘Aw, it’s Tony Ferguson. He’s finished. He’s this, he’s that.’”

“If I lose – I don’t think it’s going to happen, but if I lose – everyone’s going to be like: ‘You just lost to a finished Tony Ferguson.’ So, it’s a lose-lose for me, but as I told you all in the past, I will never turn down a fight. Any fight that’s ever been offered to me by the UFC, I’ve signed on the dotted line, and that’s what’s happened here.

“The name Tony Ferguson got thrown at me, I signed on the dotted line. Now I’m fighting a legend, a future Hall of Famer, so that’s the way I’m looking at it. I’m fighting a legend of the sport who I grew up watching. It’s going to be an absolute pleasure to share the cage with such a legend.”

Ferguson’s recent losses include defeats by Nate Diaz, Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Michael Chandler. However, the 39-year-old American previously won 12 bouts in a row from 2013 until 2019.

Meanwhile, Pimblett is 4-0 in the UFC and last fought in December, winning a controversial decision over Jared Gordon.

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