Matt Frevola referred to as and now Paddy Pimblett has answered.
Following a shocking first-round knockout over Drew Dober at UFC 288, Frevola wasted no time turning his consideration to Pimblett whereas calling for a battle towards the celebrity from Liverpool later this 12 months. In fact, Pimblett is out of motion proper now after present process ankle surgical procedure that may seemingly preserve him sideline for a number of months however he nonetheless responded to the callout on social media.
“Little bit of a bizarre time to name me out once I can’t even practice,” Pimblett wrote on Instagram. “However yeah I’d battle Frevola once I’m again. Most likely the best route into the highest 15 [rankings].”
For his half, Frevola didn’t take any offense to Pimblett’s slight jab concerning the “best route” to get into the rankings as a result of in actuality he referred to as for a battle towards an opponent at present not listed among the many better of the most effective within the light-weight division.
Now that Frevola has taken out a veteran like Dober, he loves the thought of testing himself towards Pimblett, who has shortly turn out to be one of the vital talked about fighters on the complete UFC roster.
“I see the place he’s coming from,” Frevola mentioned on The MMA Hour. “You have a look at the highest 15, it’s a assassin’s row. That’s what I all the time say concerning the light-weight division, anybody can beat anyone on any given day.
“I positively really feel that approach about myself. I can knock out anyone on this planet if you happen to give me the chance. I do know I’m human, too, I can get knocked out as nicely. That’s the battle recreation. We do all the pieces we are able to to be the hammer. Me and Paddy, it might be a enjoyable battle.”
As a result of Pimblett is sidelined whereas recovering from ankle surgical procedure, there’s no precise timeline on when precisely he’ll have the ability to compete once more.
In line with Frevola, he has no drawback ready, particularly for a battle of that magnitude, and maybe he might even get the chance to battle near his house in Lengthy Island with the UFC focusing on a return to New York Metropolis in November.
“I believe finest case situation — that’s the world’s most well-known enviornment Madison Sq. Backyard in November,” Frevola mentioned. “He’s a Barstool [Sports] man. Barstool is true in New York Metropolis. I believe we might have a enjoyable time doing it then.
“If he wants extra time, I wouldn’t be mad about Las Vegas in December. I simply need to battle on the finish of the 12 months. I’ve had ankle surgical procedure, too. I’ve nonetheless acquired two pins in my ankle. I fought six months after an ankle surgical procedure. He needs to be prepared.”
So far as the matchup, Frevola likes his probabilities towards Pimblett however greater than something he simply believes they’d placed on an entertaining battle collectively.
Whether or not the battle stays standing or hits the bottom, Frevola has confidence that he can take a look at Pimblett wherever and all over the place and he positively appears to be like ahead to that type of problem.
“It might go some ways,” Frevola mentioned. “One of many issues that excites me is he all the time throws on the ft, he goes for it. He goes on the market, he throws massive kicks, massive punches, comes ahead, he goes for it. Perhaps I counterstrike, knock him out fast or perhaps he comes out somewhat a affected person and I push the tempo, come ahead and take him down, beat him up.
“I’m additionally excited to grapple with him. His jiu-jitsu is excessive degree. I really like jiu-jitsu, I really feel like my jiu-jitsu is excessive degree. I’ll grapple with him. I’ve nonetheless acquired to indicate that [Matt] Serra [Brazilian jiu-jitsu], that Gracie Tampa South Matt Arroyo jiu-jitsu. However that’s what I really like about blended martial arts. I’ve nonetheless acquired so many weapons I need to present within the octagon and I really feel like I might present quite a bit combating a man like Paddy.”
