Paddy Pimblett has blasted "cheating juice head" TJ Dillashaw after the former champion criticised his binge-eating between fights.
Pimblett ballooned to 200lb after his submission victory over Kazula Vargas at UFC London earlier this year. The 27-year-old previously promised not to pile on the pounds between fights but will now need a 45lb transformation to make weight for his return.
Dillashaw claimed Pimblett's "loving diabetes" will prevent him from becoming UFC champion in the future. He told The Schaub Show : 'He's loving diabetes. That's like a recipe for just destroying your body. I guess there's one thing if I'm looking at it. They can promote him the right way and he might have what it takes to get into the higher echelons of the UFC, but if you keep that same work ethic he has now, then he'll never be UFC champion.
"You can't have that down time like that, you can't get that fat and out of shape. It just proves the dedication you need to do what you do. I'm not trying to clown on him but that's something he's going to have to figure out with age, right? He's young and this is a full-time job. This isn't a job where you want to be a fighter. You have to be a fighter."
However Pimblett was quick to remind Dillashaw of his past, tweeting in response: "Is this fella messing TJ Dillashaw, used to sell t-shirts with his fat face on it saying 'fat Tyler' on when he came out of camp don't forget your own past you sausage. Cheating little juice head you would never have won a belt without them steroids you f****** mushroom."
Dillashaw was previously suspended by USADA after testing positive for banned substance erythropoietin, before later admitting taking the drug to refuel his body when making a weight cut. He later issued an apology to his team and family in a social media video.
Do you think Paddy Pimblett can become world champion? Let us know in the comments section below
The American has since made a return to the octagon defeating Cory Sandhagen by split decision in July last year, as he looks to renew his challenge at Aljimain Sterling's bantamweight title. Meanwhile Pimblett has re-entered a strict training camp and diet ahead of his UFC return against Jordan Leavitt in London on July 23.
He has previously admitted he would rather be "fat and happy" between fights despite showing off a six pack during his last UFC victory. Pimblett's upcoming rival Leavitt has also made a dig at the rising star's weight claiming he remains in the gym all year.
"I go all day man," Leavitt told The Schmo. "I'm not fat like a lot of other fighters can get between fights, I'm in [the gym] all year. I just love doing it and it's easy to go hard when you enjoy what you're doing. I'm turning 27 and I feel a lot older because I have a lot more experience than my years would show.
