Paddy Pimblett has been labelled a "dollar store" Conor McGregor ahead of his UFC return next month.
The Liverpudlian star will return to the octagon for his maiden pay-per-view appearance when he takes on Jared Gordon at UFC 282 on the main card. Pimblett has made a huge impression since signing with the UFC last year and has won his first three fights including over Kazula Vargas and Jordan Leavitt in London this year.
Pimblett's trash-talking antics and stand-out personality have seen him earn comparisons to UFC superstar McGregor who is still the most high-profile name on the roster. But All-Elite Wrestling champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman used a comparison to McGregor in a negative light after taking him on in a verbal confrontation on Instagram.
The Liverpudlian began: "If you want to have a real fight let's sort it with the UFC if not pipe down! Tell your boss to sign me up when you come to Fulham's ground [Craven Cottage] I will be ready son." MJF responded: "Hey bud. AEW has a show coming up in your neck of the woods. If you're man enough I'll gladly show you how real I am."
Pimblett then continued: "I've just said that you spaceman. Don't act as if you are calling for it, I've just told you straight. When you come to Fulham's ground, get your boss Tony Khan to message my boss Dana White and see what we can sort."
The wrestling star then rounded off the argument with his McGregor insult, concluding: "Unlike you I'm 100 per cent natural and I'm also 100 per cent original. Unlike you. You are a dollar store Conor McGregor that is talking. Will from Strangers Things [ Netflix series] looking a** and wouldn't last two seconds in my world #Betterthanyou See you in London."
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It remains unclear if Pimblett could make an appearance in AEW but he would follow in a similar footstep to McGregor, who also made a sporting switch to the boxing world where he had huge success in a high-selling defeat to Floyd Mayweather. Pimblett moved to the UFC as a Cage Warriors champion, and many believe he has the potential to reach the heights and become UFC champion.
McGregor has already had his say on Pimblett and has even suggested he would be open to a future showdown in the UFC. "He's a good kid Paddy, you've got to love the Scousers," McGregor told SecondsOut. "You know my father was born in Liverpool. One side of my family is from there. So I've got a lot of love for that part of the world. And who knows? You know, I will never say no to nothing. You know, never say never, as they say."
