Paddy Pimblett defends Liverpool after UFC London opponent calls city 'a dump'

Paddy Pimblett has defended Liverpool after his UFC London opponent brandished the city 'a dump'. Pimblett extended his unbeaten run in the UFC with a slick second-round submission against Jordan Leavitt at the O2 Arena, his toughest opponent to date.

Prior to the fight, Pimblett promised to 'teabag' his opponent and delivered on his promise in front of an electric crowd in London after he dropped his opponent and then locked in a rear-naked choke for the second consecutive fight to close out the win.

This followed his trademark walk-in which had every member in the crowd recording, with the Liverpudlian quite clearly the fan favourite on the night.

RECAP: All the action from UFC London as it happened

There was clear respect between the two fighters, with Leavitt being praised in the build-up for the fight for being a well-spoken, highly intelligent man.

But speaking a week after his loss, Leavitt was less kind about Pimblett's hometown.

Speaking on the MMA Holes podcast, he said: "The UK is the size of Alabama. That is very small and the fact that one of their guys in such a small part of the world is so popular. How can you not follow him, you know? He is from Liverpool. Liverpool is a dump. The O2 arena is also a dump."

Pimblett has responded to the claims. He said: "The better man isn't he? Someone sent me it and I just started laughing," Pimblett told reporters when asked about his former rival's comments.

"I wanted to meet him for breakfast the following morning and give him a book I bought him, but not in a horrible way. And I was just going to say if you want to review it you are more than welcome to do it. It would probably get more clicks than his other book reviews just because I bought it.

"He has been going around and saying 'Liverpool is a dump' and all kinds of things like that. He must still be concussed from that knee to the head because he has never been to Liverpool. London is nothing like Liverpool."

Pimblett has revealed he wants to fight again this year and named Las Vegas as his preferred destination.

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