Paddy Pimblett's next UFC opponent Jordan Leavitt has taken a thinly-veiled swipe at the Scouse fighter for "getting fat" ahead of their London meeting.
Pimblett will have to cut in the region of four stone by July 23 to make weight for his featured bout with the American at The O2 arena in the British capital. And Leavitt, who has accepted the role of bad guy for Pimblett's latest homecoming, has insisted that he has remained in fighting shape since his April win over Trey Ogden.
The Scouse fan favourite has been enjoying life during a recent trip to America, eating burgers with ex-UFC fighter Brendan Schaub after gorging on Easter eggs after his win over Rodrigo Vargas. He has declared that he prefers to be "fat and happy" than in ripped fight shape, and jokes about his physique often.
Leavitt holds a record of 10-1, 3-1 in the UFC as well as a win on the Contender Series, and will prove a major step-up in competition for Pimblett. The Liverpool native has won his first two bouts in the promotion, but this is the first time he faces someone coming off two UFC wins.
"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, but I'm pretty happy. I'm enjoying this fight camp, I had a nice relaxing weekend with the family, life is good, man!"
Pimblett is one of the most well-known and beloved fighters in the UK and with a sold-out crowd set to descend upon The O2 arena, it will be an atmosphere that Leavitt has yet to experience. His four UFC fights, as well as his Contender Series bout all took place in the almost empty UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
And despite his friendly demeanour, he will be boo'd out of the building when he faces Pimblett, which he insists will excite him. He has taken on the 'heel' role, and declared that he is "the real baddy".
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"It doesn't sound really good for me, setting wise," he joked. "I've been saying in a lot of interviews how I'm usually the good guy and people generally like me. They went 'we're going to give him the most toxic environment we could possibly put him in'.
"I'm excited, I'm used to going to people's hometowns and beating up their cousins and putting on a show. This will be the last time where I'm, like, the villain. I was a bit offended when they gave me the match-up because he's been picking and choosing fights that are easy, so I must have looked really bad in my last fight to get this one! I'm flattered, but kind of offended, and also excited."
