King Green criticizes Paddy Pimblett for receiving preferential treatment from UFC, arguing that Pimblett’s rapid rise and special privileges contrast with his own hard-earned career.
King Green believes Paddy Pimblett is getting preferential treatment from UFC.
This Saturday, Green and Pimblett face off in the featured main card fight of UFC 304. The fight is Pimblett’s opportunity to crack into the UFC’s lightweight top 15.
As it draws near, tensions have escalated between the two. That trend continued Wednesday as Green went off on Pimblett during UFC 304 media day.
Green called “The Baddy” a spoiled kid who has not earned the things he’s being given by UFC. “The thing is, the kid was getting a little too brash,” Green said.
“I’m a humble guy. I believe in being humble. For some reason, he keeps calling me the cocky guy.”
He’s the cocky f*cker. To me, it’s like, I’ve earned my spot. I’ve been here for so long.
I think I’m here 12 years now, fighting. And not just 12 years where I fight once a year and then I hang out and come back the next year and fight.
No, consistently doing four, five fights a year. So for me, it’s a little bit different, where I’ve earned my spot.
“That guy was running his mouth and doing all this barking and I’m like, ‘Who is that guy?’ … He just started acting like he was the big shit.”
The problem for me? I call him the spoiled kid. Spoiled kid.
Certain kids don’t know that you got the whole house; everything’s been built around you.”
And I think for me, it goes back to my days where I come from because I didn’t have a mom and dad.”
I saw those kids act like that in school: ‘Man, they don’t even know how they treat their mom and their dad.’ They’re spoiled.”
He acts the same way. He doesn’t realize the UFC is working with him, giving him every opportunity.”
Building you. I had to earn it. They had to put me through the fire.”
I’ve been forged by fire. You? They built you. There’s a difference between us.”
A former Cage Warriors featherweight champion, Pimblett was one of the biggest MMA stars in the U.K before he even joined UFC in 2021.
And as such he entered the promotion to much fanfare.
Pimblett has delivered on that promise with a 5-0 start to his UFC tenure.
The Baddy has only grown in confidence and braggadocio since then.
But Green says that’s soon to come to an end.
“That’s what I’m saying: spoiled kids versus cool kids,” Green said.
“The real ones.”
He don’t know that he’s getting doors opened for him.
All he has to do is shut up, smile.
And he gets everything handed over—like an oyster!
But somewhere in there?
He got brash.
I feel like once you start winning…
You can get drunk off of it.
You start feeling yourself.
Talking shit…
Yeah… somebody hasn’t popped that bubble yet.
Nobody has burst your bubble…
Letting you know that’s a false reality.”
Green isn’t alone in suggesting Pimblett gets soft treatment from UFC.
Not without reason either!
Most recently?
Pimblett faced Tony Ferguson at UFC 296 despite Ferguson being on a six-fight losing streak heading into their bout!
While Pimblett was on a four-fight winning streak!
For this fight?
Pimblett is receiving special treatment—custom fight shorts!
An honor previously bestowed primarily on champions or former champions!
That appears to be what broke King Green’s patience.
“You know how to piss me off! That’s why I’m kicking his ass more,” Green said.
“That spoiled kid thing again!”
“I’ve worked so hard for this f*cking company!”
Took so many fights on short notice…
Broken hand…
Threw company on my back—a thousand times!
Fought guys… had to come back… fought Islam [Makhachev] ten days later!
Done most for this f*cking company—to get MY shorts!
But this guy?
Just walks in… gets them!
Wow! Spoiled shit.
All he did? Say ‘Hey! Want my shorts!’
They gave them.
Now?
Kicking his ass.
For THAT reason.
Kicking his ass!
That’s it.
Let’s go.”
UFC 304 takes place Saturday at Co-op Live in Manchester, England.