Matt Frevola called out Paddy Pimblett for a fight, and though Pimblett is currently recovering from ankle surgery, he expressed interest in the matchup on social media, calling it the “easiest route into the top 15 rankings.”
Matt Frevola called out Paddy Pimblett following his impressive first-round knockout against Drew Dober at UFC 288. Despite being out of action due to ankle surgery, Pimblett responded on Instagram saying, “Bit of a weird time to call me out when I can’t even train… But yeah I’d fight Frevola when I’m back. Probably the easiest route into the top 15 [rankings].” Frevola doesn’t mind Pimblett’s jab about ranking, as he called out an opponent outside the top ranks in the lightweight division. With Pimblett’s quick rise in popularity, Frevola is eager to test himself against the Liverpool superstar.
Frevola expressed his understanding of Pimblett’s perspective during an interview on The MMA Hour, acknowledging the lightweight division’s fierce competition. He said, “I see where he’s coming from. You look at the top 15, it’s a murderer’s row… I definitely feel that way about myself. I can knock out anybody in the world if you give me the opportunity… Me and Paddy, it would be a fun fight.” However, as Pimblett is still recovering from surgery, there’s no specific timeline for when he’ll be able to compete again.
Undeterred by the waiting period, Frevola is willing to be patient for a fight of this magnitude. He even suggests a potential match at Madison Square Garden in November or in Las Vegas in December. Frevola stated, “I think best case scenario — that’s the world’s most famous arena Madison Square Garden in November… If he needs more time, I wouldn’t be mad about Las Vegas in December. I just want to fight at the end of the year… I’ve had ankle surgery, too. I’ve still got two pins in my ankle. I fought six months after an ankle surgery. He should be ready.”
As for the matchup itself, Frevola is confident in his abilities against Pimblett and believes they would put on an entertaining fight. Regardless of whether it remains on their feet or turns into a grappling match, Frevola feels he can challenge Pimblett in any situation. He concluded, “It could go many ways… I’m also excited to grapple with him. His jiu-jitsu is high level… I’ve still got so many weapons I want to show in the octagon and I feel like I could show a lot fighting a guy like Paddy.”