THE UFC DEBUT of one of the most talked about prospects in mixed martial arts will have to wait until next year at least.
Cage Warriors Fighting Championship has announced that its featherweight champion, Paddy Pimblett (12-1), has extended his contract “into 2017″.
Lightweight champion Chris Fishgold (16-1-1), Pimblett’s team-mate at the Next Generation camp in Liverpool, has also signed a similar deal to remain with the UK-based organisation.
Pimblett appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani on Monday and teased news of a fresh contract “with a certain organisation” involving “great money”, which led to increased speculation that the 21-year-old had been snapped up by the UFC.
However, Pimblett won’t be heading to the UFC just yet. A Cage Warriors press release confirmed that there has been interest from other organisations in both Pimblett and Fishgold, who were both victorious at Cage Warriors 78 in their hometown of Liverpool earlier this month.
“We’ve developed the biggest names in Europe, some of those names went to the UFC too soon and some went at the right time,” said Cage Warriors Fighting Championship CEO Graham Boylan.
“It is every fighter’s dream to get to the UFC and the team and I are here to help not just Chris and Paddy, but all our athletes to achieve that dream, and it’s also our job to guide and develop their careers in the right way.”
On their improved and extended deals, both fighters expect to defend their titles before the end of the year. Fishgold defeated Jason Ponet at the Echo Arena 12 days ago, after Pimblett had clinched the vacant featherweight belt by stopping Johnny Frachey.
“I’m excited to open my next chapter with Cage Warriors,” Pimblett said. “I know they’ve got my best interests at heart and my new contract proves that. I can’t wait to bring MMA back to the Echo Arena.”
Fishgold added: “I’m absolutely made up; ready to shine on the best show in Europe and show why I’m the best lightweight in the world.”
