- Paddy Pimblett has been calm all week but came back to life on Thursday
- He exchanged verbal blows with Tony Ferguson ahead of their UFC 296 clash
- Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett MUST seize his moment in the UFC 296 spotlight after seeing his career falter – The hook
Paddy Pimblett has cut a composed figure during UFC 296 fight week but came alive in a wild verbal exchange with Tony Ferguson on Thursday.
In front of the crowd at the MGM Arena, Ferguson and Pimblett, deliberately placed on opposite sides of the long press conference table, went toe-to-toe on the microphone with some strange consequences.
'The Baddy' is known for his sharp criticism and Ferguson for his unique and sometimes bizarre behavior, making the combination powerful on stage.
“In his mind he had already lost,” Ferguson sneered.
'Me? I already lost? Whatever you're struggling with,” Pimblett replied before the American changed course and said: “You don't even like your own country, dude.”
Tony Ferguson (left) took aim at Paddy Pimblett (right) in a remarkable verbal exchange
Ferguson and Pimblett faced each other for the first time ahead of Saturday night's match
The Liverpool fighter then went after Ferguson for blocking him on Instagram in the build-up to the fight, suggesting it showed he was mentally weak.
Pimblett said: Just because everyone likes you here, boy. It'll be funny if you're sleeping on the floor on Saturday night.
“I don't care about you, you're just another obstacle in the road. You do care because you blocked me.
“I'm not some little p***y who cares enough to block someone on Instagram. Little sensitive boy. Don't call me little boy, I made you block me.”
Ferguson then shouted out of nowhere: 'Make me a cup of tea, b***h.'
Pimblett then found his stride and declared: Your head is gone. You're about 14 in the head, you little fool.
If I stand over your unconscious body like Michael Chandler on Saturday night, you'll know who the damn boy is.
Ferguson responded, “Keep dreaming, dude. That will not happen. Ketchup sandwich, I'm going to cut you so damn bad they'll have to stitch you up.'
Pimblett is desperate to regain momentum after a year out injured
“I want you to do that,” Pimblett hit back. “Cut me open like you said you were going to do. Because I will stand over you, crush and crush your unconscious skull, you damned little bum.
“I can't believe you're wearing a suit. Every other day you are like an eight-year-old getting dressed for the first time.
“You look like a fucking idiot. Then take out the knives… you haven't done that with your last six opponents. You didn't do anything against them because you're an old crab, shut up.”
A clearly irritated Ferguson then said: “You haven't got a clue, boy. You'll take the heat out of me on Saturday.'
“I hope the old Tony shows up, and not this old, washed-up version,” Pimblett continued.
Pimblett vowed to ground and pound Ferguson's “unconscious skull” on fight night
“I stared at you before and you looked away, I already beat you. Put down the mic with your sexy watch on. Is that a toy watch you have there? Did you get that watch from a Kinder egg? Get it out of a child's toy? You clown.”
Will there be ketchup? Will there be sausages? At least not for the next few hours, now that both men have dropped their weight to tip the scales from 155 pounds on Friday morning in Sin City.
If that goes smoothly, this bizarre and beautiful match will get the green light for the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday evening.