Centuries ago, under the rule of Scottish King James VI—who later became James I of England—the ‘MacGregor’ clan was outlawed. The crown stripped them of their name which forced many to adopt new identities or flee to distant lands. As it turned out, the lifting of the ban eventually revealed the depth of political and social tensions between the clan. Fast forward to the present, and that shadowed history is resurfacing in unexpected ways.
The complex Irish-English relationship didn’t end there either. The Great Irish Famine of 1845 forged a powerful bond between the Irish and the people of Liverpool. More than 1.5 million Irish immigrants settled in the city, shaping its culture and spirit. Now, that legacy is roaring back into the spotlight—thanks to none other than UFC superstar Conor McGregor. ‘The Notorious’ is once again dominating headlines, this time stirring the pot ahead of UFC 314 in Miami. Despite the buzz around the co-main event between England’s Paddy Pimblett and seasoned veteran Michael Chandler, Conor McGregor picked his side—and it wasn’t the Scouser.
In a video clip making rounds, Conor said: “The fight I’m most interested in? Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett. I’m going to go with Michael Chandler to win—and win by KO.” He even put a wager of $500,000 on Chandler to get the job done! But when fight night arrived, the tables turned. ‘The Baddy’ delivered a statement performance—knocking Chandler out cold and leaving him bloodied from a barrage of punches and elbows. With that win, Paddy Pimblett took a giant leap toward title contention. What really stole the spotlight, though, was Pimblett’s response to Conor McGregor’s betrayal.
Speaking to TNT Sports’ Caroline Pearce, the Scouser let loose: “He put a bet on Chandler by knockout. What now, Conor? Hey, you should’ve mentioned him in the cage, you little lizard. Thought you would’ve backed your own lads—you know what I mean? Irish and Scouse. Thought you would have backed your own. If you’re coming back, lads, let’s do it. Wembley. Croke Park. I am after as well.”
The Liverpudlian didn’t stop there—he went straight for the jugular, challenging the Irishman to bring the fight home: “You could do that in Wembley. Me and Conor sells Wembley out. Sells Anfield out. Sells Croke Park out. You know what I mean?”
At the post-fight presser, Pimblett said, “But as I say, anyone can get it. All the names I mentioned. And even McGregor, putting money on Chandler to win, lad. The Irish-Scouse connection, lad, he’s meant to back me. And he never [did]. So if he wants it, he’ll get it as well.”
UFC 314 – Volkanovski vs Lopes MIAMI, FL – APRIL 12: Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett meet in the octagon for a 3-round bout at UFC 314 – Volkanovski vs Lopes at Kesaya Center on April 12, 2025 in Miami, FL Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Miami, FL Kesaya Center MIAMI, FL United States Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
With that fiery callout, Paddy Pimblett has officially joined the growing line of fighters hoping to share the Octagon with Conor McGregor. But that raises a bigger question—is chasing a McGregor fight still worth the wait? Just ask Dustin Poirier. The former interim lightweight champion once passed up a shot at undisputed gold just to complete his trilogy with Conor McGregor at UFC 264. It wasn’t a title—but it was a fortune. In Poirier’s own words, the payout was enough to “set his family and grandkids up for life.”
But not everyone hits that jackpot. Michael Chandler, for example, has put the brakes on his own career, staying in limbo for a fight that never came. Banking on the infamous “red panty night,” Chandler watched his momentum fade as the promised payday drifted further out of reach. Now, with only two fights left on his UFC deal, all eyes are on whether Conor McGregor will finally throw Paddy Pimblett a bone. But the Scouser’s not just waiting on Conor—he’s also got Colby Covington in the mix.
Paddy Pimblett got into a heated moment with Colby Covington after UFC 314
After securing a dominant technical knockout victory over Michael Chandler, Paddy Pimblett is now close to breaking into the UFC’s top 10 rankings. While he didn’t defeat a current top 10 opponent, he did overcome a formidable challenge in the three-time former Bellator champion—no stranger to elite competition. However, the post-fight scene took an unexpected turn as ‘The Baddy’ spoke to the media.
Things nearly escalated again at the Kansas City venue when three-time title challenger Colby Covington crossed paths with Paddy Pimblett. Instead of congratulating him, Covington took a shot at the Liverpool fighter, saying, “You’re fighting scrubs, guys are 2-6 [in the UFC].” Pimblett didn’t back down, responding with, “I’ll come and slap you. I’ll slap you. Shut your head up.” Covington fired back, “You’re beating guys that are 2-6, remember that. You’re a scrub. You’re a fraud. You’d get fraud-checked so quick.”
Paddy Pimblett, laughing and yelling, shot back, “Aren’t you on a three-fight losing streak? You little m—ot?” This exchange reignited the tension between the two fighters, with the rivalry between the welterweight and lightweight contenders heating up. It’s also worth noting that Covington has had previous clashes with Dustin Poirier, adding fuel to the fire. Now the big question—how far can the Englishman go? Will his undefeated UFC run eventually lead him to championship glory? Let us know your take in the comments below.
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