When Dana White was searching all corners of the globe for a fighter to fill his Connor McGregor-shaped hole, not many people would have suspected that Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett would walk so effortlessly into the role.
Over the last decade, UFC has exploded into the mainstream. Despite being a popular combat sport, it didn’t have the same PPV buys as competitors such as boxing. However, McGregor was arguably the first UFC fighter with a huge marquee name and broad crossover appeal.
Not only did it bring in new fans, but it also galvanized existing fans and attracted a new generation to the sport.