Paddy Pimblett and Bryce Mitchell are not fighting each other later tonight (Sat., Dec. 10, 2022) at UFC 282 live on ESPN+ pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the two rising stars caught up backstage earlier this week to share some hatred for undefeated featherweight fighter Ilia Topuria.
Pimblett, who is set to make his PPV debut at UFC 282 in a co-main event clash with Jared Gordon, already has beef with Topuria dating back to their scuffle at UFC London earlier this year. On Thursday, the two fighters nearly came to blows again at UFC 282’s pre-fight press conference, but security was able to intervene.
As for Mitchell, he’s actually going to have to fight Topuria to spark UFC 282’s PPV main card. Despite possessing a 6-0 UFC record “Thug Nasty” will be a betting underdog for the featherweight affair. It’s a bit surprising to see how many people are counting Mitchell out, but the Arkansas native doesn’t seem to care.
Earlier this week, Pimblett and Mitchell caught up backstage and quickly began to share in their hatred for Topuria. “Baddy” certainly had more to say, but Mitchell was all ears heading into his important clash with Topuria on the final UFC PPV of the year.
Paddy Bryce Mitchell
hating Ilia Topuria pic.twitter.com/aSaC0Zsl54— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) December 9, 2022
“I can’t wait to see you smoke this clown this weekend,” said Pimblett (shown above). “I can’t wait to see it.”
“He talks a lot of shit,” responded Mitchell.
It should be noted that Topuria is coming off his lightweight debut at UFC London back in March when he stopped Jai Herbert with a devastating second-round knockout. So even though Topuria is going up against the No. 9-ranked featherweight in Mitchell a victory at UFC 282 could set him up for a grudge match with “Baddy” at 155 pounds.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 282 fight card right HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, then the remaining undercard (on ESPN2/ESPN+) at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.