Paddy Pimblett has welcomed the prospect of a lucrative showdown with Conor McGregor after the Irish superstar expressed interest in his upcoming UFC 314 bout against Michael Chandler.
The Liverpool fighter responded to McGregor's social media post at Thursday's pre-fight press conference in Miami.
Both Pimblett and Chandler offered contrasting reactions to McGregor's sudden interest in their co-main event clash scheduled for Saturday night.
McGregor, currently in Dubai, shared a video of himself hitting pads alongside a tennis court on Thursday.
Paddy Pimblett has admitted he would love to fight Conor McGregor
PA
The former two-weight champion captioned the clip: "I am interested in the Chandler/Pimblett fight this weekend," whilst tagging both the UFC and its owners TKO.
The social media post has fuelled speculation about McGregor's potential return to the octagon, with the winner of Saturday's bout possibly in line to face him.
"I seen it obviously, I got sent it by a good few people," Pimblett said when asked about McGregor's remarks at the UFC 314 pre-fight press conference.
"I'd welcome that fight. That's where the money is at."
The Liverpudlian was quick to emphasise his immediate priority, however.
"But I can't look past Michael. I've got to fight Michael on Saturday night and get the win here. That's all that matters."
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Chandler, who has been waiting to face McGregor since their time as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, offered a more dismissive response.
"I'm sure he's watching," Chandler said. "He watches and he is very interested in coming back but can he put together a training camp? That's the real question.
"I don't really care what Conor tweets. If he comes back, we've got to finish The Ultimate Fighter 31."
McGregor has not competed in the UFC since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier.
The Irishman was scheduled to face Chandler last summer following their coaching stint on The Ultimate Fighter.
However, McGregor withdrew from the bout after injuring his toe during training.
His UFC return has appeared increasingly uncertain, with little indication of competitive interest until his recent social media activity.
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GETTYThe UFC 314 bout takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning for UK fans at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.
Pimblett has previously stated a fight with McGregor would be "the biggest fight in the sport" and "very tasty".
The winner of Saturday's contest may well use their post-fight interview to send a message in McGregor's direction.
With Pimblett eyeing a potential lightweight title shot, his career trajectory could be significantly impacted by the outcome.
