Paddy Pimblett says he would fight 'overrated' Man United star Bruno Fernandes

Liverpool-mad Pimblett enjoyed an explosive debut earlier this month inside the Octagon when he knocked out Luigi Vendramini in just one round.

As explosive on the microphone as he is with his fists, 'The Baddy' gained a host of new fans across the globe with his performance in Las Vegas earlier this month, where he also collected a $50,000 bonus.

Speaking to the BBC, the 26-year-old admitted he would probably fight one player from every Premier League club if he could.

Yet there was one man who he admitted he would particularly relish to get into the ring.

"I'd probably pick one for each team," Pimblett replied. "But I reckon just because he's so overrated, Bruno Fernandes.

"No he's not world-class - I don't think anyone in that United team is world-class apart from [Cristiano] Ronaldo."

Football aside, Pimblett has enjoyed a roller coaster ride to get to the world's premier MMA organisation.

At the age of 21, he rejected the chance as he felt he was not ready and knew he had to fill out more before mixing it with the best in the world.

Yet when he lost to Soren Bak in Cage Warriors in front of his home crowd in Liverpool, Pimblett told talkSPORT he feared he had missed his chance for good.

He said: "There was only one time that I did fear it wouldn't come and that was when Soren Bak beat me and I had to get surgery on my hand again.

"That was the lowest I had ever been, I didn't want to wake up in the morning around that time - let alone think about fighting.

"That was the only time, but apart from that, it's not a question of if the UFC will sign me it is a question of when.

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"It was always when; they want stars lad, they want people who put bums on seats and, as you know, that is me.

"I am a marketer's wet dream and I will continue to be that."