UFC sensation Paddy Pimblett has reflected on an impromptu night on the tiles with former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after the departing boss asked him to join his leaving party - landing the MMA star in hot water with his wife.
The combat sports fan favorite is preparing for his latest foray into the octagon, with American fighter Bobby Green his next opponent at UFC 304. However, with that contest at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena fast approaching on July 28, "The Baddy" could not help casting his mind back to an evening he will never forget as he enjoyed the company of Anfield hero Klopp earlier this year.
The Scouser has made no secret of his allegiance to the Reds in the past and was present at a party at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool back in May, which was also attended by staff and players such as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk . To Pimblett's joy, it was clear that the ex-Liverpool boss was pleased to see him at the do too as they made conversation during the festivities.
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Reflecting on the star-studded gathering in an exclusive interview for Liverpool.com , arranged by AceOdds , the UFC star paid tribute to Klopp and recalled their interactions. He said: "He's an absolute legend. I've always said if there's one person in the world that I could meet, then it'd be Jurgen Klopp. I was actually leaving that party to get home and help the missus with the kids.
"She wasn't happy when I ended up staying there till about four in the morning," he continued, before admitting he simply could not resist the chance to stay longer to party with the German coach. "I was actually leaving the party and I got told to move over to one side and as we moved over, I just saw Jurgen and the team walking in and Jurgen just looked at me and pointed at me.
"He started jogging towards me and went 'THE MACHINE' and I was gobsmacked. I don't think I've ever been lost for words and then I said to him, 'I'm just about to go home' and he was like, 'Oh no, you're not going anywhere, you're coming with us.' He dragged me into the party with him and I ended up in there, as I say, all night."
Despite the reaction from his wife on his return home, Pimblett confessed that he had no regrets about his night partying with Klopp and his team, acknowledging: "My missus wasn't happy when I got home, like, she bit my head off and didn't speak to me for a couple of days. You know, anyone would have done the same."
With his admiration for the Kop legend clear, the lightweight fighter from Huyton also remembered telling Klopp how much his contributions to the Reds had meant to him and the city. Sending him a message from singer Jamie Webster, Pimblett made sure that the charismatic coach was left in no doubt about the regard he is held in on Merseyside.
The MMA ace added: "Jürgen Klopp, he's our messiah. When I spoke to him there, I said to him, 'you don't know what you've done for this club and for this city in general'. It's like, Jamie Webster wasn’t there and he told me to say the same to him.
"I said to him, 'From me and Jamie [Webster], we both love you. You don't understand what you've done for this city. Like, anything you ever need, we're there for you because of what you've done for us and this club, we can't put it into words.'"
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