Jared Gordon: Paddy Pimblett vs. Bobby Green at UFC 304 'a tough fight for both of them'

MANCHESTER, England – UFC lightweight Jared Gordon has recent history with both Paddy Pimblett and King Green, adding weight to his thoughts on their UFC 304 encounter.

In December 2022, Gordon lost a unanimous decision to Pimblett in what many considered a robbery. Four months later, Gordon stepped in the cage against Green in a fight that ended in a no contest after Green accidentally headbutted Gordon during his finishing sequence.

On Saturday, Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC) will meet on UFC 304 main card at Co-op Live. Gordon doesn’t consider the matchup an easy task for either man, but he believes Green might have his work cut out for him a little more given the circumstances.

“It’s a tough fight for both of them,” Gordon, who’s in Manchester to support Belal Muhammad, told MMA Junkie on the eve of UFC 304. “Being that we’re here in Manchester, in Paddy’s homeland, I guess you can call it favoritism, but he definitely has homefield advantage. I think Bobby has to really make it definitive, put a stamp on it. But I think that it’s fair game for either guy. I think whoever goes out there and sets the pace will set the tone for the rest of the fight and show who definitely will be the winner.”

Earlier in fight week, Gordon posted a video on X of him and Pimblett sharing a pleasant elevator ride. Gordon said it went out how he thought it wood.

“I’ve had other encounters with him since our fight, and we were always cool,” Gordon said. “There was never any animosity. … How do you not like the guy? He’s funny, he’s funny sounding, he’s funny looking, and he’s a sweetheart really. It was all laughs, and we had a good time. It was nice.”