He made his debut last September after coming up through a smaller European promotion called Cage Warriors. The reason you haven’t heard about Paddy “The Baddy” before, or hadn’t until last month, is because he’s only had two fights in the UFC. That night the O2 Arena saw its highest grossing gate for a single sporting event ever - and this wasn’t even a UFC pay-per-view. The person making $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win isn’t supposed to be the biggest draw, but Pimblett appeared to be. The main event is the main event for a reason.

His walkout song, which starts as “Lethal Industry” by Tiësto and blends into “Heads Will Roll” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, gave way to a custom chant for Paddy himself. While the main event of the night was a heavyweight fight pitting England’s own Tom Aspinall against the Russian Alexander Volkov, and the co-main bout was a featherweight matchup between fan favorites Arnold Allen and Dan Hooker, the most raucous the sold-out crowd got was for the 27-year-old from Liverpool. On March 19 at the O2 Arena in London, the world got a look at the most likely successor to McGregor in the UFC: Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett. No one can draw a crowd like “The Notorious.” At least, no one yet.

Take a look at the most purchased PPV fights in the league’s history and you’ll find McGregor’s bouts make up the entire top six, and eight of the top 10. And despite losing three of his last four fights, the Irishman is still the reigning, defending champion of the pay-per-view world. It’s been nine months since Conor McGregor fought, with no return to the Octagon yet on the books.

If you haven’t thought about the UFC in a while, you’re not alone.

Paddy pimblett ufc debut fight