Darren Till Slams Dan Hooker as Beef With Paddy Pimblett Intensifies
Paddy Pimblett is one of MMA’s most controversial figures, famous for unapologetic trash talk and confidence in the spotlight. He is currently scheduled to face Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324, creating massive anticipation.
Despite that, Pimblett has started a rivalry with Dan Hooker, criticizing his grappling skills and involving his mother during a recent interview. Hooker responded by sharing an old video, claiming Paddy stayed silent in person while continuing loud online criticism.
He also referenced Pimblett’s late friend Ricky, a move that instantly angered fans and deeply upset the Liverpool fighter. Pimblett accused Hooker of crossing lines and going extremely low with personal attacks towards his old friend.
The feud soon went viral, drawing former UFC fighter Darren Till, who openly slammed Hooker for his unnecessary comments online. “Dan Hooker is a piece of shit,” wrote Darren Till via X.
Till and Paddy Pimblett are old friends, with both sharing Liverpool roots, and have often shown consistent public support for each other. Ricky, on the other hand, Pimblett’s close childhood friend, died by suicide in 2019, deeply impacting the Liverpool fighter emotionally and personally.
Pimblett spoke about losing Ricky after his UFC debut, breaking down while encouraging men to discuss mental health openly everywhere. He used Ricky’s story to spread awareness, reminding fans that strength includes vulnerability and seeking support during the darkest personal moments.
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It seems the emotional history made Pimblett and Till uncomfortable with Hooker mentioning Ricky in the tweet, as they felt the reference was unnecessary and disrespectful. Nevertheless, it would still be interesting to see how this ongoing beef eventually concludes in the future.
Paddy Pimblett refuses to comment on Ilia Topuria’s personal issues
Another major rivalry for Paddy Pimblett is with lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, fueled by constant competitive verbal exchanges online. Pimblett wants to defeat Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 and eventually dethrone ‘El Matador’ later this year.
Over the last few months, both fighters shared heated back-and-forth comments, significantly increasing interest around their rivalry. Currently, Topuria is facing nasty divorce proceedings, while Pimblett respectfully stated he prefers avoiding personal matters during public discussions.
“I would never want anyone to mention my family, so I never do it about anyone else. It’s just not what we do. We are fighters, we can say what we want about each other, but mentioning family is below the belt. I wish him nothing but the best,” said Paddy Pimblett via The MMA Guru.
According to the latest reports, Topuria won a key custody ruling where a Spanish judge rejected his ex-wife’s request to take their daughter to the United States. It would be interesting to see how quickly the Georgian-Spanish returns to the Octagon.
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