Paddy Pimblett says he has no interest in manufacturing animosity with his UFC opponents to promote fights, pointing to the build-up between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev as something he would not look to replicate.

The Liverpool lightweight discussed the subject during an appearance with Jason Kelce on Green Light, where he said he enjoys Strickland’s personality but is uncomfortable with fighters creating hostility purely for promotional purposes.

“Sean Strickland I think he’s hilarious. But him and the Khamzat thing. I think they said after they was just saying it to build the fight up. I’m not really into that. I’m not going to start saying stuff about someone if it’s just fake. I just can’t do that,” said Pimblett.

Strickland and Chimaev had exchanged personal insults ahead of their UFC 328 middleweight title fight in Newark on May 9, before Strickland won a split decision and the pair embraced in the Octagon afterwards. Nate Diaz was among those to criticise the nature of the rivalry following the fight, describing the situation as “faking the funk,” according to LowKick MMA.

Pimblett’s comments come despite the 31-year-old having been involved in several heated rivalries during his UFC career, most notably with Ilia Topuria. The pair have exchanged insults over several years and were involved in an altercation during UFC London fight week in 2022, but Pimblett has previously said there are boundaries he will not cross when discussing opponents, including bringing their families into a feud.

Pimblett has also had more cordial relationships with opponents including Michael Chandler and Benoit Saint Denis, with neither fight promoted around a personal grudge. While his rivalry with Topuria could yet produce further exchanges should the pair eventually meet inside the Octagon, Pimblett says any hostility he displays towards an opponent will not be manufactured solely to promote a fight.