UFC 304: Paddy Pimblett, Molly McCann and the gym that raised them

“This one has a proper Halloween scar.”

Mixed martial artist Paddy “The Buddy” Pimblett points to the scars on his leg, where he's had three surgeries. He's also had three surgeries on his hand.

“I'm 29 and my body is failing, but I've been fighting since I was 15,” he says.

He puts it into practice at Next Gen Gym.

Pimblett and Molly “Meatball” McCann, 34, are two of the best-known members of the famous Liverpool gym's close-knit mixed martial arts community.

The pair are preparing for a match in Manchester later this month that could prove pivotal in both their careers after 18 months of ups and downs, headlines and life changes.

However, these are part of a broader, longer-term project.

Their training is led by head coaches Paul Rimmer and Ellis Hampson, who joined forces 20 years ago to build a lasting legacy for the MMA community and Liverpool.

In 2001, aged 21, Rimmer's childhood interest in karate and Japanese wrestling shows led him to quit his job, take out a £6,000 loan and travel across the Atlantic to the Next Generation Fighting Academy in Irvine, California, 40 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

He trained all day, every day for nine months under the tutelage of Chris “Westside Strangler” Brennan.

“I slept on a bunk bed at the back of the gym and walked to the weight room to shower,” he says.

He returned with a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a brand he was determined to bring to Liverpool.

“The next generation at Liverpool is looking to introduce things that haven't been here before,” he says.

“There were no MMA or martial arts heroes or gyms to look up to. This is an alternative to office or soccer to give opportunities to kids in this city.”

The gym is set over two floors of a windowless industrial building in Liverpool's Fabric District, home to the city's historic garment industry, with metal shutters opening to reveal bright blue training mats and graffiti-covered walls.

The gym's membership comes from all walks of life, with under-16s training alongside the likes of Pimblett and McCann.

In total, there are 15 pros from the four major MMA promotions: UFC, Bellator, Cage Warriors and Octagon.

The two coaches are at the center of it all, Hampson in full pads and Rimmer sitting on the floor, watching intently and absorbing every detail.

The atmosphere is one of focus and camaraderie rather than tension and male hormones, and the attention to detail is almost nerdy.

“It's almost like a dance,” McCann says, sitting on a mat after a training session.

“Martial arts is an art. It's never an easy path, it's very difficult, but for me it's the truest form of expression.”

After consecutive losses in November 2022 and July 2023, McCann decided to drop down a weight class, work hard to improve his grappling weaknesses and say “less words and more action.”

“I grew up doing boxing, which is like karate, it's really all about striking,” she says.

“I worked hard on my grappling but my heart just wasn't on fire. Then I lost twice by armbar and I was totally devastated.”

“I felt like it was my responsibility to bring my whole self to the interview,” she added of her approach to mixed martial arts thus far.

“But I don't care about it anymore because people attacked me. After my loss, I went to therapy to deal with past trauma and work issues. I felt lighter after that.”

“So now it's 'say less, do more'. I will get better.”

Pimblett and McCann are two of the headline bouts taking place at Manchester's new Co-op Live Arena on July 27. In some ways the bout will be something of a homecoming, as it will be the first time the pair have fought on a UFC card in the North West.

McCann's fighting style is more terse, subdued and controlled, but her confidence remains undiminished. She promises to “beat” her opponent, Bruna Brasil.

Cage Warriors fighter Adam Cullen also trains with Next Gen, and like McCann, the 26-year-old has experienced the ruthless side of MMA fans.

Cullen was on a seven-fight winning streak before suffering a knockout loss in April 2023. He won his return bout in September but lost a split decision in March of this year.

“It's definitely a mental strain to go from one moment you're thought of as the next big thing to losing a match and having everyone tell you you're nobody,” he says.

“In the gym, you never feel alone or lost. There's always someone who's been through the same thing as you. The actual fight keeps you coming back. You can go from fear to the greatest joy in the world in seconds.”

Cullen was inspired to train with Next Generation by Pimbret's early success in MMA before joining the UFC.

He showed up at the gym and was soon training with Pimblett and McCann.

This is what makes this gym special: despite having some of the world's biggest UFC stars, there is no hierarchy. Everyone trains together, regardless of their external status.

Despite being five-for-five with the UFC, Pimbrett, like McCann and Curran, has experienced the ups and downs of life both in and out of the Octagon.

In July 2022, he made headlines around the world with his sensational win over American Jordan Leavitt.

Pimblett's charisma, warmth and sincerity were such that Liverpool treatment centre James' Place, a men's-focused suicide prevention charity, reported a surge in enquiries after his speech.

“In this city, you hear about people committing suicide all the time. When a friend of mine committed suicide, I felt I had to say something. Everyone praised me, but I thought I was just doing what anyone in my position should do. That's important. It's more important than fighting,” he says.

But six months later, he wasn't hearing words of praise.

Pimblett was booed following his controversial decision win over Jared Gordon in Las Vegas, and soon after drew further criticism for his spat with mixed martial arts commentator Ariel Helwani.

“Everybody was totally against me,” he says, “and I'm fine with that because it's my sport. I'm not on social media because then I'll just start commenting on everybody again.”

Pimblett is scheduled to fight Bobby “King” Green in July but was hoping to face highly ranked Renato Moicano.

He said his training focuses on honing his wrestling and sparring skills.

“I'm always confident when I grapple. It's my striking that I need to improve.”

“I feel like I've improved by leaps and bounds in the last one or two fight camps.”

The UFC main card will begin at 3am in Manchester to coincide with the US television broadcast.

That means Next Gen Gym will be packed into the night in the weeks leading up to the fight as Pimblett and McCann get acclimated.

Pimblett is also busy at home. He became a father for the first time in May and is grateful that his wife, Laura, has been able to look after their twins, Betsy and Margot, so he can get more sleep.

McCann is a Director and Head Coach of the British Mixed Martial Arts Association (EMMAA) and is committed to developing the sport's next generation.

Among other things, the national governing body supports an entry path into competitive MMA for athletes aged 12 and above.

As part of Next Gen, Rimmer's 16-year-old son, Jack, will work as an apprentice at the gym, learning to coach and lead sessions.

His goal is to become a professional fighter and follow in his father's footsteps one day.

“I've been training since I was five years old,” Jack says, “and when my dad came home with the belt from a fight I immediately knew I wanted to do it too. Paddy was a huge inspiration as he trained me to be a local hero.”

“The gym brings people together, regardless of age. Even if you're not physically fit or have a disability, you can still train. You can quickly make friends and get to know people from different countries.”

Rimmer believes city pride is reflected in the sport's growth.

“Younger players are going to make big strides from now on,” he says.

“These kids come in with skills and training that starts much earlier, from as early as six years old.

“The work we have done over the years to uphold the traditions of MMA in Liverpool does not end with me.”