Australian UFC star Jamie Mullarkey gets his next chance to climb the lightweight rankings this weekend, but he’s set his sights on one of the most talked about fighters in UFC, plus another fight on home soil later this year.
Mullarkey’s fights always deliver entertainment but after making his debut in 2019, his record is 4-3 and it’s getting to now or never stage for him to rise up the rankings.
Watch Live UFC with ESPN on Kayo. Full Fight Night Events, PPV Prelims, Ultimate Fighter Series & More. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The 28-year-old will take on Muhammad Naimov in the last of the preliminary fights on UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Sunday morning (AEST).
After winning his fight at UFC 284 in Perth earlier this year, Mullarkey called out Paddy Pimblett — the English fighter renowned for his floppy haircut, Merseyside accent and not being afraid to speak his mind.
The top of the lightweight rankings is stacked with the likes of Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, so a fight between Mullarkey and Pimblett could be a seriously entertaining match-up for the division’s second tier of fighters.
“Yeah definitely, he’s someone that I want to fight,” Mullarkey told news.com.au.
“It’s not the be all and end all, I would just love to get in there with him and mix it up.
“That’s the fight that every lightweight wants, so we’ll see if we can make it happen.
“I’m definitely trying to climb those rankings. I don’t think Paddy’s even up there yet. I’m more looking for even a more dangerous opponent, to be honest with you.
“Paddy’s got a bit of work to do to even get where I am. I’ll be open to fight whoever and whenever.”
Asked if Pimblett is over-hyped given he’s only ranked 23rd in lightweight, Mullarkey said:
“Maybe a little bit. But he’s also good. I think he’s deserved where he’s gotten.”
A second UFC card on Australian soil in one year is rare and a fight at UFC 293 in Sydney in September is now the hottest ticket in town, especially for Mullarkey, who grew up on the NSW Central Coast.
“I’m not looking too far ahead but I know there’s that card coming up in Sydney on September 10th,” Mullarkey said.
“That’s definitely a card I want to be a part of. The short term goal is basically to get a clean performance this time around, get a good win and back it up in Sydney on September 10th.
“It’ll be a really cool and special occasion if I get to fight in front of literally where I’m from. That’d be massive.”
Mullarkey is part of a crop of rising Australian UFC talents including Jack Jenkins and Jack Della Maddalena, who all notched up wins in Perth in February.
“It was good, man. The energy was high and every single Aussie that was on the card just fed off it,” Mullarkey said.
“It’s really good to be a part of. Australia MMA has come so far and it’s only growing. I can feel we’re making our mark as a nation in the fight game. It’s really good to be a part of. I can feel the energy, we’re coming in strong and we’re not going anywhere.”
Another win this weekend with a “nice and clean performance” will help get Mullarkey’s UFC career well and truly back on track.
“I’m looking to do the same thing this one and take the same approach but maybe apply a little bit more pressure
“We’re always looking for the finish man but not going to rush anything, just going to take it as it comes. When I see the finish I’ll definitely be going for it.”
UFC Fight Night
MAIN CARD
Kaia Kara-France vs Amir Albazi (flyweight)
Alex Caceres vs Daniel Pineda (featherweight)
Jim Miller vs Jesse Butler (lightweight)
Tim Elliot vs Victor Altamirano (flyweight)
Karine Silva vs Kelten Souza (flyweight)
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs.Elizeu dos Santos (welterweight)
PRELIMS
Jamie Mullarkey vs Muhammad Naimov (lightweight)
John Castaneda vs Muin Gafurov (bantamweight)
Andrei Arlovski vs Dontale Mayes (heavyweight)
Daniel Santos vs Johnny Munoz (bantamweight)
Elise Reed vs Jinh Yu Frey (strawweight)
Da’mon Blackshear vs Luan Lacerda (bantamweight)
Philipe Lins vs Max Grishin (heavyweight)