Paddy Pimblett is gunning for a performance bonus at this weekend’s UFC 304 in Manchester.

The Liverpudlian lightweight takes on King Green (the mixed martial artist formerly known as Bobby Green) in the small hours of Sunday morning in the UFC’s latest event in the UK — and after not securing a knockout or submission in the Octagon in exactly two years, Pimblett has vowed to get the finish en route to what would be his sixth UFC victory.

“Everyone is talking about this fight like it is a striker versus a grappling match, but it’s not. I’m an all-round MMA fighter, and, to be honest, I think Bobby is. He’s got very good grappling defence,” Pimblett said on his personal YouTube channel, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.

“But I’m going to shut a lot of you haters up with this performance. I’m in the best shape of my life. Not much weight to lose. I just can’t wait to come and put this egomaniac in his place.”

Pimblett has had an up and down voyage throughout the UFC thus far. He debuted with the UFC in a wave of momentum, scoring three finishes in his first three fights but was criticised in the aftermath of what many saw as a fortunate decision win against Jared Gordon in late 2022. A leg injury sustained in that bout would remove him from competition for a year.

He came back to the cage late last year to win a comprehensive decision against the former top contender Tony Ferguson but failed to find the finish despite a dominant opening to the fight.

But against Green, Pimblett says the judges will not be required.

“When I put [my] hands on him, he’s going to know about it. He thinks I’m going to come out and be shooting for my life. I’m going to come out and take his head off his shoulders,” he said. “So I’m predicting a first or second-round knockout or submission. And the submission will be after I’ve dropped him or hurt him viciously with ground and pound.”