Paddy Pimblett has a 'sneaky suspicion' about the UFC White House card after it was officially confirmed.
The UFC White House card - which is named UFC Freedom 250 - is set as a six-fight card was unveiled on Saturday.
Ilia Topuria will make his return on the card as he defends his undisputed UFC lightweight championship against Justin Gaethje, who claimed the interim title following his victory over Pimblett in January.
Given his recent form inside the famed Octagon, which includes back-to-back-to-back knockout victories over Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, Topuria is a big favourite over Gaethje.
Advert
But Pimblett has backed Gaethje to pull off a major upset against Topuria after revealing he has a 'sneaky suspicion'.
Speaking on the latest episode of his YouTube channel, 'The Baddy' said: "My two mates in the main event. Ilia did say he was going to come back around this time, so June is perfect for him and obviously Justin said when he was fighting me he wanted to beat me and then go on to fight on the White House and he’s done it.
"So hats off to him he’s done it. That’s a scrap, they’re going to come out and try to take each other’s heads off. Everybody’s already counting Gaethje out and we’ve already learned that you can’t do that.
"I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that Gaethje might pull off an upset here and surprise everyone but as you know, it’s a fist fight. It could go either way, anyone can beat anyone and in the White House he’s probably going to have a bit more motivation to go out there and win.
"It’s in front of his president and his home country so we’ll have to see how that one plays out because it’s big implications for the whole division.
"I’m obviously going to have my eye on that but I’m going to be focused on whoever I’m going to fight next.
"Hopefully I’m going to find out the next few weeks when my next fight will be and hopefully it’s around that time, around June or July."
Gaethje is a live opponent and boasts plenty of championship experience, having fought in six UFC title bouts, including two BMF clashes.
After sharing the cage with him at UFC 324, Pimblett fancies his former foe's chances against Topuria.
Who is Paddy Pimblett fighting next?
Pimblett missed out on the White House card after losing to Gaethje.
But the Liverpool star still has a high ranking (No.6) next to his name.
Benoit Saint-Denis is above him in the rankings, with Pimblett eyeing an all-European clash next.
He said: "It p**sed me off that Saint-Denis moved above me for beating Dan Hooker. Why has he moved above me for beating Dan Hooker? What's gone on there?
"I will fight anyone, whichever name gets sent to me on a contract, I sign it and fight them. But Saint-Denis sounds like a good fight to me. Europe's two best lightweights going against each other."