Paddy Pimblett Meets Tom Hardy, Sets Up Star-Studded Grappling Session
Paddy Pimblett met up with Tom Hardy at the season 2 premiere of Moblands and the actor set up a training session with the UFC fighter.
Seeing Paddy Pimblett swap his fight shorts for formalwear is a rare sight for combat sports fans. But when the Liverpool star bumped into Hollywood actor Tom Hardy at a recent event, the conversation immediately shifted from high fashion to high-level grappling.
Pimblett didn't hesitate to admit he felt out of his element dressed up, telling the action star, "I don't normally wear a suit, lad. It feels a little bit weird." Hardy quickly complimented the Scouse lightweight before pitching a long-awaited crossover. "Suits you though. I'd love to train with you," Hardy said.
Pimblett immediately jumped at the proposition, acknowledging that a joint session on the mats has been brewing behind the scenes. "Been spoken about it for years, lad," Pimblett responded in a video captured by UFC Europe. "I wish we'd get some f*cking rolling in."
From Hollywood to the Mats
While seeing a movie star pop up in fight circles usually screams publicity stunt, Hardy is far from a casual observer. The actor is a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who has competed in real-world UK tournaments, earning gold medals and earning his stripes as a legitimate competitor on the mats.
On the other side, Pimblett brings elite submission chops to the table. Holding a 24-4 professional MMA record, the 31-year-old contender has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous ground fighters in the UFC lightweight division. With 10 career submission victories, including high-profile finishes over King Green and Jordan Leavitt, Pimblett’s grappling remains his ultimate equalizer inside the Octagon.
Both men have spent years expressing mutual respect for each other's work, making a joint training session a dream crossover for British fight fans. Whether Hardy travels down to Next Generation MMA in Liverpool or the duo books a private room in London, watching one of Hollywood's toughest leading men roll with one of the UFC's most entertaining stars will be must-watch content when it finally happens.
