Gilbert Burns backs Paddy Pimblett to win at UFC 296 after recent training session – even though Tony Ferguson has hired David Goggins

Top welterweight contender Gilbert Burns is backing Paddy Pimblett to pick up the biggest win of his career at UFC 296.

The 28-year-old faces a huge step up in opposition when he takes on former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 16.

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Burns, who is hoping to face whoever wins when 170lb champion Leon Edwards fights Colby Covington on the same card, recently spent some time in Pimblett's city.

After watching Liverpool score two late goals to beat Everton at Anfield, the Brazilian was invited to Next Generation MMA and left the gym pleasantly surprised by its biggest star.

“I had a great time in Liverpool,” Burns told talkSPORT.com at a Monster Energy fan event in New York earlier this month.

“Stake, my sponsor, brought me there to watch the Everton game against Liverpool.

"It was a great game. It was a great time that night. I ended up talking to Molly [McCann] and then the next day I went to training.

“Paddy is very good. I think just because of his personality and because he got so famous people hate on him, but he’s legit, he’s very good.”

The already interesting crossroads fight between a faded legend and rising contender recently got even more compelling when Ferguson linked up with former Navy SEAL and ultramarathon runner, David Goggins.

Goggins, a bestselling author and social media personality with over nine million followers on Instagram, shared videos of himself putting Ferguson through the wringer ahead of UFC 296.

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Despite the brutal schedule, Ferguson became the first person to successfully complete a Goggins "Hell Week" without quitting.

Burns added: “I just saw Tony Ferguson is training with David Goggins for this fight, which makes it even more entertaining.

"Paddy is for real. Paddy has legit wrestling, legit jiu-jitsu is getting better on the striking and I’m a fan. I like the guy; he treated me super good and I’m looking forward to his next fight."

Burns knows the task that faces Pimblett but is backing the popular scouser to emerge victorious and set himself up for a run at the lightweight rankings in 2024.

“Tough fight,” he said when asked for his final prediction.

“I think he can [beat Ferguson]. It’s a close fight but I think he can.”