UFC star Paddy Pimblett slams Tony Ferguson's training with ex-US Navy SEAL David Goggins ahead of their upcoming clash.

The pair are expected to share the cage at UFC 296 in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 16. The final pay-per-view card of the year will be headlined by a welterweight showdown between Leon Edwards and Colby Covington for the 170lbs strap.

Pimblett's clash with the former interim lightweight champion will be one of the featured bouts on the main card.

Ahead of their showdown in Las Vegas, Ferguson has been subjected to a brutal training regime by the former US Navy SEAL.

The former interim UFC lightweight champion has struggled of late, suffering six successive defeats in the Octagon. Ferguson has signalled his determination to turn around his fortunes by enlisting the help of Goggins.

'Day 1 of Hell Week with consisted of 3+ hours of high-intensity, tempo cardio, over 600 push-ups, tons of chest exercises, stairclimber/assault bike/rowing/elliptical and then repeat,' Goggins wrote on Instagram. 

However, the Englishman questions why 'El Cucuy' is enlisting the help of Goggins. Speaking on The Energized Show, Pimblett said: 'I think it's bizarre. I think it's f*****g stupid. 'If there's two things Tony's never needed help with is his mental state — because look at the armbar with Charles [Oliveira], he didn't stop.

'And look at his cardio. He's never had a problem with his cardio, so I don't understand why he's done it.'

The 28-year-old claims that there could be a mental side to Ferguson working with Goggins, but doesn't see how it will help him in the cage. 

'He must be thinking he's not where he was mentally a couple of years ago,' Pimblett explained. 

'That's not the reason he's losing fights — it's because he got older. and he's lost athleticism, and he's not as fast as he once was.

'Obviously, that beatdown from Gaethje changed his whole career, and then getting knocked out by Chandler the way that he did, his brain is not the same as it was three or four years ago.'

Goggins, who has become a motivational author and speaker with a following of millions in America, has previously helped fighters in the build-up to bouts.

He worked with Jon Jones ahead of his fight with Ciryl Gane in March, which saw the American return from a three-year absence to claim the UFC heavyweight title. 

Goggins previously worked with boxer Kell Brook ahead of the Briton's WBO welterweight title fight with Terence Crawford in 2020.

Ferguson will hope Goggins can boost his fortunes following a run of defeats in the UFC. 'El Cucuy's' last fight with the promotion came back in July - suffering a submission defeat to Bobby Green at UFC 291.

As for Pimblett, the Englishman has not stepped foot in the cage since his controversial win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282 in December 2022.