Ronnie O’Sullivan has to deal with Paddy Pimblett, who is taking up MMA after his seventh world snooker title

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN would love nothing more than to get dirty after winning his record-breaking seventh world snooker title.

The Rocket, 46, is on an extended break and plans to see UFC pal Paddy Pimblett at a Liverpool gym for advice.

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O’Sullivan fell in love with mixed martial arts when he went to a fight night with artist pal Damien Hirst.

The world No. 1 said: “I’ve always been a boxing fan but then I watched a couple of UFC fights and I absolutely loved it.

“The grappling, there’s so much skill involved, then there’s the fighting side of it.

“I’m into UFC, cage fights, even Cage Warriors, the guys that are coming.

“Some of these fights are brutal because they want to go to the UFC and they’re fighting for their lives there.

“I went to Paddy’s gym to watch his drills and I was open at the time to getting in a cage to do a bit of sparring.

“Eventually I’ll go to the gym in Liverpool and do grappling.”

Having equaled Stephen Hendry’s Crucible record, many are already citing Essex’s greatest Potter snooker of all time.

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But the man himself is too humble to make a Muhammad Ali and call himself the best in history.

O’Sullivan said, “I just enjoy playing and competing. Does it really matter who is the greatest? Not for me.

“It’s just great to be at the top of your sport.

“I won’t think I’m the greatest if I win eight. No not at all. I don’t want to be considered the greatest.

“I want to be known as someone who loves snooker and just loves to play. That’s it.”