Paddy Pimblett continued his unbeaten UFC streak with a win over Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Paddy the Baddy put on a clinical performance against one of the best lightweight fighters in the world. But there was more to his fight than most people saw. UFC legend Daniel Cormier saw hints of Conor McGregor in the way Paddy dominated the fight.
There’s no doubt that when it’s all said and done, the 30-year-old will be one of the best to ever grace the LW division. As of now, Paddy is eyeing his first shot at the championship belt.
With seven fights (seven wins) on his resume, alongside five Performance of the Night awards, Paddy is one of the hottest fighters in the promotion right now. His rise to fame has been a treat to witness. He has two unanimous decision wins and three submissions. The highlight of his career right now is his third-round win over Chandler.
He not only managed to come back from a tough first round but also took the fight completely away from Chandler. Witnessing that from the commentator’s table was exhilarating for DC. On Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, he said, “He did everything he said he was going to do to Michael Chandler.”
But more than the confidence itself, DC is impressed by how well Paddy fought. He said, “I don’t think I’ve seen a young guy, in that spot, fight better since Conor McGregor fought against Chad Mendes.” That’s a huge compliment for Paddy, and it’s well deserved. He should get his flowers for dominating the co-main event at UFC 314.
Chael Sonnen explained what makes Paddy Pimblett so special outside the Conor McGregor comparison
Sonnen has a unique way of analyzing the game. This is what makes him an important voice in the game. Regardless of his notorious habit of making outrageous comments, Sonnen gives fighters their flowers when they deserve it. He said, “Every now and then you’ll have a guy that’s good at what we call the intangibles.”
Sonnen said that Paddy’s fighting style is not very flamboyant, he doesn’t throw around flying kicks, he doesn’t play like a video-game character. However, his ability to still captivate fight fans is something to marvel at. Sonnen said, “He’s very ‘by the book.’ However, there’s something happening that we can’t quite witness.”
“There’s a grit perhaps, there’s a strength perhaps, there’s a conditioning and a pace. We can’t see it from the audience. When I watch Paddy, he is not dynamic. He stays calm…fights like the young guy…that believes in himself and the lights never get too bright,” Sonnen added. The UFC legend thinks that enjoying the process might also be the key to Paddy’s success.
In this sport, the best analysis of a fighter can only be provided by those who stood in front of him inside the cage. So, hopefully, Chandler will enlighten us with that insight in the near future.
