Paddy Pimblett is still a few wins away from a title shot, but if he gets there, he’s fully confident he defeats the champion.
Even if that champion’s name is Islam Makhachev.
Currently No. 1 at 155 pounds and No. 1 in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings, Makhachev is in the middle of a dominant UFC lightweight championship reign. Makhachev ran through Charles Oliveira to claim the title in 2022 and has successfully defended it three consecutive times while extending his current win streak to 14 straight fights.
Pimblett is on a fine streak of his own at eight straight, including all six of his UFC appearances, and he was asked if his sights are set solely on the top of the division.
“Of course, people always say, ‘Do you think you’d beat Islam Makhachev?’” Pimblett said on the StillTalkingShow podcast. “I’m like, ‘Obviously.’ You’ve got to. Do you think I’m going to sit here and just be like, ‘No, he’d beat me?’ Then I’m not a fighter. I’m a coward.”
Pimblett’s two most recent wins have come against veteran names. He defeated King Green at UFC 304 this past July, becoming the first fighter in nearly 15 years to submit Green, and prior to that he won a unanimous decision over the slumping Tony Ferguson.
The Liverpool native has gained plenty of notoriety for his in-cage performances and his bravado, the latter of which is evident when discussing a potential clash with Makhachev.
“I respect Islam,” Pimblett said. “He’s a great champion. People will probably laugh at me for saying this, but obviously, I think I’d beat him. I don’t think any man on this planet would beat me if we got in a cage, I think I’d beat everyone.”
When Pimblett was asked point-blank whether Makhachev stands a chance against him, he didn’t waver in his response.
“In my mind, no,” Pimblett said. “I always say, anyone in your division or anyone that you’re rivals with can beat you, you’re in the wrong sport. Go and do footy or rugby or cricket or basketball or hockey, where you’ve got a team, you can say, ‘It was fault, it was his fault.’ In a fight, it’s only going to be your fault, no one else’s fault.”
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Poatan.
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) November 25, 2024
Tell us!!!
It’s been almost 2 weeks since I accepted the date and the opponent. Still waiting to hear back. Can’t wait to get back in the octagon, it’s been too long
— Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev (@RafaelFiziev) November 25, 2024
Persistence.
I got my black belt
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) November 25, 2024
17 years from start to finish and I’ve learned so much more than a martial art.
So much devotion has gone in to this journey.
Its taught me to be grateful when things are good and to be patient when things are hard.
Jiu jitsu changed my life.
⚔️ pic.twitter.com/9occYeh9L5
Ageless.
Well thank you very much! 43 years young today! https://t.co/NNLD6l9i5y
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) November 25, 2024
We love love.
Congrats to my dawg @vandetta135 & his lady for tying the knot. What a great time & honored to be apart of it
— Lamb (@nickdais10) November 24, 2024
They had fights on during the wedding & honestly the standard has changed for weddings, if you don’t got that or NFL on, i ain’t going. They set the new bar pic.twitter.com/W4JFfESDW7
Sigh.
Yo @jakepaul watch how you talk to MMA royalty,I’ll fight you in MMA no weight class for no pay. That’s a great deal.. but i bet YOU won’t. Stop disrespecting people in my fucken sport homie. You fighting Tyson was your last straw.. go back to boxing wrestlers. pic.twitter.com/9w83xf3mtl
— Rampage Jackson (@Rampage4real) November 25, 2024
Kennedy Nzechukwu (13-5) vs. Lukasz Brzeski (9-5-1, 1 NC); UFC 310, Dec. 7
Jiri Prochazka (30-5-1) vs. Jamahal Hill (12-2, 1 NC); UFC 311, Jan. 18
Presumably, Islam Makhachev has the Arman Tsarukyan rematch up next (announcement, please?), but after that his lightweight dance card is pretty wide open. Could Paddy Pimblett find a path to this unlikely title match? Stranger things have happened in combat sports, I’m just saying.
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