COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Dustin Poirier thinks Paddy Pimblett is plain as a prime light-weight after dominating and ending Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
Former interim champ Poirier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) served as a desk analyst for ESPN this previous Saturday when Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) went into his co-main occasion with Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) and delivered a bloody third-round TKO win at Kaseya Middle in Miami. Though “The Baddy” had his share of supporters coming in, the matchup was a transparent step up in competitors, and his naysayers weren’t certain if he’d overcome it.
Seems, Pimblett handed the take a look at with flying colours, and put himself firmly among the many prime tier at 155 kilos.
“He’s legit,” Poirier advised MMA Junkie on Monday. “How can I deny him any extra? Chandler’s a troublesome man. I don’t assume Chandler regarded nice. He had an excellent first spherical, acquired Paddy down, wrist-rode him towards the fence, sort of squeaked it out, however he regarded flat after that. He regarded heavy on his toes. He regarded exhausted. Like I stated on the desk: Everybody’s odometer has a distinct mileage the place issues begin to decelerate, the wheels begin to shake. Possibly that’s his time now, however solely he is aware of that.”
Poirier, 36, doesn’t wish to downplay Pimblett’s efficiency by asking too many questions on the state of Chandler’s profession. He admittedly maintain in poor health will towards his former opponent Chandler, who he submitted at UFC 281 in November 2022. Poirier prefers to present Pimblett his due.
“I positively assume Chandler didn’t look nice, however not taking away from Paddy’s efficiency,” Poirier stated. “Paddy went on the market, dropped the primary spherical, got here out assured and hit Chandler with good photographs. Then he took him down. Who would’ve have had that on their bingo card that Paddy goes to take down Chandler to the mat like that and get on prime of him and dominate him like that. Paddy’s the actual deal.”
Poirier intends to retire after his subsequent struggle, which is rumored to happen this summer season. If he was sticking round longer, although, he stated Pimblett will surely be a sensible and worthwhile opponent given what he’s now carried out.
However seeing as that’s not in play, Poirier stated he would very very similar to see to Pimblett tackle one other considered one of his former opponents in Dan Hooker, who’s using a three-fight successful streak.
“The man was a prospect. Now he’s a contender,” Poirier stated. “You need to take him for actual now. Not that Chandler wasn’t an enormous struggle, however his subsequent struggle needs to be a extremely massive one. Like a (Mateusz) Gamrot, Arman (Tsarukyan), (Charles) Oliveira – behind the scenes, I’ve acquired stuff, so I can’t entertain that and I’m solely combating yet another time, however for me as a fan, put him in there with Dan Hooker. That might be an unbelievable struggle. That’s a enjoyable struggle. The construct up goes to be enjoyable. Dan goes to face and commerce with him. Dan has good takedown protection, on the bottom. That’s the struggle, I feel.”
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