Henry Cejudo admits Paddy Pimblett is best than he initially thought.
Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) takes on former title challenger Michael Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) in Saturday’s five-round UFC 314 co-headliner (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Kaseya Heart in Miami.
Though Pimblett is a slight betting favourite over Chandler, Cejudo would contemplate it an upset if he’s in a position to beat the previous multiple-time Bellator champion – and he thinks he’ll.
“I’m smelling an upset,” Cejudo mentioned on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Paddy Pimblett, I feel he’s going to herald the grappling. I feel he may pull guard on this dude. His fingers should not dangerous, both. I additionally assume he can pressure Michael Chandler to do one thing within the backside. If he can not take Michael Chandler down, he’s extra probably going to have to do this.
“However I simply really feel like Paddy Pimblett, he’s lots higher than what I believed and what he was in a position to do to Bobby Inexperienced, his transitional stuff. We’ve obtained to place some respect on that dude’s title, and he’s solely gotten higher, bro. I simply really feel like with Michael Chandler, I feel the UFC is aware of what they’re doing. They’re doing a 5 rounder. Like, give it some thought. I feel Paddy Pimblett is lots higher than what we predict, and I’m smelling an upset right here.”
Trying on the panorama of the light-weight division, Cejudo sees massive implications for Pimblett with a win.
“I do imagine that this, a win over Michael Chandler, may put him in a very good place,” Cejudo continued. “He could possibly be one struggle away from combating for the title.”
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