Whereas many individuals have been impressed with Paddy Pimblett’s efficiency at UFC 314, former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria was not certainly one of them.
Pimblett blasted his method by means of former Bellator champion Michael Chandler within the night’s co-main occasion, securing a third-round TKO over ‘Iron’ to increase his unbeaten streak contained in the Octagon to seven. Subsequently, ‘The Baddy’ would discover himself with a top-10 rating for the primary time in his profession, overtaking the No. 8 spot.
Doubtlessly one win away from his first shot at UFC gold, Pimblett’s star energy grew exponentially in a single day, however some counsel the Liverpudlian nonetheless hasn’t been examined in opposition to an elite opponent.
El Matador’ (or no matter he calls himself now) was keen to present Pimblett some credit score for his efficiency in Miami, however shortly pulled again on his reward, calling Chandler an “average-level” fighter who’s by no means crushed anybody of not contained in the Octagon.
“He did an ideal job,” Topuria mentioned of Pimblett on The Joe Rogan Expertise. “He did what he needed to do, however for me… I’m going to be utterly trustworthy with you, for me, Chandler, he by no means was a rare fighter. He was like an average-level fighter. Who did he beat within the UFC? …
“So he beat Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson, when [Ferguson] was nearly 40 years outdated.”
Topuria didn’t compete at UFC 314, however his presence was felt as he formally vacated the featherweight title, later gained that night time by way of an excellent efficiency from ex-titleholder Alexander Volkanovski within the night’s headliner.
Michael Chandler’s type of combating shouldn’t be for ilia topuria
As for Chandler, ‘El Matador’ acknowledges that ‘Iron’ has a fan-friendly type of combating that makes him an simple favourite amongst viewers, however it’s nothing greater than type over substance in Topuria’s eyes.
“On the finish of the day, you see wars,” Topuria mentioned. “It’s a really aggressive struggle. You see nearly a bar struggle. You see two guys in the course of the Octagon exchanging punches, however you don’t see method. You don’t see expertise.
“You’ll see an ideal struggle, as a result of as followers, it’s very entertaining to look at fights like that. However in case you actually give it some thought, you don’t see expertise in that struggle. You don’t see somebody making an attempt to take you down, management you, some nice submissions, nice transitions, hanging — see a man that’s on the lookout for combos, on the lookout for his second, creating areas. …
“It’s simply wild canine… and that’s cool. You want guys like him. … I’d by no means advocate to somebody, ‘Watch this man and be taught one thing.’”
