Paddy Pimblett silenced the doubters and gatecrashed the UFC’s lightweight elite with a career-best performance as he finished Michael Chandler in the third round at UFC 314 in Miami.
Pimblett promised to finish Chandler by knockout or TKO in their five-round co-main event bout at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, and in a performance that showed Pimblett at his very best, the Liverpudlian dominated Chandler on the feet and on the mat en route to a third-round TKO finish.
Pimblett immediately established his striking as he set his feet and fed Chandler with a steady diet of stiff, straight punches and chopping calf kicks throughout their lightweight battle.
And while Chandler had some early success with a takedown against the fence in the first round, that was about as good as it got for the former Bellator lightweight champion and UFC title challenger as Pimblett took over.
Pimblett comprehensively outstruck Chandler on the feet, and outmanoeuvred him on the ground throughout the fight to such a degree that Chandler was left a tired, bloody mess as the third round got underway.
And when the fight went to the mat once again, Pimblett immediately moved into top position and threatened with an arm-triangle choke setup. Chandler did well to keep Pimblett at bay, but the Next Generation MMA product simply moved on to other techniques as he transitioned into position for a rear-naked choke.
Once again, Chandler stayed defensively diligent as he prevented Pimblett from locking up the choke. But, as he looked to explode out of trouble, Pimblett took advantage and eventually ended up on top, where he unleashed a vicious barrage of punches and elbows that, after a prolonged salvo of shots, forced referee Kerry Hatley to step in and wave off the fight.
And, after his victory, Pimblett addressed the doubters who have questioned him after every UFC victory, before calling for a shot against one of the UFC lightweight division’s very best – Charles Oliveira.
“Anyone in the top four, top five. I want that world title. Laugh all you want and say I’ll never be champ, just like you said I’d never be ranked, I’d never be in the top 10. What now, you gang of mushrooms?” he said.
“I want Dustin, Justin, Charles, or the little posh boy, Armen. Any of them four. But, out of them all, I respect Dustin, Justin and Charles [but] Charles is the biggest legend out of them all.
“He gets called the best submission artist the UFC has ever seen. Well, I dispute that. I’m here. So, me and Charles.”
UFC 314: Official results
MAIN CARD
- Alexander Volkanovski def. Diego Lopes via unanimous decision (48-47, 49-46, 49-46) – for vacant featherweight title
- Paddy Pimblett def. Michael Chandler via TKO (ground strikes) – Round 3, 3:07
- Yair Rodriguez def. Patricio Pitbull via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jean Silva def. Bryce Mitchell via submission (ninja choke) – Round 2, 3:52
- Dominick Reyes def. NIkita Krylov via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:24
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Dan Ige def. Sean Woodson via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:12
- Virna Jandiroba def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Chase Hooper def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Julian Erosa def. Darren Elkins via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:15
EARLY PRELIMS
- Michal Oleksiejczuk def. Sedriques Dumas via TKO (punches and elbows) – Round 1, 2:49
- Su Mudaerji def. Mitch Raposo via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Marco Tulio def. Tresean Gore via TKO (punch) – Round 2, 3:16
- Nora Cornolle def. Hailey Cowan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:52
