Paddy Pimblett explains why he deserves to challenge UFC lightweight champion llia Topuria.
Pimblett (22-4 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is coming off a dominant TKO finish of former title challenger Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Although higher-ranked Justin Gaethje and Arman Tsarukyan were also in attendance for UFC 317, it’s Pimblett who was called into the octagon to face off Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC), who knocked out Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant 155-pound belt.
Pimblett thinks his resume warrants a title shot. He used Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira as examples to make his case.
“To be honest, Arman’s probably most deserving. But at the same time, is he? Because he split decisioned Charles in a fight a lot of people think Charles won,” Pimblett told Sky Sports. “It just annoys me when people say I’m not deserving when Islam (Makhachev) got a title shot off beating Bobby Green, and I beat him faster.
“Oliveira just got another title shot off beating Chandler, who he went to decision with and nearly got finished with, when I beat Chandler up for three rounds and beat him like no one else has beaten before. People just have a different opinion when it’s me. When it’s these other fighters, it’s all right. ‘Yeah, give them a title shot.'”
Tsarukyan will likely have to get back to the UFC’s good graces after pulling out of his title fight against Makhachev just a day before UFC 311. As for Gaethje, Pimblett doesn’t see him in the title conversation after a rebound win over Rafael Fiziev at UFC 313.
“People are saying Gaethje, when Gaethje just beat ranked (No.) 11 or 12 (Rafael Fiziev) then coming back off the Knockout of the Year against (Max) Holloway in a fight he lost,” Pimblett said. “You can probably make arguments for several people, but the fact that me and Ilia have got history – I think apart from Ilia vs. Islam, pound-for-pound No. 1 vs. pound-for-pound No. 2, me vs. Ilia is the biggest fight the UFC can make, especially now that Jon Jones is retired and you can’t do Aspinall vs. Jones.”
