Back in 2023, Michael Bisping didn’t mince words when it came to Paddy Pimblett. On the Believe You Me podcast, the former middleweight champ remarked, “I think what Paddy needs to do is just humble himself a little bit. Stop with this ‘I’m the new cash cow s–t.’” However, the UFC analyst seems to be changing his tune on the verbose yet exciting Liverpudlian, recently suggesting that the Scouser might just be able to outdo Michael Chandler. For the unversed, the two lightweights are set to collide in the co-main event of UFC 314, in what will be one of the biggest names Pimblett has faced in his career so far.
It’s a massive opportunity for ‘The Baddy’ to finally break through in the highly competitive lightweight division. For Chandler, this might be a must-win scenario. The former Bellator champion has fought the very best this business has to offer including Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Charles Oliveira. However, the Englishman will be Chandler’s first challenge outside the fabled top 10 rankings. At 38 years old, the Missouri native has lost four of his six UFC fights. While his action-packed approach has won fans over, the results haven’t been there lately.
Bisping believes Pimblett is coming into the bout with the right mindset and strategy. Speaking on TNT Sports UFC 314 preview show, he praised the game plan Paddy has laid out: “Paddy’s still very much in his prime. And he is getting better with every fight. And I saw him talking about how he’s going to keep Chandler on the outside and butcher his cast with low kicks. That’s the perfect game plan! Because I think he is going to be quicker than Chandler. Chandler is going to go forward; we know what he’s gonna do, he’s gonna throw all the game plans out the window and try to turn it into a brawl. It’s a very, very intriguing matchup. You can slice it in a lot of ways. I can see Paddy winning, I can see the ways Michael Chandler wins. It’s an interesting fight for sure.”
MMA: UFC 274-Chandler vs Ferguson, May 7, 2022 Phoenix, Arizona, USA Michael Chandler during UFC 274 at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports, 07.05.2022 19:41:11, 18361665, Michael Chandler, MMA PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 18361665
‘The Count’ may have given Pimblett the slight edge, but he still left room for debate about who would actually come out on top. Both are wild, explosive, and aggressive fighters, each known for their relentless, finish-seeking style. However, Bisping expressed concern about Chandler’s ability to reclaim past glory—after all, ‘Iron’ is nearing the twilight of his career. Pimblett, on the other hand, is still a young 30-year-old with time on his side and multiple opportunities to chase gold. So, what exactly is the Liverpudlian’s strategy for taking down Chandler?
Paddy Pimblett’s blueprint for defeating Michael Chandler at UFC 314
Let’s not underestimate Michael Chandler. Sure, he lost to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. But not before slamming him to the canvas with sheer force, not once but twice. He’s also gone toe-to-toe in all-out wars with Poirier and Gaethje. While the results didn’t go his way, Chandler succeeded in his ultimate mission: to deliver high-octane, action-packed fights that leave fans and UFC execs buzzing. That’s exactly why many fans believe he’ll get past #12-ranked Paddy Pimblett—and do so in thrilling fashion.
But Pimblett isn’t just any opponent. Like Chandler, he thrives in explosive fights—and this time, he’s coming in with a plan. According to Paddy, he’s spotted a critical mistake that Chandler’s past opponents have made. And he doesn’t intend to follow suit!
“Other people, who he’s fought… And he’s fought first-ballot Hall of Famers, you know what I mean? He’s fought Poirier, he’s fought Gaethje, he’s fought Charles. All like the best lightweight in the division for the past five years. But I think I’m going to make it look easier than they did, you know what I mean. They play into Mike’s style, they stand there and brawl with him.” Pimblett said in a joint ESPN MMA interview with Chandler.
With that confident game plan laid out in front of his opponent, Pimblett believes he’s cracked the code. But will it hold up under pressure? Will Michael Bisping’s prediction for Paddy finally come true? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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