Paddy Pimblett, after his recent victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314—the most stacked card of the year—has firmly established himself among the “elite” in the lightweight division. But the question remains: Is he ready to challenge the reigning lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev? Recently, Team Khabib and Islam Makhachev have been in the spotlight, partly due to their decision to avoid a fight with former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria, opting instead to let Topuria prove himself against other top contenders in the lightweight division.
Meanwhile, Team Khabib has focused on facing fighters like Justin Gaethje and Charles Oliveira. In a recent appearance on the ‘Javier & Mo Show’ on YouTube, American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez weighed in on the topic. When asked about Paddy Pimblett’s potential title shot and whether he’s ready to face someone like Makhachev, Mendez responded positively.
He acknowledged Paddy’s undefeated streak in the UFC and highlighted his impressive credentials, stating, “Paddy is ready to face anybody. I mean, look at what he’s done already—his credentials, his winning record in the UFC, and his hype. What he can do and how he can motivate people, he deserves the next title shot if they give it to him. Whoever they give him, they give. Let’s see who they match him up with next when he gets into the arena. Is he worthy? Yes. He has the whole of England and America behind him.”
The post “Worthy” Paddy Pimblett Gets Team Khabib’s Unexpected Backing on Title Shot Against Islam Makhachev appeared first on EssentiallySports.