The longtime UFC analyst doesn’t think Paddy Pimblett has what it takes to the touch UFC gold.
This past January, popular UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett competed in by far the largest fight of his profession up to now when he took on Justin Gaethje for the interim title.
Having not fought any elite level of competition prior to his title fight against the experienced Gaethje, ‘The Baddy’ was dominated over five rounds, suffering his first UFC loss.
And having lost 4 of the five rounds and ultimately having not shown any signs of adjusting mid-fight, longtime UFC analyst Din Thomas ‘highly doubts’ the Scouser will ever touch UFC gold.
Din Thomas ‘highly doubts’ Pimblett will grow to be UFC champ
Throughout his performance against ‘The Highlight’, Pimblett showed that he has an incredible chin and sturdiness, which was a giant positive because it was unknown how he would handle an elite opponent.
And that can likely carry him through to some exciting fights in the longer term as there are still several fights for him near the highest of the 155lb division.
Despite that, the longtime analyst, Thomas, didn’t see enough from ‘The Baddy’ at UFC 324 to suggest that he’ll grow to be a future champion within the promotion, and he believes his ‘discipline issue’ will stand in the best way of his goals.
“I used to be impressed with Paddy’s durability and his conditioning,” Thomas told MMAJunkie.
“I don’t know why people were so shocked at Paddy’s game plan. How else did he ever fight before? When he fought Michael Chandler, he took him down within the third round after he was already hurt.
“It’s not like Paddy Pimblett has at all times fought with this crazy style where he’s stunting you on the feet, where he’s outboxing guys on the feet after which taking them down… He’s a survivalist… He’s never been the perfect boxer.
“I don’t see him beating any of them guys (Benoit Saint-Denis, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan). I didn’t see him beating any of them guys before this fight… Again, his ceiling is his ceiling and he’s still going to be a fun guy.
“Will he be a UFC champion? Highly doubt that – unless I see something different. But it surely’s a discipline issue. He’s got to return to the drafting board and figure those things out.”
Pimblett is getting stick for pre-fight prep
Now just a few weeks faraway from his title fight, Pimblett is recovering from his war, having fun with his day trip of the Octagon within the only way he knows learn how to, by eating relentlessly.
He recently shared a video on his YouTube of his fight day preparation, and even moments before walking out for his fight, he was indulging in candy and sweets.