Paddy Pimblett has earned high praise from one of the most dominant champions in UFC history.
‘The Baddy’ is set for the toughest test of his career against Michael Chandler at UFC 314 on April 12.
Paddy Pimblett believes a win over the former three-time Bellator champion puts him within touching distance of a shot at UFC lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev, who is widely regarded as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in MMA.
For many, the jury is still out on Pimblett’s ability to compete with the very best – but he’s been backed to go all the way in MMA’s premier promotion by recently retired flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson.
Demetrious Johnson backs Paddy Pimblett to win UFC title
On Friday, the former UFC and ONE Championship flyweight champion posted a video on YouTube.
In it, the man some believe is the greatest fighter of all time watched back Pimblett’s fight with Alex Savvidis, which took place at Cage Warriors 90 in February 2020 and ended in a second-round flying triangle submission win for the British fan favorite.
‘Mighty Mouse’ highlighted the qualities that make Pimblett an exciting fighter to watch before backing him to eventually become a world champion with the UFC.
“This is why he’s so good,” Demetrious Johnson said.
“I think one day he will be a champion. If he doesn’t become champion, it’ll be one of the guys who were really good and never became champion. Like a Urijah Faber or Joseph Benavidez.
“Like, he does everything right, in this fight, in this time of his career, and when he fought Bobby Green.”
Paddy Pimblett predicts quick finish at UFC 314
Pimblett and Chandler recently united for a joint interview to promote their UFC 314 fight.
The rising star has already publicly predicted that he will finish Chandler inside two rounds.
Pimblett had no problem breaking down his bold call in front of the man he’ll face in Miami next weekend.
“He’s fought all the best lightweights in the division for the past five years, but I think I’m gonna make it look easier than they did,” he said during an interview with ESPN MMA. “They play into Mike’s style, they stand and brawl with him.
“I think anywhere this fight goes, I’m gonna win. The only way I lose here is if I get hit with a big, crazy, wild shot on the chin. And as you all know, Scousers don’t get knocked out. There’s no way that’s happening.
“I think I’m gonna finish Mike in two [rounds]. As I say, I think I can end this fight anywhere. He loves lunging in with his punches, so I can see me catching him with a shot on the way in, putting him down. Or I can actually see me submitting him. I don’t see a way I lose, to be honest.”
