Paddy Pimblett was left shaking his head after a controversial decision cost his teammate a UFC debut win on Saturday night.
After mocking Caolan Loughran for being ‘schooled’ by Nathan Fletcher in their amateur days, Pimblett had to watch on as the Irishman had his hand raised in a prelim rematch at UFC London. It had been seven years since the pair’s Cage Warriors Academy meeting, which the Brit won on the cards.
However, the Irishman got his win back at the O2 Arena on Saturday night, albeit in controversial fashion. Many felt that he had let the decision slip in the third round after losing the second and winning the first, but two judges gave him the nod, resulting in massive boos around the arena.
Caolan Loughran defeats Nathan Fletcher in UFC London rematch
Paddy Pimblett was watching from cageside as teammate Nathan Fletcher took on his old amateur rival Caolan Loughran on Saturday’s early prelims at UFC London. Both men are known for training in Liverpool, with Fletcher taking the win in their unpaid days.
However, the Irishman looked in total control in the first round of their clash, dominating both on the feet and against the cage in clinches. However, Fletcher completely turned it around and looked close to a finish at times in the second as he utterly toyed with his rival.
Ultimately, it seems the lesser-experienced Brit may have tired himself out in his UFC debut as he began to lose control in the third. He rallied well towards the end of the round, but ended up having two scorecards go against him.
Fans were outraged by the result, with Pimblett visibly shaking his head and putting it in his hands as the decision was read. Loughran was loudly booed, and fans across social media branded it a major ‘robbery’.
Caolan Loughran admits career was ‘in the balance’ before UFC London win
After the fact, Loughran was clearly emotional, admitting that he was unsure if he had done enough to warrant the victory. He then admitted that he was potentially on the outs after losing last summer to Jake Hadley in his third UFC outing, but is now sure to get another shot in the octagon.
“I honestly thought I won,” he told Michael Bisping after the fact. “But I wasn’t really confident, I thought he got some good shots there at the end but between rounds my brother said to me ‘Merab him, this fight’s in the balance’.
“My career was potentially in the balance, he just said ‘Merab this b—– you either want this or you don’t. In 2022 me and my brother were up in the nosebleeds watching Tom [Aspinall] and all those boys.
“I swear to god I know a lot of you guys don’t like me because of the Paddy thing. But any lad from Ireland or in the crowd who wants this dream go at it because it is so worth it.”
