Paddy Pimblett notched his ninth straight win at UFC 314, and it wasn't pretty for Michael Chandler.
The UFC's No. 12-ranked lightweight bodied, bloodied and battered his opponent in Miami on Saturday, ending the fight with a third-round stoppage for the most impressive win of his MMA career.
Paddy proved his haters wrong 🤫 #UFC314
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) April 13, 2025
(via @ufc)
pic.twitter.com/VY7q11O2J3
The first round was somewhat even, with Pimblett landing hard leg kicks and Chandler taking control for a while after a nice takedown on a counter, but it was pure abuse by Pimblett after the first five minutes. Pimblett was in control standing up and on the ground throughout the second round, which former UFC champ Henry Cejudo called the best of his career.
The third round was even better for Pimblett and worse for Chandler. He split Chandler's face open with a knee early in the frame and chased him around the Octagon until the fight's merciful ending.
A HUGE KNEE TO START ROUND 3! 🤯
— UFC (@ufc) April 13, 2025
Paddy Pimblett | #UFC314pic.twitter.com/aNHVE6U4l0
"This is how we win," Pimblett said after the fight. "We game plan, we use our fight IQ, and we beat motherf***ers up. Anyone else got any questions?"
The win vaults Pimblett further up in the UFC lightweight pecking order, and he knows it, judging from his callouts after the fight. He said he wanted a top-five matchup and specifically named Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira and "that little posh boy" Arman Tsarukyan before settling on Oliveira as his preferred opponent.
"I want that world title," he said. "Laugh all youse want and say I'll never be champ, just like you said I'll never get ranked, I'll never be in the top 10, but what now, you gang of mushrooms?"
As for Chandler, there's not much left to say for him. The former Bellator champion entered the UFC with enough hype ...