Paddy Pimblett Responds to Islam Makhachev’s Praise: “We’re Coming”
One of the most popular and surging lightweight stars of the UFC, Paddy Pimblett, became very enthusiastic regarding the recent comments by champion Islam Makhachev, hinting that “The Baddy” may challenge for the championship at some point in the future. This undefeated British fan favorite, who holds a record of 22 wins and 3 losses in the octagon, has risen meteorically up the lightweight ranks to settle into the top 15 after a quick submission win over King Green at UFC 304 in July.
Makhachev Hopes For Best
In a recent Q&A session in Abu Dhabi, reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was asked about his thoughts on Pimblett’s prospects in the division. Makhachev admits to really liking the exciting fighting style of Pimblett, and if he keeps on winning, then indeed he can be a title contender.
“When he deserves it, why not?” Makhachev said. “If he wins the next couple of fights and gets into the top 10, why not? Because I don’t have some exciting fights in my division. We need some new names.”
Makhachev also noted the good finish Pimblett had against King Green; he said it indicates that the young fighter is on the right path. “I see how he finished King. It was a good performance, and now it’s time for him to face good opponents when he’s at the top. Now he has to train more. Now it’s all guys who are so dangerous.”
Pimblett’s Reaction: “We’re Coming”
Pimblett took to his YouTube channel, sharing an update with respect to the above Makhachev endorsement. The 28-year-old fighter was elated, describing how much, from his heart, the champion’s words meant to him, but he also put out a very strong statement regarding going after the title himself.
“Did you see that where Islam was talking about me the other day? He said, ‘He’s an exciting fighter,’ and he said, ‘If he keeps winning, you never know,'” Pimblett said. “‘He could fight for the belt,’ and that. You know Islam, we’re coming. We’re coming, brother, we’re coming.”
Confidence and ambition reflect in his response as he seeks to further cement himself into the division. Pimblett has become an ultra-favorite with fans due to his charisma and style of fighting – likable enough to draw comparisons to other charismatic fighters in the sport.
Pimblett’s Future Described
While Pimblett is making a big noise in the division at lightweight, he surely realizes he is pretty far from competing for a title. That is a heavy division with a lot of competition, and he will have to pass at least a few more really tough opponents to get there.
With Makhachev already holding the title, his path will go through other top contenders, setting the stage to face off against the champion. However, now Pimblett is thinking about continuous self-improvement in his skills and gathering many more interesting experiences inside the octagon.
Lightweight Landscape
The lightweight division is one of the more entertaining and hotly contested in the UFC, including many great fighters. They include Makhachev, Charles Oliveira, and Dustin Poirier. With his recent performance against the No. 1 contender in Arman Tsarukyan, Makhachev was considering moving up to welterweight for dual-champion status. Now, looking for some exciting fights, he could really be interested in what Pimblett does in his reign.
As Pimblett steps into his next bout, many eyes of the fans and analysts will be on him to see if he can continue winning and be finally looked upon as one of the guys. Where lightweight has been proven to be as unsolvable as any, anything can happen, and it’s people like Pimblett whose rise many are looking to witness.
Conclusion: A Bright Future Ahead
Very much the charisma, artistry, and will to win of Paddy Pimblett make him an extremely exciting figure in the UFC lightweight division. On his way to the top, his interactions with champions like Islam Makhachev increased the hype around his journey. If Pimblett continues to make his way up the rankings, he should have more to come from him, as a future title contender if he continues to put on great fights in the Octagon. With the words of Makhachev ringing in his ears, Pimblett is ready to take that challenge and prove that he belongs among the top UFC fighters.
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