Surging UFC lightweight Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett has endured plenty of criticism over his fighting style. In particular, his chin-out stance, and how it has left him vulnerable to strikes in all three of his UFC appearances. Although Pimblett is 3-0 in the UFC, with three finishes, his fights have followed a similar trajectory: he eats a few shots to begin with, then obliterates his opponent. Pimblett told The Pat McAfee Show the reason for that: he simply enjoys “getting punched”.
Case in point: his most recent outing against Jordan Leavitt. “That’s just how I am sometimes. I was disappointed in my performance, I felt like I should have went out there and blasted him out in a round. I know I still finished him, finished someone that’s never been finished before.
Paddy The Baddy Admits To Reckless Fighting Style: “I Enjoy Getting Punched”
He’s had 11 pro fights, lost one, and never been finished and I choked his ass. He got dealt with like I knew he was going to get dealt with. I said the whole time he’s going to get finished, I thought it was going to be a knockout but he defends punches well, it’s quite weird. He doesn’t like to defend them in a skillful way, but he defends them well and then he just grabs a hold of you.
But I think I won the first round on all judges’ scorecards and then got the finish in the second, so I’m not too fussed. Obviously, when I look back now I realize I was being very emotional going into the fight. I watched it back today and every punch I throw I’m trying to take his head off.
I didn’t throw a punch where I’m trying to set a shot up, I’m just walking forward throwing punches. I can fight like that every time. I’m a big, fat bastard at the minute, but if someone rang me now and said, ‘Get outside for a straightener,’ I’d be out there beating them up.
I enjoy getting punched and punching people in the face. It sounds very weird, but I enjoy it.” Pimblett also acknowledged that, although he insists that he’s bound for UFC superstardom, he will have to do so in one of the most heavily stacked divisions in the sport. “Have you seen some of the names on that list Some of the names on that list are scary.
I don’t care [who’s next.] The UFC lightweight division is the best division in the whole UFC by far. It’s the deepest division. All the way down to rank 50 in lightweight is very good, so I don’t mind taking my time climbing up the rankings, I’m not in no rush. I’m going to take my time and earn a lot of money as I do take my time.”
What do you think of Paddy Pimblett’s reckless fighting style? Let us know in the comments.
