MMA news: ‘I don’t see where he can beat me’ Paddy Pimblett talks UFC 314 fight against Michael Chandler

Sports News Blitz MMA expert Niall Togher breaks down Paddy Pimblett’s bold claims ahead of the toughest test of his UFC career.

With a co-main event slot coming up, Pimblett looks to shake off the "prospect" label and cement himself as a top-tier lightweight by taking out former title challenger Michael Chandler.

Pimblett talks Chandler threat

Paddy Pimblett is back in action on Saturday, April 12, in the co-main event of UFC 314, where he takes on Michael Chandler.

This fight is easily the biggest test of Pimblett’s career to date, with a win changing Pimblett from being viewed as a rising star to an established contender.

In a recent appearance on the FULL SEND PODCAST, Pimblett gave his thoughts on Chandler as an opponent.

“He’s [Michael Chandler] well rounded, his main thing that you’ve got to watch out for is the power in his hands.

“He comes forward and he throws big left hooks, big overhand rights, as soon as he gets punched in the face, he wants to have a brawl and I’ll be using that against him.

“I don’t see where he can beat me. The only way he’s going to beat me is if he throws a hail Mary punch and it knocks me out but I don’t get knocked out.

“So I can see me just dismantling him and beating him everywhere, and I can see me beating him more convincingly than [Dustin] Poirier, [Justin] Gaethje and Charles [Oliveira] did,” Pimblett said.

During Chandler’s UFC tenure, he has only lost to either former undisputed or former interim UFC lightweight champions.

If Pimblett is to beat Chandler at UFC 314, he will propel himself into the top ten of the division and will likely replace Chandler as the #7 ranked lightweight in the world.

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Pimblett rips Tsarukyan for pulling out of title fight

Moving forward after UFC 314, Pimblett stated that he would like to fight either Arman Tsarukyan, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira next to earn himself a title shot if the scouser was to be successful in defeating Chandler.

Speaking on Tsarukyan, Pimblett did not hold back when he was asked about the Armenian fighter and his decision to pull out of his title fight against Islam Machachev at UFC 311.

“He’s just a little posh boy who’s had everything handed to him on a silver platter by his dad.

“He’s a little b*tch a**, that’s what you are Arman, little p*ssy boy.

“He [Dana White] got asked if Arman is still the number one contender and he was like ‘no, he’s going to have to go back to the drawing board.’

“He basically said that doctors came out and never said to him that you can’t fight. He [Tsarukyan] decided he’s not going to fight.

“So basically, Arman you sh*t your pants,” Pimblett said.

With Arman Tsarukyan not currently having a fight booked, a matchup between Tsarukyan and Pimblett could be beneficial for both men if Pimblett gets his hand raised at UFC 314.

For Pimblett, it would be a fight against a top-five opponent for him to progress up the rankings.

As for Tsarukyan, it would be an opportunity to remove the sour taste left in the UFC’s and the fans’ mouths after his pullout and remind everyone that he deserves a title fight with a win over one of the biggest names in the division.

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