COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — Dustin Poilier believes Paddy Pinblett is undeniable as a lightweight top after finishing dominance over Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
Former Interim Champion Poilier (30-9 MMA, 22-8 UFC) served as ESPN’s desk analyst last Saturday when Pimblett (23-3 MMA, 7-0 UFC) participated in a joint main event with Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) delivering his TKO in the bloody third round TKO at Maimai Keizeya Center. “The Baddy” has come with supporters, but the matchup was a clear step in the competition, and his deniers weren’t sure he would overcome it.
After all, Pimblett passed the test in flying colours and placed himself firmly in the top tier at 155 pounds.
“He’s legal,” Poirier told MMA Junkie on Monday. “How can I deny him? Chandler is a tough guy. I don’t think Chandler looks great. He had a good first round and clenched his wrist. He opposed the fence and squealed it, but he looked flat afterwards. He was exhausted. I know that.”
Poilier, 36, doesn’t want to downplay Pinblett’s performance by asking too many questions about Chandler’s career status. He clearly holds an unfair will against his former opponent Chandler, who he filed at UFC 281 in November 2022.
“I don’t think Chandler looked good, but it’s not taken away from Paddy’s performance,” Poilier said. “Paddy went out there and dropped the first round, gained confidence and hit Chandler with a good shot. Then he defeated him. With the bingo card, who would have had that Paddy would take Chandler to the mat like that and get on top of him and dominate him.
Poilier plans to retire after the next fight. It is rumored that this will take place this summer. But if he had been stuck for so long, he said Pinblet was certainly a realistic and valuable opponent given what he was doing now.
But since it’s not playing, Poirier says he really likes watching Pinblet take on another one of his former enemies with Dan Hooker.
“The guy was a prospect. Now he’s a candidate,” Poilier said. “You need to take him to the real thing now. It’s not that Chandler wasn’t a big fight, but his next fight should be a really big fight. (Matheus) Gamlot, Ahman (Tsarkan), (Charles) Behind the scenes – I have things, so I can’t entertain it. Up is fun.
For more information about the card, see the MMA Junkie Event Hub at UFC 314.
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