Does Paddy Pimblett hold the key to defeating Ilia Topuria?
Once upon a time, pinblets and topulia were separated by a single weight class, and there was no chance of a potential meeting within the octagon. But that’s not the case anymore after “El Matador” vacated his featherweight title to challenge the 155-pound belt.
He does just that on Saturday, June 28th, when he squares with Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight championship.
After a big win over “Iron” Michael Chandler earlier this year, Pinblett was the eighth contender in the lightweight division, potentially winning one big victory from his first shot at UFC Gold.
“Paddy went on to say, “We’ve already talked about a game plan that will beat him, and I know how to beat Ilia,” former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bispin discussed the possible conflict between Pinblet and Topulia. “When he fights, no one goes to his weaknesses. Everyone tries to have a boxing match with him. I’m not going to come out and have a boxing match with him. Like I said, “No, I beat him badly.”
“Of course, it’s always a game plan. You’ll surprise everyone, put him in your place, take his belt, make money, go to the sunset. I don’t think anyone chose to fight Ilia’s type battles because no one had a different game plan.
Bisping believes there will be time for Paddy Pimblett
So far, Pimblett has been a perfect 7-0 within Octagon, showing signs of improvement with each passing performance. It’s still not seen whether he’s enough to defeat Topuria, but whether “The Count” thinks Pimblett is leaning towards his ground game, he was able to be the one who beat “El Matador” very well.
“If you’re training Paddy, or Paddy’s coach, the game plan is to use dance, leg kicks, avoid boxing matches, get double legs, push them up to the fence, stop, get annoyed, do whatever you can to beat him. Ilia Topuria says he has good jiu-jitsu, but he has very good wrestling, but that’s the power of the hand that makes all the difference. That’s the power of the hand. That’s why I choose him against Charles Oliveira. But there’s nothing guaranteed in MMA. You wouldn’t take anything for granted.
“There are a lot of ways to win and lose. I think most of the time it’s because Ilia is so good. He moves around the octagon and has great footwork. He controls the rhythm and controls the strike. Certainly, Max Holloway is what Max Holloway does. That’s what Max Holloway did when he knocked out Justin Gache.
“If you’re in Paddy Pinblett camp, if you’re a coach, manager, whatever that is, you’re bigger than ever because you don’t have the time you’ve ever had before to become Paddy Pinblett.