Dustin Poirier will not be the largest Michael Chandler fan however he is aware of that it’s a battle to the very finish when going up towards him within the octagon.
That wasn’t essentially the case at UFC 314 after Chandler was largely dominated and finally completed with floor and pound within the third spherical after Paddy Pimblett placed on a surprising efficiency to beat the one-time title challenger. Well-known for his action-packed model, Chandler scored an early takedown however he simply by no means appeared to settle into any form of rhythem earlier than Pimblett began turning the tables on him.
After Pimblett scored with a leaping knee strike, he ended up on prime of Chandler the place he rained down a collection of vicious blows that gave the referee no selection however to cease the struggle. The loss dropped Chandler to 2-5 within the UFC with the Pimblett struggle serving as his third straight defeat in a row general.
“I believe this complete week what we’ve been speaking about his again was towards the wall,” Poirier mentioned about Chandler throughout the UFC 314 post-fight present. “The factor Anthony [Smith] didn’t like, the crossroads reference, I believe that’s what that was. We noticed him lose once more tonight and never simply lose however get rolled by a younger man. That was a beating.”
Even in his losses within the UFC, Chandler at all times appeared to present simply pretty much as good as he was getting and he by no means ran out of steam even throughout 5 rounds fights.
However that wasn’t the case on Saturday with Poirier noting that Chandler appeared exhausted after the top of the primary spherical and that’s when Pimblett actually began placing it on him.
At 38 years outdated with a profession constructed on Combat of the Night time performances, Poirier can’t assist however marvel if Chandler’s finest days are simply behind him now.
“After the primary spherical, he had some success with the takedown, with the wrist trip, simply driving him out in that first spherical,” Poirier mentioned. “He received that first spherical and simply didn’t appear to be himself within the second.
“Didn’t look sturdy on his ft. Appeared like he was slowing down, which we don’t see him ever decelerate within the second spherical. He’s in phenomenal form, seems to be nice however these years catch as much as you.”
It’s robust to argue with Poirier’s logic, particularly given Chandler’s age and the lopsided nature of his earlier two losses the place he fell to Charles Oliveira in a reasonably one-sided determination after which completed by Pimblett with strikes within the third spherical.
Instantly after the struggle was over, Chandler jetted out of the octagon and he hasn’t addressed his loss but.
So far as Pimblett goes, contemplate Poirier impressed after he first thought the light-weight from Liverpool was extra hype than actuality.
“I believed he was a goofy wanting man with a foolish haircut that individuals are form of getting behind like a fad,” Poirier mentioned. “Like ‘oh that is enjoyable, let’s cheer this goofy wanting man on!’ However when you’ve gotten an ideal storm like this the place you’re the goofy man and also you say this stuff and then you definately go on the market and win fights, you turn into a large star within the sport. That’s what he’s doing. He went from a prospect to a contender tonight. He’s a light-weight contender now.
“He’s within the prime. Who doesn’t have a struggle proper now? Gaethje? Possibly Arman? Oliveira? All enjoyable fights, all nice fights. You don’t struggle again now. You proceed to struggle up and go for the title. I believe you give him a type of guys.”
