Ilia Topuria believes Paddy Pimblett did what he wanted to do in opposition to a lower-level fighter in his win at UFC 314.
Pimblett dominated and ultimately stopped Michael Chandler in third spherical within the co-main occasion from Miami to enhance to 7-0 contained in the octagon. Topuria and Pimblett have a heated rivalry dating back several years, and whereas showing on the Joe Rogan Experience, Topuria reacted to the efficiency.
“He did an awesome job,” Topuria stated of Pimblett. “He did what he needed to do, however for me… I’m going to be fully sincere with you, for me, Chandler, he by no means was a rare fighter. He was like a median stage fighter. Who did he beat within the UFC? …
“So he beat Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson, when [Ferguson] was virtually 40 years previous.”
Topuria was a focus of UFC 314 after he formally vacated the featherweight title, which was gained by Alexander Volkanovski in the primary occasion in opposition to Diego Lopes. The undefeated Topuria is making the transfer to light-weight, and hopes to face Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound title in his subsequent bout.
So far as Chandler goes, Topuria understands the previous Bellator champ has a fan-friendly model, however that’s not what it’s all about in relation to greatness within the sport.
“On the finish of the day, you see wars,” Topuria stated. “It’s a really aggressive struggle. You see virtually a bar struggle. You see two guys in the course of the octagon exchanging punches, however you don’t see method. You don’t see expertise.
“You’ll see an awesome struggle, as a result of as followers, it’s very entertaining to look at fights like that. However in case you actually give it some thought, you don’t see expertise in that struggle. You don’t see somebody making an attempt to take you down, management you, some nice submissions, nice transitions, placing — see a man that’s searching for mixtures, searching for his second, creating areas. …
“It’s simply wild canine… and that’s cool. You want guys like him. … I’d by no means suggest to somebody, ‘Watch this man and study one thing.’”
