Daniel Cormier was disappointed with Paddy Pimblett’s performance against Tony Ferguson.
Pimblett (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) handed Ferguson his seventh loss in a row when he dominated him this past Saturday at UFC 296. “The Baddy” dropped Ferguson in Round 1, but started to slow down late.
Pimblett admitted that fighting the skidding Ferguson (25-10 MMA, 15-8 UFC) was a lose-lose situation for him, which is why Cormier was expecting a finish.
“Paddy Pimblett fought really well in the first round and he did a good job with his grappling,” Cormier said on his ESPN show, “DC & RC.” “But I just don’t know, man. He told us that he made all these improvements in the striking and he was going to keep his chin down as he approached the striking. It just looked the same, and it was a decision victory against Tony Ferguson who, lately, has not been able to get to the final bell.
“Granted, (Ferguson) was fighting Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz – he was fighting killers. But I don’t know, man. I don’t think Paddy fought bad, but I think he needed to do a little bit more. That’s why it pisses me off so much when people compare everybody to Conor McGregor. When Conor McGregor was on his way up, he was finishing dudes. He was knocking dudes clean. He was doing his thing. It was never close.”
Despite tying the UFC’s record for most consecutive losses, former interim lightweight champion Ferguson insists he’s not done. Pimblett also offered him some words of encouragement after their fight.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
