Up-and-coming UFC star Paddy Pimblett will be prevented from fighting as planned in early 2023 after suffering an ankle injury during his recent win over Jared Gordon.
Victory came at a cost for 'The Baddy' at UFC 282, where his unanimous-decision win over 'Flash' was disputed as very controversial by many. And the 27-year-old has said that while he planned to fight in the New Year, his latest injury setback means he'll be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
"I was hoping to get a fight sorted for the New Year," he told Mirror Sport, and other journalists, on the red carpet ahead of the 2022 BBC Sport Personality of the Year awards . "But I need to get my ankle looked at which is being checked out tomorrow [Thursday]."
Pimblett could be seen limping out of the Octagon immediately after his fourth UFC win and addressed the ankle injury in his post-fight press conference. However, it remains uncertain as to just how extensive the damage to the joint was following his contentious victory.
Much of the mixed martial arts community was up in arms with Pimblett's decision over Gordon, not to mention the fact all three judges scored in his favour. Fellow UFC lightweight Terrance McKinney even went so far as to suggest his rival is "not a top 15 guy" in the 155-pound division.
McKinney, 28, is due to face Ismael Bonfim at UFC 283 on January 21 but is praying for his shot at The Baddy. "I would flatline him," the American told MMA Fighting as he also backed No. 14 lightweight Drew Dober to make light work of the Liverpudlian.
Judge Douglas Crosby was one of the three adjudicators responsible for handing Pimblett his latest win. However, he defended his use of the scoring parameters prior to The Baddy winning the biggest bout of his career to date.
"There is a system and protocols in place for officials to comment on fights that they have judged," said Crosby during a recent appearance on Chael Sonnen's 'You're Welcome' podcast. "And I respect that. There is a process in place for any fighter who is interested in information about how their fight was judged. That information is based upon the officials using the scoring criteria."
Pimblett fought three times in 2022 and may well have been due a respite following a breakout year in the UFC. However, some may consider the upcoming spell away from the Octagon a welcome chance for reflection following the reaction to one of the more negative periods in his UFC career to date.
