Could Michael Chandler and Paddy Pimblett be on a collision course?
Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) addressed the possibility of facing popular rising lightweight Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) next – a matchup “The Baddy” previously teased.
The former UFC title challenger is coming off back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier, and most recently Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. With Arman Tsarukyan having to climb his way back to title contention after pulling out of his title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 311, Chandler may pivot his attention away from Pimblett.
“I definitely think that it’s possible at this point,” Chandler said of Pimblett in an interview with Tim Welch. “This sport is so nuts. If you would have asked me before the Arman vs. Islam debacle, I would be like yeah, Paddy is a higher likelihood. Now, it might have gone down because why wouldn’t I fight Arman next? Arman has got to fight his way back into the opportunity to fight for the title because of injury, hurt, weight cut or whatever it may be.
“But Paddy is definitely a possibility. It’s a big fight, it’s a fun fight and it’s a fight that I like stylistically. Not to take anything away from him, but when you’ve fought Poirier, you’ve fought (Justin) Gaethje, you’ve fought Oliveira, you’ve fought Dan Hooker, fighting Paddy Pimblett sounds like a fun day at the office compared to some of those.”
Pimblett is coming off a first-round submission of King Green at UFC 304 in July. Chandler clarifies that he’s a fan of Pimblett’s personality, and thinks a fight between them would deliver.
“And I like him – I do,” Chandler said. “Paddy’s got a great brand. I like the way he carries himself. He gets a little fat in the offseason – that’s about the only thing I would change about him. But I think it would be fun, and I’d love to go out there and lock horns with him.”
