Paddy Pimblett keeps being doubted and he keeps proving people wrong.
On Saturday night at UFC 304, the always outspoken lightweight from Liverpool was supposed to face his toughest test to date with veteran King Green opposing him. What resulted was arguably Pimblett’s best performance since his octagon debut after he locked on a nasty triangle choke in the first round that put Green to sleep.
The end came at just 3:22 in the first round with Pimblett moving to 6-0 in the UFC.
“Statement made, b*tches!” Pimblett shouted. “I knew it, I’m the first person to submit Bobby in the UFC. That’s a statement. To all you haters out there that said I’d never get a ranking, what now? Are you going to move the goal posts again? Suck this!
Giving up size to Pimblett had Green coming up short with many of his combinations to open the fight. Pimblett stayed patient in the face of the awkward style from Green while chopping away at him with some nasty calf kicks.
Perhaps Pimblett not backing down from the striking exchanges had Green flustered because that actually led to him shooting for a takedown midway through the round. Pimblett first looked for a guillotine choke but then when Green adjusted, he quickly transitioned into a slick triangle choke from the bottom.
Pimblett showed perfect execution and patience as he kept moving with Green as the veteran lightweight desperately tried to slip free from the submission. With each passing second, Pimblett just locked on the submission that much tighter until Green fell back and the triangle choke turned into an armbar momentarily.
Thankfully the referee realized that Green went unconscious from the choke and he stopped the fight with Pimblett immediately ripping up in celebration. He returned to the ground to check on Green after he woke up from the submission and the fighters embraced afterwards.
With this latest win, Pimblett may soon find himself ranked among the best lightweights in the world and he’s already got his next opponent in mind.
“I have a name that everybody wants me to fight,” Pimblett said. “Renato Moicano, hopefully he gets through [Benoit Saint Denis] and we can settle it before the New Year or the New Year. The king of the f*cking north is here.”
