Dana White sees similarities in the way Paddy Pimblett and Conor McGregor’s UFC careers have unfolded.
Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) remained unbeaten in the octagon when he quickly submitted King Green at UFC 304 last month. The finish earned Pimblett a spot in the UFC lightweight rankings and an extra $200,000 in Performance of the Night bonus money.
White compared Pimblett’s rise and star power to McGregor’s, with the UFC CEO saying both fighters surpassed expectations.
“He reminds me of Conor when Conor first started,” White said during an interview with Jim Rome. “Because everybody said, ‘Oh, Conor’s not that good, all the hype, and this and that,’ and they just keep sticking it to everybody every time they fight.
“Paddy is one of those guys – everybody keeps doubting him, everybody keeps saying he’s not good. People keep calling him out and wanting to fight him. Then to go in and do what he did to Bobby Green, it’s hard to say that Paddy isn’t the real deal. He’s fun, he’s entertaining, and he’s a tough kid.”
A fan favorite, Pimblett is on the right track. However, he still has ways to go before reaching McGregor’s heights, as “The Notorious” holds numerous pay-per-view records, as well as becoming the first simultaneous UFC two-division champion. McGregor is also undoubtedly the sport’s biggest star, recently making his Hollywood debut in the remake of “Road House,” starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
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