Jon Anik sees a variety of comparability between rising stars Paddy Pimblett and Ian Machado Garry.
Whereas Garry is about to headline UFC Kansas Metropolis this Saturday in opposition to Carlos Prates, Pimblett is coming off of the largest win of his profession in opposition to Michael Chandler at UFC 314. “The Paddy” is definitely receiving reward from the MMA group, whereas others usually are not giving Pimblett the credit score he deserves — which is likely one of the primary comparisons between Pimblett and Garry, in response to Anik.
“Effectively, I believe a part of it’s as a result of individuals have selective reminiscence with regards to Michael Chandler’s physique of labor and the way in which stylistically, he has fought the elite guys, which is similar method he has fought everyone else,” Anik advised MMA Preventing. “However Michael Chandler was so near beating a kind of elite guys after which the entire narrative on Chandler’s profession adjustments, I draw parallels to Ian Machado Garry with regards to Paddy Pimblett, as a result of for no matter cause, individuals give attention to issues aside from the martial arts athlete with regards to these two guys. And for me, not as a result of I’m a promoter, however I’m making an attempt to see who I believe may be the world champion, proper?
“Like after I save fighter playing cards, and I do save a few of these purposefully, however the cause why I’ve all of Ilia Topuria’s fighter playing cards is as a result of I believed he may very well be one thing. I’ve lengthy believed in Paddy Pimblett, and I believe individuals so leaned into the hair or the Jared Gordon end result, or that wayward efficiency, or score abilities, or choose one thing else to give attention to. However for me, it’s like I’m centered, on the fighter conferences. I’m centered on the man that might have come to the UFC at 21 [years old] however got here when he was a correct athlete, and the child who can’t wait to make use of 12-to-6 elbows now that they’re authorized, the imply streak, the violent nature of his sport, the truth that not like some individuals, [having] children have taken his self-discipline and motivational ranges to a unique place, proper?
“Like Sean O’Malley, when he had a child, it’s like, does the child convey any completely different motivation He’s like, ‘No, I’m doing this for myself,’ and I respect that too. However, yeah, Paddy Pimblett’s an actual downside.”
Following the win, Pimblett has been calling for a struggle with a prime contender — most notably Charles Oliveira — with the intention to solidify a championship alternative.
If Pimblett made the selection to focus his promotional juices on incomes a title shot with a win over Chandler in Miami, Anik wouldn’t have blamed him one bit.
“After I sat down with him earlier than the Chandler struggle, it’s not like he’s speaking about Islam Makhachev, which he may very well be,” Anik defined. “Islam doesn’t have an apparent opponent proper now. Heaven forbid Paddy Pimblett lay out a case, he’s asking to struggle Charles f*cking Oliveira as a result of he believes in himself. …
“I believed Ian Machado Garry actually may have, and perhaps ought to have gotten a title struggle in Montreal in opposition to Belal Muhammad. The rationale Shavkat can’t go is as a result of he needed to go 25 exhausting [minutes] in opposition to Ian Machado Garry and he can’t make the stroll, proper? Why is Ian not getting that chance? So there’s a variety of various things that go into it, and I convey it up within the context of Paddy Pimblett as a result of, until you assume he’s gonna get completely washed in a non-competitive method in opposition to Charles Oliveira, I don’t essentially see a lot draw back to that matchup.
“To me, it’s like, gosh, Patty Pimblett-Charles Oliveira has develop into my dream struggle proper subsequent to Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis. So until you assume he’s gonna get completely washed, I don’t know {that a} loss to Charles is essentially fraught with draw back. However sure, you could possibly have him lay again within the reduce and provides him a title struggle proper now, particularly as a result of you have got a light-weight champion that as a result of Arman Tsarukyan sort of screwed himself, doesn’t have an apparent subsequent in line.”
