Henry Cejudo acknowledges that Paddy Pimblett is more skilled than he initially thought.
Pimblett, with a record of 22 wins and 3 losses in MMA (6-0 in UFC), is set to face former title contender Michael Chandler, who has 23 wins and 9 losses in MMA (2-4 in UFC). Their fight will be a five-round co-main event at UFC 314, taking place on Saturday at the Kaseya Center in Miami.
Despite Pimblett being slightly favored by betting odds, Cejudo would consider it an upset if Pimblett defeats Chandler, a former Bellator champion multiple times. However, Cejudo predicts that Pimblett will indeed win.
On his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman, Cejudo stated, “I`m sensing an upset.” He elaborated, “I anticipate Paddy Pimblett will utilize grappling in this fight. He might even pull guard on Chandler. Pimblett`s striking isn`t bad either. I also think he can push Michael Chandler to fight off his back if a takedown isn`t successful.”
Cejudo continued, “But I genuinely believe Paddy Pimblett is much better than previously assessed, especially considering his transitions against Bobby Green. We need to respect his abilities, and he`s consistently improving. Regarding Michael Chandler, I believe the UFC`s decision to make this a five-round fight is strategic. I strongly feel Paddy Pimblett is underestimated, and an upset is brewing here.”
Considering the current lightweight division, Cejudo believes a victory for Pimblett would be significant.
Cejudo concluded, “I truly think that a win against Michael Chandler could place him in a very advantageous position. It could put him just one fight away from contending for the championship title.”
