Pimblett thinks Chandler’s endless fouls are not accidental, but it’s all good because it’s the ref’s job to keep fighters from cheating.
Paddy Pimblett is set to fight Michael Chandler on April 12th at UFC 314, but “The Baddy” isn’t worried about “Iron Mike’s” cheating ways. That’s because Pimblett subscribes to the same ‘anything to win’ mindset as Chandler.
“If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying,” a laughing Pimblett told Jon Anik in a new interview. “Like, that’s on the ref. He’s just throwing hammerfists at the back of Charles Oliveira’s head. Charles either needs to move his head, or the ref needs to say something to him.”
“I did watch that fight the other day, though,” Pimblett added. “He does hammerfist him 12 times on the back of the head. Just like that, and he knows what he’s doing.”
In Pimblett’s opinion, it’s up to the referee to do something. And … it’s sometimes up to the fighter to get the referee to do something?
“If I was in that position, I’m Charles, I’m saying, ‘Ref, what are you doing here?’” Pimblett said. “That was some bad refereeing right there.”
“But, obviously, I’ve seen the Poirier video as well. Poirier saying [Chandler] tried to fish hook him to get the choke and stuff like that. I’ll do the same thing as Poirier if that happens. I’ll bite his bite his finger, try and cut it off with me teeth. It’s one of them. But yeah, I always say: if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.”
Punch>Frame-eyepoke>Back of the head ground and pound
Insane combo from Michael Chandler. Very creative cheating pic.twitter.com/8xSIQhmXP3
— TS (Reborn) (@ItSeemsIAmFree) November 17, 2024
Pimblett is still optimistic about a stadium show at Anfield, and he thinks a win over Chandler could finally deliver it.
“Anfield needs to happen. Liverpool Stadium,” he said. “I don’t think Dana likes doing stadiums because he thinks it takes away from the atmosphere, but come to a Liverpool game. Come to Liverpool versus Man United or Liverpool versus Everton or Liverpool on a Champions League night. Tell him to come with me on Tuesday, we’re playing PSG in the Champions League on Tuesday night, and you’ll have never felt an atmosphere like it.”
“With seats on the pitch, cage in the middle. Like 70,000 people or so. Goosebumps just thinking about it!”