Brendan Schaub has voiced his opinion that UFC fighter Paddy Pimblett should take on Justin Gaethje following his exceptional performance in UFC 314. Schaub emphasizes the importance of ‘tactical matchmaking,’ arguing against pairing Pimblett with fighters such as Dustin Poirier or Charles Oliveira. As Pimblett is on the brink of entering the top 10 lightweights post his triumph over Michael Chandler during UFC 314, Schaub believes that the UFC now has to find a balance between significant challenges and career progression.
Poirier and Oliveira possess dangerous capabilities and are veteran, cunning fighters, which could potentially put a halt to Pimblett’s soaring momentum. Gaethje, on the other hand, even with his impressive track record, is viewed by Schaub as a more manageable adversary. Gaethje’s offensive nature and somewhat weaker defense present Pimblett with an opportunity to claim a win against a recognized name in the division.
Schaub states: ‘As the UFC, I would be inclined to set up Pimblett for success in a calculated manner. This doesn’t imply that the fight will be a cakewalk. I have great admiration for this fighter [Justin Gaethje]; I’ve been familiar with him for many years. This isn’t a critique of him. Rather, I am suggesting that from the top three choices available, the UFC should ideally want Paddy to gain sufficient credibility to contend for the title.’
Schaub strongly asserts that the attention should not prematurely shift to [Ilia] Topuria or Islam [Makhachev]. Agreeing that those match-ups are intriguing, he posits that they are not currently the most logical steps considering Pimblett just overcame Chandler. He expounds: ‘To ultimately prepare him for a title bout with Topuria, a match-up of Justin Gaethje versus Paddy Pimblett seems fitting. And yes, winning against Topuria is a challenging proposition, but that’s a hurdle we’ll address when the time comes.’
He continues by weighing in on the top three 155-pounders – Poirier, Oliveira, and Gaethje. While he admits that Poirier and Oliveira confrontations are daunting tests, he believes Paddy has the skill to triumph over them. However, he also acknowledges that Paddy would likely enter both those bouts as the less favoured contender.
After his victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314, Paddy Pimblett has called out notable competitors in the lightweight division. The UK MMA sensation challenged such figures as Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira, expressing his ambition to determine the best submission practitioner in their division via a potential face-off.
[Mateusz] Gamrot, Arman [Tsarukyan], [Charles] Oliveira – Poirier named these candidates when he envisioned Pimblett’s next opponent. He noted: ‘The forthcoming fight for Pimblett should be a monumental one. Though my own commitments render me unable to consider the proposition personally.’
Poirier further expressed his interest by suggesting a fight between Pimblett and Dan Hooker. He believes the potential fight could serve as an electrifying spectacle, largely due to Hooker’s propensity for standing toe-to-toe with his opponents alongside his proficient takedown defense. Poirier explained: ‘That’s a fight, I think, would prove to be thoroughly entertaining.’
Poirier, serving as a desk analyst for UFC 314, complimented Pimblett’s performance against Chandler. Though unable to compete against Pimblett himself due to his own engagements, Poirier expressed his enthusiasm about the potential line-up for Pimblett’s next matches as he navigates through the ranks of the lightweight division.
Expressing his anticipation for future matches, Poirier added: ‘Put Pimblett in there with Hooker, it would result in a fantastic match.’ Poirier, like many fans, is thrilled at the prospect of such a pairing, citing Hooker’s notable standing capabilities and proficient groundwork as exciting elements of what could potentially transpire in the bout.
Considering Pimblett’s successful run so far, Schaub’s emphasis on strategic matchmaking seems relevant. While the former continues to climb the ladder to the top, careful planning of his future fights, as suggested by both Schaub and Poirier, could indeed pave the way for his success in the UFC.
Overall, the potential match-ups for Pimblett present a compelling future for the UFC’s lightweight division. The course of his career and the ripple effect it will have on the division’s landscape will undoubtedly depend on a thoughtful, strategic next match-up.
As Pimblett navigates his career trajectory, fans and fellow fighters await his next steps with eagerness. Schaub’s and Poirier’s insights add a layer of intrigue to Pimblett’s journey. In the world of UFC, strategic matchmaking is an imperative, and the choices emerging for Pimblett promise an exciting unfolding of events in the lightweight division.