Paddy Pimblett put on a polarizing performance at UFC 324 with a former foe weighing in on Pimblett’s effort in that interim lightweight title clash with Justin Gaethje. The combatant in question is Denis Frimpong who collides with Tomáš Cigánik at Oktagon 85: Severino vs. Kakhorov on March 7th.
Frimpong is a bit known for the online bantering piece of the combat sports world and that all culminated in him taking on Pimblett in a viral gym fight. Frimpong chalks that video up to being something that got a lot more people being aware of what he is doing in MMA and people following his path despite Pimblett getting the best of him in the unregulated bout.
When many spoke about the UFC 324 headliner, some saw a lack of technique and described it as a sloppy fight whereas it seemed like some people gave Paddy his flowers for showing a level of valor out there. When asked what his overall thoughts were on that UFC 324 fight between Pimblett and Gaethje, Frimpong said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I mean it’s a historic card, first-ever card on Paramount. Obviously Dana White has come out and said, “Yeah, bonuses are changing. Fight of the night, finishes, all changing. You get more money for fight of the night now.” I think Paddy wanted to go out there and not just; he didn’t come out there just to win. He came out there to win in a particular way and also entertain the fans.”
“Was it to his detriment? Maybe, yeah. You know, but I rate him for it. I think it was like you said, it was a lot of valor in it. Like, would I have done that with the belt on the line? Probably not. I probably would have just done what I could do. Win boring, f***ed off with the 100k bonus for the fight of the night, and just got the belt, you know what I mean? But, no, I rate it. I rate him for it.”
Paddy Pimblett has nothing “to be embarrassed by” in UFC 324 loss
Further delving into Paddy Pimblett’s in-cage effort from his Justin Gaethje showdown in January, Frimpong continued [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“He [Pimblett] didn’t shoot a takedown till like the last round, I think and he probably should have. Justin obviously came out with a good game plan. He has a good team behind him as well. Yeah, you’re talking about two guys in the very peak of the division, the top five. Justin’s been around the block. He fought the who’s who.”
“He’s always going to be a tough test. But yeah, I rate Paddy for the performance and like I say, he got a fight of the night, and it’s his first loss in the UFC. A decision loss to Justin Gaethje isn’t exactly anything to be embarrassed by.”