Paddy Pimblett questions UFC standards in title fight selection

At the recently held UFC 317 event, not only Georgian Ilia Topuria's triumph over Brazilian veteran Charles Oliveira attracted attention. Although the focus should have remained on the fight for the lightweight title, the public's attention was quickly taken over by another fighter.

The Englishman from Liverpool, known for his distinctive style and sharp language, used the media space in the best possible way. After Topuria called him among other names, 29-year-old Paddy Pimblett promptly appeared in the Octagon and confronted the new champion. Their face-off in front of the cameras further fueled rumors that he could be the next challenger for the title.

Although many are of the opinion that Arman Tsarukyan, who is better placed in the rankings, should have the sporting advantage, the UFC is known for giving chances to more attractive fighters.

His view

The great Englishman knows this and is determined to seize the moment. In a statement to Sky Sports, he expressed a clear position:

"It irritates me when people say I don't deserve a shot at the belt, and Islam (Makhachev) got a title shot after beating Bobby Green. I beat Green faster than him. Charles Oliveira got another title shot after beating Michael Chandler on points and he almost finished that fight (during the fifth round). I beat Chandler for three rounds and nobody beat him before. People just have different criteria when I'm in question, but when it's about someone else, then they have no problem getting a belt attack."

The impressive fighter may seem controversial, but his words carry some weight. Makhachev, let's remind, came to fight for the title only after Dariush canceled the match, and Islam then tied ten victories. On the other hand, Oliveira stepped into the role of challenger after the title became vacant.

An experienced Englishman interprets the circumstances in a way that is in his favor. In the world of fighting, that's often the key – knowing when and how to assert yourself. Perhaps his persistence is paying off right now.