Jon Anik sees quite a lot of comparability between rising stars Paddy Pimblett and Ian Machado Garry.
Whereas Garry is about to headline UFC Kansas Metropolis this Saturday towards Carlos Prates, Pimblett is coming off of the largest win of his profession towards Michael Chandler at UFC 314. “The Paddy” is definitely receiving reward from the MMA group, whereas others should not giving Pimblett the credit score he deserves — which is likely one of the most important comparisons between Pimblett and Garry, in response to Anik.
“Properly, I believe a part of it’s as a result of folks have selective reminiscence relating to Michael Chandler’s physique of labor and the way in which stylistically, he has fought the elite guys, which is identical means he has fought all people else,” Anik informed MMA Preventing. “However Michael Chandler was so near beating a type of elite guys after which the entire narrative on Chandler’s profession adjustments, I draw parallels to Ian Machado Garry relating to Paddy Pimblett, as a result of for no matter motive, folks concentrate on issues aside from the martial arts athlete relating to these two guys. And for me, not as a result of I’m a promoter, however I’m making an attempt to see who I believe could be the world champion, proper?
“Like after I save fighter playing cards, and I do save a few of these purposefully, however the motive why I’ve all of Ilia Topuria’s fighter playing cards is as a result of I believed he could possibly be one thing. I’ve lengthy believed in Paddy Pimblett, and I believe folks so leaned into the hair or the Jared Gordon end result, or that wayward efficiency, or ranking abilities, or decide one thing else to concentrate on. However for me, it’s like I’m centered, on the fighter conferences. I’m centered on the man that might have come to the UFC at 21 [years old] however got here when he was a correct athlete, and the child who can’t wait to make use of 12-to-6 elbows now that they’re authorized, the imply streak, the violent nature of his recreation, the truth that not like some folks, [having] youngsters have taken his self-discipline and motivational ranges to a unique place, proper?
“Like Sean O’Malley, when he had a child, it’s like, does the child carry any totally different motivation He’s like, ‘No, I’m doing this for myself,’ and I respect that too. However, yeah, Paddy Pimblett’s an actual drawback.”
Following the win, Pimblett has been calling for a battle with a prime contender — most notably Charles Oliveira — in an effort to solidify a championship alternative.
If Pimblett made the selection to focus his promotional juices on incomes a title shot with a win over Chandler in Miami, Anik wouldn’t have blamed him one bit.
“After I sat down with him earlier than the Chandler battle, it’s not like he’s speaking about Islam Makhachev, which he could possibly be,” Anik defined. “Islam doesn’t have an apparent opponent proper now. Heaven forbid Paddy Pimblett lay out a case, he’s asking to battle Charles f*cking Oliveira as a result of he believes in himself. …
“I believed Ian Machado Garry actually might have, and perhaps ought to have gotten a title battle in Montreal towards Belal Muhammad. The rationale Shavkat can’t go is as a result of he needed to go 25 onerous [minutes] towards Ian Machado Garry and he can’t make the stroll, proper? Why is Ian not getting that chance? So there’s quite a lot of various things that go into it, and I carry it up within the context of Paddy Pimblett as a result of, except you suppose he’s gonna get completely washed in a non-competitive means towards Charles Oliveira, I don’t essentially see a lot draw back to that matchup.
“To me, it’s like, gosh, Patty Pimblett-Charles Oliveira has turn into my dream battle proper subsequent to Khamzat Chimaev and Dricus du Plessis. So except you suppose he’s gonna get completely washed, I don’t know {that a} loss to Charles is essentially fraught with draw back. However sure, you could possibly have him lay again within the minimize and provides him a title battle proper now, particularly as a result of you’ve got a light-weight champion that as a result of Arman Tsarukyan sort of screwed himself, doesn’t have an apparent subsequent in line.”
