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3 days ago
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UFC 314 brought one of the biggest moments in the career of Britain's most famous MMA talent - Paddy Pimblett stopped Michael Chandler in the co-headlining bout of the evening, recording his most valuable victory since entering the UFC. While for one, the fight could have meant confirmation that he still belongs at the top of the lightweight division, for another, it served as a platform to prove that the hype was not accidental.
Chandler, 39, entered the fight with an imperative to win - to end Pimblett's winning streak and reposition himself among the elite. But after the defeat - and a convincing one at that - the question is increasingly being asked whether "Iron Mike" still has fuel in the tank for this level of competition.
Jared Gordon, a UFC lightweight fighter with personal connections to both - he lost narrowly to Pimblett at UFC 282 and trains with Chandler at the famous Kill Cliff FC gym - offered an interesting perspective. Speaking to Inside Fighting, he admitted that he wasn't shocked by the outcome in Miami.
- I always thought Mike had a chance to hit him with one punch and finish him, but when I saw how he trained and who he trained with, I thought: "I don't think that's going to be it." Mike is my friend, but I honestly felt it - Gordon said.
He was particularly concerned about the level of intensity of Chandler's training, or rather the lack thereof.
- He didn't go all the way, he didn't train with guys who imitate Paddy's style, who would pressure him. I understand him - he's in his years, he's been through cage wars, he has a rich contract. He was probably thinking: "Just get through the fight, make it worthwhile, maybe win." That's how it seemed to me.
Return
Chandler returned after a long wait for a match with Conor McGregor that never materialized, and a loss to Dustin Poirier in 2022 and a two-and-a-half-year break left their mark. Many thought it would be unrealistic to return to the active elite without any rhythm, and the match with Pimblett confirmed that.
Gordon also touched on his own fight with Pimblett, a controversial points defeat that almost all MMA media saw in his favor. That's why he wasn't surprised when the Briton admitted that he underestimated him.
- I knew he would be surprised when we went in. Look at my career - I've only lost to the best. Up until the match with Paddy, I was in good shape and I could understand that he underestimated me. But I knew I would give him a lot of problems. And I did - said "Flash".
For Chandler, this may have been a sign that it was time to redefine his goals - or maybe the end. And for Pimblett, it was confirmation that he had matured as a fighter and could take advantage of the opportunity when it came.
Whatever comes next for "Iron Mike," this defeat will be hard to ignore – neither he nor those who decide who still belongs on the biggest stage.
English (US)