Ahead of their UFC 314 co-main event, Paddy Pimblett addressed claims that Michael Chandler frequently cheats during fights. Past opponents like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier have accused Chandler of rule-breaking tactics.
Pimblett isn`t particularly worried about these allegations. He believes it`s the referee`s responsibility to spot and penalize any fouls. He mentioned Chandler`s fight with Charles Oliveira, where Chandler landed blows to the back of Oliveira`s head, seemingly without referee intervention.
Pimblett jokingly said, “If you`re not cheating, you`re not trying,” emphasizing that it`s up to the referee to enforce the rules. He added that Oliveira should also be proactive in alerting the referee to illegal actions.
Regarding Dustin Poirier`s accusation of Chandler sticking fingers in his mouth, Pimblett stated he would react similarly and bite Chandler`s fingers if it happened during their fight.
Despite the cheating accusations, Pimblett seems unfazed and almost admires Chandler`s win-at-all-costs mentality. He reiterated his “cheating” joke.
Looking ahead to the fight, Pimblett predicts a victory for himself, anticipating Chandler`s aggressive, knockout-seeking style. Pimblett believes he can exploit this aggression and secure a knockout or TKO, possibly with leg kicks, and dismisses the idea of Chandler attempting a takedown.
