This Saturday, every MMA fan, especially the winners, found UFC 314 packed with action and entertainment. Meanwhile, there’s no denying that the night ended as a nightmare for those who couldn’t secure the win. Specifically, the co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Michael Chandler received the most attention after the main event due to its brutal and bloody action.
But when Chandler lost by KO at 3:07 of the second round, it was an emotional moment. The entire crowd in Miami witnessed true sportsmanship from Pimblett, who quickly took the time to check on Michael Chandler backstage after their gruesome battle.
Paddy Pimblett Creates A Moment of Respect
The match was so brutal that it left former Bellator champion Michael Chandler with blood and serious injuries. We’ve already seen the images and highlights from the fight.
The most noticeable damage came from a flying knee delivered by Paddy Pimblett early in the third round. It caused a deep, gruesome cut just below Chandler’s left eye. The strike opened a large wound, which led to heavy bleeding.
As the fight went on, his face became more battered because Pimblett kept up the pressure with powerful ground-and-pound strikes. The damage was too much for Chandler, and the referee stopped the fight via TKO.
Doubt this man no more; Paddy Pimblett MAULED Michael Chandler. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/txQ477Zi1U
— JUST BLEED ™ 🩸 (@jst_bld) April 13, 2025
When photos of his injuries spread quickly on social media, everyone saw the painful truth of what he went through. But what happened after the fight touched many hearts as Paddy Pimblett showed his softer side backstage.
Before heading to his media duties, he took time to check on his rival. Pimblett shared his thoughts in an interview with Full Send MMA, saying, “I’ve just seen him.” He also opened up about how he truly felt about Chandler.
Paddy Pimblett Praises Michael Chandler’s Courage
While talking to Full Send MMA, Paddy Pimblett thanked Michael Chandler for taking the fight. He praised Chandler for being brave and strong, even though the fight was tough. “I wanted to go in and say thank you for taking the fight. I respect the hell out of him,” he said.
He talked about how Chandler is older but still shows up ready to fight every time. Pimblett also said that some top fighters talk a lot but don’t actually fight. He added, “Chandler came in and actually fought me. He might have got a beatdown, but at least he stepped up to the plate.”
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