Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has highlighted his need for improvement in the striking department in a potential future matchup against Ilia Topuria. A matchup between the pair has been brewing for several years, with the pair sharing a heated past, but Pimblett was not shy about sharing his belief in the need for improvement on the feet.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, the Scouser said, “My striking time doesn’t feel there at the minute to be honest. Last week, my striking time felt good, and I did five rounds with Luke (Riley)… (I) probably woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. Obviously, I’ve got to get that striking time better if I’m fighting out. That’s a lot of what I want to work on”
Pimblett has always been known for his world-class grappling and submission skills, but his striking has always been something that fans and pundits alike have been critical of, with many highlighting his tendency to leave his chin high in the air – something that would be very dangerous against a boxer of Ilia Topuria’s class and power. Still, his striking has improved massively since he joined the UFC, and his use of kicks is one of the strongest tools in his arsenal. In a fight against Topuria, those kicks may come in useful in helping to maintain distance when Pimblett is not looking to engage in the grappling. Pimblett was very confident about his grappling in that same video, saying, “My grappling always feels phenomenal. When I get people on the floor, they don’t get up like Khamzat against DDP.”
Still, it does seem likely that Pimblett will need to fight at least once more before taking on Topuria, with all signs pointing to a matchup between the Spaniard and Justin Gaethje. There are only a handful of potential candidates that would allow for Pimblett to fight for the title next. Perhaps it makes sense for Pimblett to spend more time polishing his striking before facing Topuria.
