Paddy Pimblett

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Uses Rising Lightweight Star Example To Explain Why MMA Is Not A ‘True Sport’

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently shared his perspective on why he believes mixed martial arts doesn’t qualify as a genuine sport. MMA has skyrocketed as one of the most rapidly rising one-on-one competitive sports since the early 2000s, and it’s showing no signs of losing steam. Though it has faced its share of triumphs […]

Continue Reading Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Uses Rising Lightweight Star Example To Explain Why MMA Is Not A ‘True Sport’ at MMA News.

Khabib Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, recently shared his perspective on why he believes mixed martial arts doesn’t qualify as a genuine sport.

MMA has skyrocketed as one of the most rapidly rising one-on-one competitive sports since the early 2000s, and it’s showing no signs of losing steam. Though it has faced its share of triumphs and challenges since its inception, the sport has steadily transformed, adapting and expanding into a global sensation.

Despite its polarizing beginnings, MMA has grown into a highly regarded discipline. With standardized guidelines and safeguards in place, strict measures ensure not only the fighters’ safety but also uphold the integrity of the competition as a whole.

However, Mendez, while pointing to Paddy Pimblett as a prime example, explains why he believes MMA has yet to fully qualify as a true sport.

Mendez Thinks MMA Fans Gravitate Toward ‘Must-Watch TV’ Matchups

During a recent episode of his podcast on YouTube, Mendez shared his thoughts on the UFC light heavyweight title bout between reigning champion Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree. He also addressed the controversy surrounding “The War Horse’s” legitimacy as a true contender.

The American Kickboxing Academy founder defended Rountree’s deserving place in the title picture, but the conversation quickly shifted to a broader critique of why he believes MMA—and boxing—don’t qualify as true sports.

According to Mendez, in MMA, particularly within the UFC, fan favorite and the most popular fighters often dictate who gets to fight them next, driven more by audience demand than by merit alone – like most other sports would be.

“How many times do I say this is not a true sport? It’s [MMA] never been a true sport,” Mendez questioned. “Boxing is also not a true sport either and never will be, as long as people can choose who they want to put on because pay-per-view numbers and eyeballs on the screen create this situation. Boxing too, because if it were a true sport, you wouldn’t have people in the WBA or WBC saying, ‘I’m not fighting that guy.’ They win a WBA title, and the next thing you know, they don’t want to fight certain opponents, so they move on. Why? Because they can. Is it a true sport? No, because if it’s a true sport, you would fight X amount against X amount.”

The renowned MMA coach went on to say he wouldn’t be shocked if Pimblett gets the next crack at the UFC lightweight title. He explained that “The Baddy” is a fan-favorite with undeniable star power, drawing in massive attention, and the fans want to see him at the top.

“This is not that way. Paddy Pimblett doesn’t deserve to be there. A lot of people think, ‘Yeah, well, you know what, if Paddy gets the next title fight, good for him. They’ll tell me he does deserve it.’ A lot of people want to watch him; he’s very entertaining. He’s a must-watch TV, you know, so you watch him because he’s a must-watch TV. He creates the need, you want… Paddy’s a needle mover.”

Read More: Marc Goddard Offers Masterclass On How Takedowns Are Scored In MMA Fights

Continue Reading Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Coach Uses Rising Lightweight Star Example To Explain Why MMA Is Not A ‘True Sport’ at MMA News.

Renato Moicano Warns UFC Star Paddy Pimblett: ‘Please Don’t Accept the Fight, I’m Going to Hurt You’

Renato Moicano says that ‘The Baddy’ Paddy Pimblett better not accept a fight against him. Coming off of a…

Renato Moicano says that ‘The Baddy’ Paddy Pimblett better not accept a fight against him. Coming off of a TKO victory this past weekend at UFC Paris, ‘Money’ Moicano is warning the UK-born fighter.

Renato Moicano Warns Paddy Pimblett

After his impressive win against Benoit Saint-Denis, the Brazilian-born Moicano has now put together four consecutive wins in the UFC’s competitive lightweight division. People are discussing a potential showdown against the popular Paddy Pimblett. The UK-born fighter even agreed to the bout on Instagram.

Ex-Watford keeper reveals why Paddy Pimblett was kicked out of Liverpool match

On a potential matchup against ‘The Baddy’ Moicano told the English fighter to avoid the fight at all costs for his own safety. During the post-fight presser, the Brazilian athlete said:

“Please don’t accept the fight. I’m going to hurt you. I’m going to elbow your skull.

“Right now, I’m looking for exposure. I’m looking for cameras because I’ve been in the UFC for 10 years. This year will be 10 years. Three years ago, nobody knew me. Nobody knew me, and I always worked hard. I always have put in the work. But it doesn’t matter if you’re the best fighter in the world nobody knows. I want more cameras. I want more people talking about my name in MMA because that way I can bring more attention, and I can make my case to fight for the belt eventually.” [Ht MMAJunkie]

The English-born Paddy Pimblett is a crowd favorite and popular fighter in the UFC. He was a two-division champion in Cage Warriors before making his UFC debut and has since put together six wins in the UFC.

Most recently, he is coming off of a first-round submission win against Bobby Green which secured him an official spot in the top 15 at lightweight.

Renato Moicano

Brazil’s Renato Moicano has bounced around the UFC featherweight and lightweight divisions with impressive success. He is known for his aggressive style, always aiming for a finish whether it’s a knockout on the feet or a submission win, he is a hungry fighter who hunts for stoppage bonuses.

Renato Moicano vs. Paddy Pimblett might be a UFC main event fight down the line.

4 Fights We Need to See After UFC Fight Night

The UFC’s annual stop in Paris is quickly becoming a highlight of its calendar. The promotion made its third visit to the city in as many years this past…

Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

It appears that the only light yet to be confirmed as green for a possible Renato Moicano vs. Paddy Pimblett lightweight clash is the UFC’s. Moicano made a statement in this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event, which saw him make the walk in enemy territory to face Benoît Saint Denis in his backyard […]

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris at MMA News.

It appears that the only light yet to be confirmed as green for a possible Renato Moicano vs. Paddy Pimblett lightweight clash is the UFC’s.

Moicano made a statement in this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event, which saw him make the walk in enemy territory to face Benoît Saint Denis in his backyard of Paris, France.

While “God of War” was hoping to bounce back from his knockout loss to Dustin Poirier in front of his home fans, Moicano had other plans. The Brazilian landed a takedown early and proceeded to put a brutal beating on Saint Denis.

The Frenchman was left badly bleeding and swollen after just one round, and the damage ultimately led to the doctor calling off the fight before the start of the third frame.

Moicano was his usual charismatic and unpredictable self on the microphone post-fight. But an aspect that perhaps could have been foreseen was his callouts, one of which saw the continuation of his back and forth with a rising name…

Pimblett Gives Short & Sweet Response To Moicano

During Pimblett’s surge up the lightweight ladder, Moicano has frequently dismissed his credentials and vowed to blemish his UFC record should they be placed opposite one another inside the cage.

And with “The Baddy” now ranked following his submission of Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, the fight certainly makes more sense than ever.

Moicano evidently thinks so, as he named Pimblett alongside Dan Hooker as his potential opponents following a destructive beatdown of Saint Denis in Paris.

The Liverpool native was quick to respond on social media, unsurprisingly welcoming the chance to quieten the Brazilian and forge a path into the top 10 at 155 pounds.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paddy THE BADDY Pimblett (@theufcbaddy)

“Let’s do this,” Pimblett wrote.

Pimblett’s win over Green marked his sixth since signing with the UFC in 2021. The former Cage Warriors champion had previously gotten the better of notable names like Tony Ferguson and Jared Gordon.

Moicano, meanwhile, is now riding a four-fight winning run inside the Octagon. After a lengthy injury layoff followed a quick submission victory over Brad Riddell in late 2022, the Brazilian has returned this year in style by reeling off three triumphs over Drew Dober, Jalin Turner, and Saint Denis.

Read More: X-Ray Shows Extent Of Shoulder Injury Renato Moicano Fought Through At UFC Paris, Dana White Reacts

Continue Reading Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris at MMA News.

Renato Moicano Dismisses Talks of Potential Clash with Conor McGregor: ‘He’s Not Fighting Anybody’

Renato Moicano is not interested in waiting around for a fight against Conor McGregor. On Saturday, Moicano scored his…

Renato Moicano is not interested in waiting around for a fight against Conor McGregor.

On Saturday, Moicano scored his fourth-straight win inside the Octagon via a brutal first-round beatdown of Benoit Saint-Denis on the Frenchman’s home turn. While the ‘God of War’ made it out of the first five minutes, he was bloodied and battered to the point that the cageside physician was forced to step in and force the stoppage immediately following the second stanza.

Immediately following his big win at UFC Paris, Moicano fielded questions during the post-fight press conference, many of them regarding his future and what may come next. Unsurprisingly, a potential fight with Conor McGregor was brought up.

‘Money’ was quick to shut the idea down, making it clear that while he respects everything ‘Mystic Mac’ has done for the sport, he has no interest in waiting around for a fighter who simply doesn’t want to fight anymore.

“Conor McGregor and me, I don’t think he’s fighting ‘Money’ Moicano… To be honest, one of the fighters I respect the most in the game is McGregor because he completely changed the game,” Moicano said. “So, I will pay my respect to him just because now, he’s almost a billionaire. So, he can have, I don’t know, 200 losses and he will still be McGregor. He’s not fighting anybody, I think…

“I would not wait to fight McGregor because like Chandler, it’s just a trap right now. I think McGregor makes more money outside fighting. So, I don’t think he wants to go to cage to somebody that is ready to kill somebody for money” (h/t Sportskeeda).

Renato Moicano thinks a fight with Paddy Pimblett will be great for exposure

Instead, Moicano will focus on scoring a showdown with rising lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett.

“I think it’s going to be a huge exposure,” Moicano said when asked about a potential showdown with the Liverpudlian. “Right now, I’m looking for exposure. I’m looking for cameras because I’ve been in the UFC for 10 years. This year will be 10 years. Three years ago, nobody knew me. Nobody knew me, and I always work hard. I always have put in the work. But it doesn’t matter if you’re the best fighter in the world nobody knows.

“I want more cameras. I want more people talking about my name in MMA because that way I can bring more attention, and I can make my case to fight for the belt eventually.”

Moicano called out ‘The Baddy’ during his post-fight interview which received an immediate response from Pimblett.

Unfortunately, we may be waiting a while for that fight after Moicano revealed that he suffered a nasty shoulder injury during his fight in The City of Light.

Paddy Pimblett Responds to Renato Moicano’s Post-UFC Paris Callout: ‘Let’s Do This’

If Renato Moicano wants to go, Paddy Pimblett is down. ‘Money’ scored his fourth-straight win inside the Octagon on…

If Renato Moicano wants to go, Paddy Pimblett is down.

‘Money’ scored his fourth-straight win inside the Octagon on Saturday, securing a doctor’s stoppage TKO over Benoit Saint-Denis following the second round of their UFC Paris headliner.

Moicano bloodied and battered the ‘God of War’ throughout the opening round, but was unable to secure the finish. Still, the damage was done as Saint-Denis walked back to his corner sporting two horrifically swollen eyes and a couple of deep gashes.

Saint-Denis delivered a solid performance in the second stanza and even managed to win the round on all three judge’s scorecards. Unfortunately, the French finisher was unable to see out of his right eye prompting the cageside physician to recommend the fight be stopped.

During his post-fight interview, Moicano wasted no time calling out fellow top-15 contender Paddy Pimblett, calling the Liverpudlian “easy money.” And just for good measure, ‘Money’ added fifth-ranked Dan Hooker to his hit list.

“Next I want easy money Paddy Pimblett. I want easy fights. Dan Hooker. Money Moicano wants easy fights.”

It didn’t take long for Pimblett to respond and accept Moicano’s challenge on social media.

“Let’s do this,” Pimblett replied on Instagram while tagging Moicano in his post.

Paddy Pimblett eyes potential return to the octagon in December

Pimblett’s last appearance inside the Octagon came at UFC 304 in Manchester. ‘The Baddy’ secured a first-round submission victory over Bobby ‘King Green, moving him to 6-0 inside the Octagon and extending his unbeaten streak to eight.

As for when we could potentially see Moicano vs. Pimblett, the latter indicated that he’d be good to go by December — presumably for the promotion’s final pay-per-view event of the year in Las Vegas — but that all depends on how Moicano is feeling following his 10-minute encounter with Benoit Saint-Denis in The City of Light.