MIAMI – Michael Chandler has been accused in the past of not playing by the rules, and Paddy Pimblett agrees with those claims.
Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) meet in the co-main event of UFC 314 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) on Saturday at Kaseya Center. Paddy “The Baddy” has come across Chandler and had very positive interactions with him. However, he’s weary that won’t be that way in the cage come fight night.
“He’s the nicest man in the world outside the cage, and when he gets in there he’s a dirty bastard, isn’t he?” Pimblett told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC 314 media day on Wednesday. “I always say if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying, so I understand what he’s trying to do. He wants to win. That’s the main thing when it comes to this game, but yeah, I probably will mention the referee in the back like, ‘If he’s going to grab my gloves, I’m going to say it. If he tries to poke me in the eye and stuff like that.’”
Most recently, when Chandler fought Charles Olivera in November at UFC 309, the former Bellator champion was accused of intentionally eye-poking and hitting Oliveira on the back of the head.
Pimblett hopes Keith Peterson, who refereed Oliveira-Chandler 2, doesn’t handle his bout this Saturday.
“That one against Charles when he punched him in the back of the head about nine times or something and ref, I hope that’s not my referee. Just put it that way,” Pimblett said. “I hope I get a good ref like Goddard or Herzog. I don’t want to have a ref that’s just going to let me get rabbit punched in the back of the head consistently.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 314.
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