After Alexander Volkanovski’s failed attempt at becoming the UFC’s latest double champion, many fighters, including Paddy Pimblett, have shared their dislike of Islam Makhachev’s game plan for the fight.
It was evident early on in the fight what Makhachev had in mind. A Dagestani MMA fighter following in the footsteps of his lifelong friend Khabib Nurmagomedov, the entire world could have easily guessed Makhachev’s game plan. A grappling-heavy approach was utilized; some still saw the fight as thrilling and competitive. Others, most notably Conor McGregor and now Paddy Pimblett, thought it was a bit of a bore.
All props were to Alexander Volkanovski after the war, though. He stood up to the never-ending onslaught of high-level grappling arguably better than anybody ever has inside the UFC. Not only that, but he was fighting up a weight class. It was reminiscent of Gleison Tibau vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov. Where Tibau weathered the storm of Nurmagomedov and, in hindsight, may have given ‘The Eagle’ the most competitive match of his career. But, unlike Tibau, Volkanovski was fighting up an entire weight class and doesn’t come from nearly the same elite grappling pedigree as Tibau, who began training his grappling at 13 years of age.
Regardless of comparisons, hardcore and casual fans alike were very impressed with Volkanovski’s performance, despite some being rather bored by the same Dagestani grappling approach we’ve now seen over and over again.
Paddy Pimblett Weighs in on Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski Fight at UFC 284
“I thought it was a draw,” Paddy Pimblett began in an interview with MMA Junkie. “I thought the last round was a 10-8 for Volk, and he’d won one other round. But Islam won three rounds with control and stuff. He didn’t do much when he had the control, but if someone’s on your back, you’re losing. Even if you’re talking to them and punching them. I personally thought it was a draw because that last round Makhachev was hanging on for dear life.”
Volkanovski dropped Makhachev in the last round, and Pimblett credits Makhachev’s fighter IQ for nullifying that situation. It could have spelled doom for the Dagestani fighter, but elite grappling ended up saving the day.
“If Volkanovski would have postured up and started striking where he got his head caught,” Pimblett continued. “That’s where Makhachev’s smart. Makachev went into guard, pulled him in, and knew he couldn’t really take much damage. So hats off to Makhachev because it’s a smart performance, and he did win three rounds to two.”
Paddy Pimblett himself is one of the UFC’s biggest UK stars on the roster. While his last fight ended very controversially, he’s hoping to face Jared Gordon once again in a rematch and prove he can decisively defeat the man. ‘The Baddy’ is currently slated to undergo ankle surgery in March but hopes to bounce back in a reasonable time after.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
