This weekend’s UFC 296 card features a lightweight bout between Tony Ferguson and Paddy Pimblett, a match that pits experience against rising talent. This fight is probably one of the most intriguing on the card, with people veering to see if this is “The Baddy”‘s breakout performance, or if Tony can beat the popular scouser to get back into the win column after a series of defeats.
Tony Ferguson
Tony Ferguson is one of the most popular fighters in the UFC. He brings a wealth of experience into the octagon, with his record standing at 25 wins and 9 losses. Ferguson has achieved 13 of his wins by knockout, 8 by submission, and the remaining by decision. His fighting style is a mix of striking and grappling, often favouring unorthodox elbow and knee attacks and snatching up necks when his opponents are on the canvas. He was tied for the most consecutive wins in Lightweight division history with 12, before his recent 5-fight skid. His wins include notable victories over fighters like Donald Cerrone, Anthony Pettis, and Kevin Lee. As previously mentioned, Ferguson’s recent performance has seen a downturn, with five consecutive losses to fighters like Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, and Michael Chandler. His last fight was a loss to Nate Diaz by submission in September 2022.
Paddy Pimblett
Paddy Pimblett, a British fighter, broke onto the UFC scene in September 2021. He steps into The Octagon this weekend with a record of 20 wins and 3 losses. Pimblett has been noted for his impressive, yet controversial performances in the UFC, winning his first three fights by finish. His recent victory over Jared Gordon saw Pimblett face major backlash from the MMA community, due to his post-fight antics. He suffered an ankle injury in the first round, which has seen him inactive over the course of 2023. The Baddy is must-see TV, and brings with him an army of loyal supporters, usually donning the scouser’s iconic haircut wigs. He looks to capitalise on this opportunity of fighting one of his idols at UFC 296 and set himself up for a fight against a ranked opponent in his next bout.
Fight Analysis
The matchup between Ferguson and Pimblett is a classic experience versus a rising star scenario. Ferguson’s extensive experience and versatile skill set make him a dangerous opponent, even considering his recent string of losses. His ability to endure and adapt in fights could play a crucial role in this bout. On the other hand, Pimblett’s youth and momentum, coupled with his excellent grappling skills could pose significant challenges to Ferguson, as he has found himself in some compromising situations with the likes of Oliviera and Dariush.
Official Results & Highlights
Round 1 – What a first round!!! Tony Ferguson landing some nice shots on Paddy who switches to a southpaw stance. Paddy throws some nice kicks, mainly to the body. Both men landing big shots and then bang! Pimblett clips Tony and throws a barrage of punches. Tony goes down and Paddy follows him. Ground and pound to close out the round. Tony survives… Just.
Round 2 – A much quieter second round as Paddy dominates Tony on the ground. Tony as game as ever, throwing elbows from the bottom and looking for submissions but plenty of control time for Paddy who wins the round comfortably. We go into the final round.
Round 3 – Paddy is absolutely exhausted!!! He’s blowing heavy but gets the takedown as Tony comes in. Paddy controlling Tony on the ground despite being completely drained. Boo’s are coming from the crowd along with chants for Tony Ferguson. Tony tries desperately to get back to the feet but he just can’t get free. Tony throws a couple of submission attempts up, a guillotine and a triangle choke but Paddy escapes both attempts.
That’s the end of the fight. Paddy appears to have ground out a result here.
Result: Paddy Pimblett defeats Tony Ferguson by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Highlights:
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
