Dober calls out Pimblett? Coming on the heels of a recent APEX bout, Nebraska’s own Drew Dober took to X to drum up some interest in taking a flight across the Atlantic for a fight with the Liverpool native Paddy Pimblett.
After some time away after his decision loss against #13 ranked UFC Lightweight Renato Moicano at UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imanov, the promotion’s lightweight knockout king is looking to seek out some action with a rising, upstart contender in their backyard. Posted on his X account, Dober shouts out that he has been looking for a fight in London, and what better way to do so than to line up opposite a homegrown talent like Paddy Pimblett. Dober does not name-drop specifically, but, currently, British UFC Lightweights is a small pond of a few names – Jai Herbert, Marc Diakiese, and the Liverpool native in Pimblett. A Dober call out for Pimblett would find a good place on a UFC main card whether it is in England or not.
The Longevity of Drew Dober
Dober, an Omaha native, first graced UFC audiences with a small appearance in the Ultimate Fighter Season 15 in an entry-round fight that saw him fall to Daron Cruickshank which ultimately removed him from joining that season. However, Dober returned to the UFC roster in November 2013 and has racked up a promotional fight record of 13-9-1. Dober’s fight resume includes a collection of top division names – Beneil Dariush, Bobby Green, Brad Riddell, and Olivier Aubin-Mercier to name a few. This 11-year run from the 35-year-old has seen him tie Dustin Poirier for the division’s most knockouts, tie Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone, and Poirier for the division’s most finishes, and stack up 3 Fight of the Night Performance Bonuses as well.
Pimblett’s UFC Rise
As a 24-fight veteran himself, Pimblett has gone undefeated in the promotion since joining in September 2021 when he delivered a first-round KO of Luigi Vendramini. This win saw him garner his first performance bonus as well as some valuable mic time that opened up the UFC fanbase to what the former two-division Cage Warriors Champion had already established on the regional scene. Since his debut, Pimblett has ridden an impressive 5 fight win streak with 3 finishes and 2 decision wins.
His latest win saw him claim a 30-27 unanimous decision over division stalwart and fan-favorite Tony Ferguson at UFC 296. At this stage, Pimblett approaches a potential fight to break into the vaunted Top 15 of what many consider to be the UFC’s best, led by champion Islam Makhachev. And what better way to get that test than to face a fighter who has previously shared the octagon with the current champion? Although it is uncertain what Pimblett makes of the Dober call out.
What’s Next?
While Dober has cast his name into the Paddy Pimblett lottery, this prospective callout and matchup poses benefits for both fighters. Pimblett with another win over a top veteran could get him into the rankings while Dober can use that same opportunity to propel himself back into that same Top 15 he has occupied space in quite recently. However, there has been no official announcement of a date for any upcoming live UFC events to take place in England this calendar year which may delay Dober’s desire to lock in a work trip to England. For now, Dober vs. Pimblett can hang in the hopes of fight fans through this Dober call-out.
Do you want to see Drew Dober fight Paddy Pimblett sometime this year? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured Image Credit to Embed from Getty Images and Embed from Getty Images
