UFC 296 was a night packed full of finishes and big moments. One of the most anticipated fights for many saw veteran and fan favorite Tony Ferguson take on upcoming star Paddy Pimblett. Both men were on complete opposite sides of their careers heading into the fight. Ferguson has been on an extremely disappointing 6 fight-losing streak and has looked like a shell of his former self as of late. He was finished by submission in his last fight against Bobby Green but looks to bounce back in a big way by spoiling the hype of the rising English star. Paddy Pimblett comes in off the heels of a six-fight-winning streak with his last four in the UFC. His last fight against Jared Gordon was at the center of much controversy and is highly debated to this day. Pimblett looks to clear up any doubt with a dominant with against the former Interim Champion.
A big storyline heading into the fight was Ferguson’s work with David Goggins in the lead-up to the fight. Goggins is a well-known trainer known for pushing the limits of his clients physically. He put Ferguson through his “hell week” which was expected to help Ferguson physically and mentally for his fight. The effect Goggins will have on Ferguson in his corner is something many have questioned coming into this matchup.
Paddy Pimblett Outlasts Tony Ferguson to Unanimous Decision
The two started off with no glove touch and got to things early. Both men landed solid leg kicks on the inside while Pimblett found some success from range. As the two settled, Tony was the aggressor as he kept Pimblett on his back foot, circling against the cage. Pimblett flew in with a big right hand that was immediately countered by a big left hand from Tony. Pimblett then put some combinations together and seemed to have Ferguson hurt. The left hook of Pimblett had been finding success in the pocket before he rushed in with a big combination that stunned Ferguson and pushed him to the cage. Pimblett flew in with a knee and dropped the wounded Ferguson before settling on top of him. Pimblett thought about attempting the rear naked choke, but let go and settled in mount where he landed some hard punches. The fight was nearly stopped but Ferguson did enough to hear the bell and make it to round two.
Pimblett Slows Down
Ferguson came out hot in round 2 and continued to push the pace and force the exchanges. Pimblett did a great job countering and jumped on Ferguson after a leg kick made him slip. The guard of Ferguson was active as he looked to set up submissions and pass. Pimblett postured up and rained down some heavy shots but then settled back into guard where he controlled the fight against the cage for the remainder of the round.
Despite clearly being down two rounds, Ferguson came out again as the aggressor in round 3. The momentum seemed to slightly shift as Ferguson appeared the fresher fighter, but Pimblett secured a big takedown that stifled Ferguson’s momentum. Pimblett settled in guard and landed some strikes but mostly just controlled Ferguson and conserved energy. A big moment with a minute left almost led to Ferguson almost getting to his feet but Pimblett did a good job staying heavy. Ferguson attempted a guillotine and arm triangle off the bottom as a last-second attempt at a win.
It seemed that while Ferguson did a great job staying alive, that was all he was able to do. The scorecards read unanimous across the board for Paddy Pimblett, who extends his win streak to seven and secures the biggest win of his career. The win also likely secures a top-15 ranking for Pimblett and helps him bounce back big.
UFC Fighters React to Pimblett’s Decisive Win
UFC fighters reacted to Paddy Pimblett’s win:
What did you think of Paddy Pimblett’s win over Tony Ferguson? Who should he fight next? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured Image Credit to Embed from Getty Images
