At UFC 314 in Miami, Paddy Pimblett displayed his improved skills with an impressive TKO victory over Michael Chandler in the co-main event, which extended his undefeated UFC record to 7-0. The Liverpool native's performance was lauded as his most impressive to date, showcasing his evolution as a fighter and his readiness to face higher-ranked opponents. With his confidence soaring and a growing fan base, not everyone is onboard Pimblett’s hype train.
Tensions flared after the fight as Paddy Pimblett and welterweight veteran Colby Covington engaged in a heated backstage confrontation. During one of Pimblett's post-fight interviews backstage, Covington interrupted to criticize the quality of Pimblett's opponents, labeling Paddy a "scrub" due Chandler’s UFC record.
The exchange escalated with both fighters trading insults and threats, prompting security to intervene before the situation turned physical.
Watch the altercation here:
Pimblett dismissed Covington's remarks saying, “I’ll come and slap you! Zip your shirt up you little ming.”
In response to Covington criticizing Pimblett’s level of competition, “The Baddy” told the former welterweight interim champion that he was on a three fight losing streak, which while false (Covington is 1-2 in his last three fights) captures the opposite trajectories of their respective careers.
Pimblett's victory over Chandler not only earned him a $50,000 performance bonus but also solidified his position within the top seven of the lightweight division, bringing him closer to a potential title shot.
In a post-fight interview after the scuffle, Pimblett emphasized his focus on climbing the lightweight rankings and targeting top contenders like Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier.
In response, Covington took to his YouTube channel to fire back at Pimblett, insulting his appearance and career. He accused Pimblett of using his name for publicity and criticized the quality of Pimblett's recent opponents, pointing out their losing streaks. Covington, who has only one win since 2022 and recently lost to Joaquin Buckley, seemed to be seeking relevance through this confrontation.
This isn't the first time Pimblett has taken issue with Covington's behavior. Previously, Pimblett condemned Covington's controversial remarks about Leon Edwards' late father, expressing that such comments crossed a line in fight promotion. Pimblett emphasized his disdain for what he perceives as Covington's "fake" persona, stating that he dislikes people who put on acts and finds Covington's behavior annoying.
While Covington has expressed openness to a future bout if Pimblett moves up to the welterweight division, Pimblett appears uninterested in engaging further with Covington. He remains focused on his lightweight title aspirations and is setting his sights on more meaningful and competitive matchups as he continues his ascent in the UFC.
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