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Paddy Pimblett speaks on fighting 'dirty b-----d' Michael Chandler at UFC 314

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Mathew Riddle | Last updated Mar 15, 2025 9:31 AM ET

Despite being headlined by a featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes, one of the most intriguing fights at UFC 314 is Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler.

Britain's Pimblett has only just entered the UFC lightweight rankings. 'The Baddy' submitted King Green at UFC 314, and takes a huge step up in competition against perennial lightweight contender Chandler.

'Iron Mike' was last defeated by Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, where he was slated for committing multiple fouls, for which he wasn't punished. This included a plethora of rabbit punches and strikes to the back of Oliveira's head and neck, which almost secured him a TKO finish.

Pimblett isn't overlooking this side of Chandler, but isn't holding him too accountable either.

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'If you're not cheating, you're not trying' ... Paddy Pimblett discusses Michael Chandler's UFC fouls

Speaking to The Action Network on behalf of MMA Knockout, Pimblett gave his honest evaluation on fighting Chandler with his bad reputation.

"I have a simple saying," Pimblett said. "If you're not cheating, you're not trying. So I don't mind. That's not really on him. Obviously it's not a nice thing to do, but you're in a fight.

"That's on the referee to say to him. I was watching the second Charles fight the other day, and he [Chandler] punched him in the back of the head about 12 times before the ref said, ‘watch the back of the head’.

"Michael's just gone with hammerfists, and he was just hitting Charles on the back of the head. But the ref didn't say to him, ‘watch the back of the head’ until he threw about 10 of them. "

'Everyone knows' ... Paddy Pimblett labels Michael Chandler a 'dirty b------'

Pimblett pointed to the officiating as a main proponent in Chandler's actions.

"If he's just throwing punches and the ref doesn't say nothing, I can understand," Pimblett continued.

"Obviously, the fish hook on one is a bit heavy. You know what I mean. Poirier’s saying he stuck his fingers in his mouth and pulled them. That's heavy. He can't be doing that. That's like headbutting someone to me. Or purposely kicking him in the balls.

"Everyone knows that anyway. He's a nice guy outside the cage. The second the door shuts, he's a dirty b-----d. "

With a win over Chandler at UFC 314, Pimblett hopes to secure himself a shot at lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.