Fight Preview
Anyone paying attention to the lightweight division has undoubtedly witnessed Tony Ferguson‘s decline over the last year or so. Once an interim champion, Ferguson has fallen into an inexorable decline since becoming one of its top contenders to a fighter barely getting paid – though not for long; this weekend will mark his comeback against Paddy Pimblett which should provide fans with another exciting fight.
Pimblett will face his greatest test to date as Ferguson is one of the more experienced and recognizable fighters he’s encountered since entering UFC competition.
While Pimblett is one of the most well-liked up-and-coming talents in the UFC, he hasn’t demonstrated the abilities of a top lightweight. Ferguson vs. Pimblett is likely the biggest attraction that Pimblett could possibly defeat and the competitive step backward that Ferguson needs.
Pimblett will have a hard time against Ferguson and this can be explained by injuries he is currently fighting as well as having seen much of his chin wear down over his lengthy career compared to Ferguson’s more physical strikers.
Pimblett’s best hope of taking down Ferguson is by throwing him off balance and looking for a submission finish. Ferguson is an impressive grappler with 56% takedown defense and four submission wins already within four fights for this promotion.
Pimblett can use his wrestling to keep the fight on the ground and work for an immediate finish. Ferguson may also possess some ability in grappling, but in order to defeat Pimblett his best bet is likely standing and striking repeatedly at him until he can catch Pimblett off guard.
Pimblett may not have enough power to stop the former interim champion, but it is still well within his reach to score a statement win and return to the top 15 lightweight rankings. By avoiding mistakes which led to his last loss and showing that his striking resistance remains intact, he could win this fight by an overwhelming majority margin.
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Tony Ferguson vs Paddy Pimblett Fight Information
- Date: 12/16/2023
- Time: 10:35 PM ET
- Location: T-Mobile Arena.
- How to Watch Ferguson vs Paddy: ESPN+
- Live Stream: BT Sport.com
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