Outside Source
As lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes a short hiatus, Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett will fight for the interim lightweight title in the main event at UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. Volkanovski picks Pimblett to beat Gaethje. The UFC featherweight champion has seen Pimblett pass enough tests to prove his mettle. Volkanovski also saw Pimblett’s ability to stick to a game plan in his latest stoppage win over Michael Chandler.
<2> The Ability to Stick to a Plan
“There’s been a couple of times where I thought Paddy’s had big tests in front of him, and he’s passed them,” Volkanovski told the UFC. “He’s shown me in his last fight that he can stick to a game plan. And he’s gonna need that with Gaethje. So I’m gonna go with Paddy.”
There is a stark difference in the level of competition Gaethje (26-5) and Pimblett (23-3) have faced in the UFC. While Pimblett is undefeated in seven UFC outings, his toughest matchups have been against Chandler and Bobby Green. Meanwhile, Gaethje has been a perennial lightweight contender and has even made two failed title bids against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. Gaethje has only lost to Max Holloway in his last four outings while beating Rafael Fiziev twice and Dustin Poirier once.
Meanwhile, Volkanovski is scheduled to defend his featherweight title a week later in a rematch against Diego Lopes at UFC 325 on Jan. 31 at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydeny, Australia.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
Help support MMACrazies.com when you shop Amazon by starting your online Amazon shopping at MMACrazies.com/recommends/amazon. You are not charged extra, but we receive a small and very helpful commission on everything you purchase. Thanks for thinking of us every time you shop at Amazon.
