A former UFC star recently voiced his thoughts about how a fight between Paddy Pimblett and Colby Covington would play out.
Mike Perry, who left the UFC in 2021, opined that Pimblett might present a tough challenge for Covington. Perry’s comment comes as a surprise as Pimblett is a lightweight while Covington, a welterweight mainstay, has always fought at 170 pounds.
Mike Perry Lauds Paddy Pimblett’s Ground Game
Mike Perry delved into the analysis of a potential fight between Paddy Pimblett and Colby Covington on a recent episode of his own show, “Overdogs Podcast with Mike Perry.”
The conversation about the potential fight between Pimblett and Covington stemmed from their recent backstage altercation after UFC 314. “The Baddy” earned a dominating third-round TKO victory over Michael Chandler at the event.
Pimblett was in the middle of a post-fight interview when Covington made a few harsh remarks about him while passing by. His comments caused the British lightweight to retaliate immediately with a threat of punching his “face in.”
Perry speculated that Covington’s actions were fueled by an interest in fighting Pimblett. “Platinum” then predicted that despite being a lightweight, Pimblett’s ground game could be too much for “Chaos.”
He said, “Colby [Covington] tried to talk some trash to him, like he’s trying to get that fight. I think Paddy will be a problem on the ground for him.”
Paddy Pimblett Has Earned Almost Half of His Wins via Submissions
A look at Paddy Pimblett’s pro-MMA record to date reveals the reason behind Mike Perry’s confidence in his wrestling and grappling skills.
Pimblett, a BJJ black belt, has proved his ground game throughout his career, both before and during his time in the UFC. He has won 10 of his 23 career victories via submission. His striking is impressive as well, proven by the seven knockout wins on his resume.
Pimblett transitioned to the UFC after becoming a Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion and continued his dominance on the ground in the new promotion. “The Baddy” has yet to taste defeat in his UFC career, holding a record of 7-0. However, the fact that he has achieved three out of those seven victories via submissions speaks volumes about his high-level ground game.
The Liverpudlian may have earned a TKO victory over Chandler at UFC 314, but the British lightweight scored a number of takedowns against his rival, along with controlling him on the ground.
The best recent showcase of his superior ground skills came during his UFC 304 fight against King Green. Pimblett conquered his opponent by submitting him with a triangle choke in the very first round of the encounter.
It is to be noted that Covington, the athlete he is being compared with, also has an A-class pedigree and experience in the ground game. He is an NCAA Division I wrestler who participated in Collegiate Wrestling for four years and is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.