Veteran commentator Jon Anik highlighted the similarities he observes between rising UFC stars Paddy Pimblett and Ian Machado Garry.
While Garry is slated to headline UFC Kansas City against Carlos Prates this Saturday, Pimblett is coming off a major win against Michael Chandler at UFC 314. Pimblett, often referred to as “The Paddy,” has received acclaim from some within the MMA community, while others are hesitant to give him full credit. According to Anik, this differing public perception is a significant point of comparison between Pimblett and Garry.
Anik explained that this divergence in views is partly due to “selective memory” concerning Michael Chandler`s career and how he has historically faced elite competition. Anik noted, “people focus on things other than the martial arts athlete when it comes to these two guys.” For his part, Anik stated he is focused on identifying potential world champions, not acting as a promoter.
He offered an example, mentioning that he purposefully saves fighter records for those he believes have potential, like Ilia Topuria. Anik revealed he has long held belief in Paddy Pimblett, despite public attention often fixating on his appearance, the outcome of his fight with Jared Gordon, or criticisms of his skills. Anik, however, focuses on deeper aspects such as Pimblett`s interactions during fighter meetings, his decision to join the UFC when he was properly developed as an athlete, his eagerness to use now-legal 12-to-6 elbows, his aggressive style, and how becoming a parent has positively impacted his discipline and motivation, contrasting this with Sean O`Malley`s view on fatherhood`s effect on his personal drive.
Following his victory over Chandler, Pimblett has publicly expressed his desire for a fight against a top contender, specifically targeting Charles Oliveira, in an effort to solidify his path towards a championship opportunity.
Anik stated he would not have blamed Pimblett at all had he strategically used his post-fight platform to push for a title shot directly after defeating Chandler.
Recalling a conversation before the Chandler bout, Anik noted that Pimblett wasn`t calling out someone like Islam Makhachev, even though Makhachev currently lacks an obvious next opponent. Instead, Pimblett is challenging Charles Oliveira, which Anik interprets as a sign of strong self-belief.
Anik also drew a parallel by suggesting Ian Machado Garry perhaps deserved a title shot against Belal Muhammad in Montreal, especially considering Shavkat Rakhmonov`s inability to compete after their tough 25-minute fight. Anik uses this to illustrate the varied factors influencing fighter opportunities. Applying this back to Pimblett, Anik doesn`t see significant downside in a potential matchup against Charles Oliveira, unless one anticipates Pimblett being decisively beaten.
Anik described Paddy Pimblett vs. Charles Oliveira as a “dream fight” for him, comparable to Khamzat Chimaev vs. Dricus du Plessis. He reiterated that a loss to Oliveira might not be highly detrimental for Pimblett`s career trajectory. Anik also speculated that Pimblett could potentially be given a title opportunity sooner than expected, partly due to the current lightweight champion`s lack of a clear mandatory challenger following Arman Tsarukyan`s recent situation.
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