LONDON – Muhammad Mokaev is not a fan of the way Paddy Pimblett carries himself.
Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC) has emerged as a big star on the UFC roster and continued to shine when he submitted Jordan Leavitt in the first round this past Saturday at UFC Fight Night 208 in London. He used his time on the microphone to advocate for mental health, but Mokaev is referring to his behavior leading up to the fight.
Mokaev (7-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) is on the rise himself, landing a UFC flyweight record 12 takedowns against Charles Johnson on the same night at The O2. But Mokaev thinks other Brits are better representatives than Pimblett.
“There’s so many guys that don’t get a lot of media attention that should get it,” Mokaev told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “Example, Arnold Allen. It’s Leon Edwards, it’s Tom Aspinall, Nathaniel Wood. These guys are amazing, good examples. I don’t disrespect media, guys, but you give a bullsh*t guy like Paddy Pimblett attention.
“These guys never ever reach the top 15. Like, realistically who understands MMA, they’ll never reach. I don’t think he’s a great role model for young guys. Please follow Tom Aspinall, Arnold Allen, Leon Edwards, real men outside the cage and inside the cage. I’m proud to be on the same card as a man like Tom Aspinall.”
Pimblett made all sorts of headlines when he pulled his pants down and mooned everyone after hitting the lightweight mark at the weigh-ins. He also delivered on his pre-fight promise of tea bagging Leavitt after he finished him.
Mokaev’s comments aren’t out of left field. The pair had a heated argument on Twitter in 2018 when Mokaev accused Pimblett of being racist for claiming that he does not represent the U.K. The Dagestan-born fighter is a British citizen.
“This guy pulls his pants down,” Mokaev said. “A man doesn’t do this. Women don’t do this stuff. Pull his pants down, get fat, drink beer like animal. Men in Liverpool, I know real Scouse people. They don’t do stuff like this. This guy is just too much. I’m not a hater. I just want to see younger generation follow a real man. If you talk about U.K. guys, there’s Tom Aspinall, there’s Arnold Allen, Leon Edwards.
“Men of the world, of what they’re doing, they will back you up. Not this guy. Walk behind security when he sees a camera then he’s like a real guy, but when there’s no camera he’s hiding. I see this. I know this energy. I’m not some kid like, ‘Everybody push me to the cage, go fight please.’ I grew up crazy too.”
UFC’s Muhammad Mokaev says Paddy Pimblett isn’t a great role model: ‘This guy is just too much’