LAS VEGAS – Paddy Pimblett has zero doubt that he deserved the win over Jared Gordon at UFC 282.
Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) remained unbeaten inside the octagon Saturday when he emerged with a controversial unanimous decision win over Gordon (19-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) in their lightweight co-headliner at T-Mobile Arena. The overwhelming majority of media and fellow fighters scored the fight against the Brit, but that doesn’t shake Pimblett’s confidence in the result.
He said his damage was far more valuable than Gordon’s control time, and that leaves him certain the decision was right.
“Everyone’s got an opinion, lad. Opinions are like a**holes: Everyone’s got one,” Pimblett told MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight at UFC 282. “I know I won that fight. Simple as (that). I deal in facts, and I won a unanimous decision. It’s not like it was a split decision. Look at his face and look at mine. Fights get scored on damage now. I landed a lot more damage. End of (story).
“I’m me, lad. Just ’cause it’s me – I don’t know. I was sitting next to Dominick Cruz before, and I said to him, ‘Control time means nothing. It’s about damage.’ Look at my face. Look at his. I’ve got the little green marker next to my name, so everyone else can suck me a**hole.”
Despite his defense of the scoring, Pimblett admits he could’ve been on the verge of defeat. He said he suffered a significant ankle injury in the second round, and if Gordon had decided to strike instead of wrestle and clinch in the final frame, he probably wouldn’t have been able to endure it.
Pimblett ultimately got his hand raised though, and he said he looks forward to the next chapter of his career. He doesn’t know when or against whom he’ll fight next, but said he will be prepared for all comers.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 282.
Paddy Pimblett defends decision over Jared Gordon at UFC 282, tells critics to ‘suck me a**hole’