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Paul Felder Doubts Paddy Pimblett's Chances Against Any Ranked UFC Lightweight

Originally posted on MMA News | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated 12/29/23

It appears that Paddy Pimblett has some more work to do if he's to convince his UFC peers that a rise into contention at 155 pounds is on the cards.

Pimblett, a former Cage Warriors champion, has amassed a perfect 5-0 record inside the Octagon since signing in 2021. But the numbers haven't been enough to prove his talents on MMA's biggest stage.

Last December, "The Baddy" recorded a controversial decision victory over Jared Gordon, a result that many in the community insisted went the wrong way.

After being made to wait for his opportunity to write a new memory inside the cage owing to an injury, Pimblett made the walk again at UFC 296 earlier this month, where he got the better of former interim champion Tony Ferguson on the scorecards.

While "El Cucuy" represented an established name, the six-fight losing run he entered the fight on — as well as Pimblett's failure to finish him inside the distance — has seemingly done little to change the common consensus.

Felder: Pimblett Struggled To Get The 'Worst' Ferguson Out Of There

That is the case when it comes to former lightweight contender-turned-color commentator Paul Felder, who assessed Pimblett's current level during an episode of the UFC's Round-Up show with Michael Chiesa.

When discussing the chances of Pimblett getting the better of anyone currently occupying a spot inside the lightweight rankings, "The Irish Dragon" branded it unlikely judging by his performance against Ferguson.

"Can paddy beat anyone in the top 15? I will start with this. Of course, he can. We know that it's MMA, anything can happen," Felder said. "But if we were gonna sit here and make bets, and if I had to predict, no, I really don't think so. He struggled to get a Tony out of there who looked the worst he's ever looked in his career.

"He was able to hurt Tony a little bit, but he really should have been able to put him away, man," Felder continued. "15 through 10, okay, Drew Dober, Bobby Green (Renato) Moicano, Benoît Saint Denis, Rafael dos Anjos, and Jalin Turner."

Felder's sentiment has been widely shared, and that won't come as a surprise to Pimblett. Prior to his collision with "El Cucuy" in Las Vegas, he frequently branded the matchup a "lose-lose" owing to the perception surrounding Ferguson's current state.

With that in mind, the Liverpool native will need to deliver some strong performances in 2024 if he's to turn the tide and place himself among the leading prospects in the lightweight division.