Paddy Pimblett absolutely loved Michael Chandler’s immediate reaction to their highly-anticipated UFC 314 fight.
Pimblett is set for the biggest test of his career at UFC 314 on April 12 when he takes on Chandler in a five-round co-main event.
The Miami card is headlined by Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes who will lock horns for the vacated featherweight belt.
Ilia Topuria gave up his 145-pound title to move up and fight lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, although he could take on Dustin Poirier to cement his name in the division first.
Chandler was meant to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 in June last year, but the latter withdrew after injuring his toe in sparring.
This led to Chandler fighting Charles Oliveira instead in June, during a period when Pimblett submitted King Green at UFC Manchester in both men’s last fight to date.
Chandler released a video in response to the fight with Pimblett on Thursday as he was seen shadow boxing wearing a wig that resembled his opponent’s style.
The short Instagram clip also plays the famous ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ song, which is associated with Pimblett’s favourite football club, Liverpool.
“Yes Mike, love this lad,” Pimblett said in response. “See you at the top brother.”
Chandler replied: “Walk ons and scousers…see you in April.”
UFC stars Bo Nickal and Derek Brunson also reacted to the video, laughing at Chandler’s response.
In a more detailed response to the bout, Chandler expressed his respect for Pimblett, but claimed the Liverpudlian will ‘run into a buzzsaw’ on April 12.
“In this sport things move very fast,” Chandler said, explaining how the fight came into fruition.
“I was on vacation last week, got a call that said: ‘Hey, what do you think about fighting Paddy Pimblett in April?’
“And I said: ‘Well, Hunter [Campbell] (UFC Chief Business Officer). April’s only eight weeks away and I like to put down at least four weeks of training, before I go into an eight week camp.
“Let me think about it. Next day, flew to Vegas, sat down with him in his office. We talked through everything and we made the decision (to fight Pimblett).
“Because an imperfect plan implemented now is better than a perfect plan implemented months from now and in this sport things move fast.”
Chandler went through hell and high water in a Fight of the Night bout with Oliveira at UFC 309, but fell to a unanimous decision defeat.
He has fought some of the best UFC lightweight, including Poirier and Tony Ferguson, who Pimblett also has a victory over.
“There’s a lot of stuff going on with the division,” Chandler added. “A big summer for the lightweight division and after the last fight, one of the most disappointing losses of my career, I wanted to get right back on the horse and right back in the octagon.
“So here we go. I like the matchup – love the match up actually. I respect Paddy, I think Paddy’s a skilled fighter.
“I still think he’s still got a bright future but he’s gonna run into a buzzsaw named Michael Chandler on April 12.
“As always I will be the most entertaining guy that steps inside the octagon that night. I will have everybody on their feet.
“I will have everybody on the edge of their seat, and in typical chandler fashion we’re going out there with one goal in mind and that’s to separate our opponent from consciousness.
“So I can’t wait…the next eight weeks we’re getting after it.”
Elsewhere at UFC 314, Yair Rodriguez takes on ex-Bellator two-division champion Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire, who is making his UFC debut, in a featherweight clash.
Geoff Neal faces Carlos Prates at 170 lbs and Nikita Krylov will fight Dominick Reyes.
