After Paddy Pimblett‘s monumental victory at UFC 314, a huge part of the MMA community was left with their jaws open either in horror or awe. Where many counted on Michael Chandler to maul the British superstar with his explosiveness and experience, Pimblett’s composure and IQ seriously subverted expectations. Watching from the audience was Chandler’s teammate and former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman alongside his friend and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, as both saw Pimblett finish Chandler, and both were left shocked.

As Usman saw his teammate Michael Chandler get destroyed by Pimblett’s attacks, he was left speechless. The outcome that the Nigerian-American fighter couldn’t predict even in his nightmares was taking place right in front of his eyes. Both Adesanya and Usman took a moment to acknowledge how good of a performance it was from Pimblett.

While Usman kept on looking, ‘The Last Stylebender’, too, picked Chandler to beat Pimblett. And seeing his prediction go wrong, Adesanya remained a sport and said: “Oh no damn oh I might stop counting him out. Super impressive, very impressive, like he’s good, he’s good, even though he has that one flaw that I think he might have fixed as well, cuz I didn’t really see it much this fight. The chin is up, he’s fixed it, so you got to give it.” Adesanya even met Pimblett after the fight and told him: “I’m gonna stop counting you out.”

The whole MMA community owes Pimblett a huge apology. From fans to veterans, everyone witnessed him brutalizing Chandler and taking home yet another victory. Now with a nine-fight win streak and a huge crowd behind him, it seems a title shot isn’t that far away from happening. While it’s unreal seeing the heights where Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has risen in his career, many thought he wouldn’t be able to come this far.

Now, however, those critics have changed their words, from being underestimated to being undeniable; the fighters around him have nothing but acknowledgement and praise for him. Let’s find out what other fighters had to say.

UFC Fighters acknowledge Paddy Pimblett following his TKO win over Michael Chandler

It seems that Paddy Pimblett has made a habit out of proving his critics wrong. The best of the best in the division expected Chandler to destroy Pimblett. After the dust settled at UFC 314, all of those critics, from fans to fighters to veterans had to eat their words. UFC veteran and former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier said: “He’s legit! How can I count him out anymore?” An acknowledgment from ‘The Diamond’ surely means you’re on the right path.

A fellow lightweight challenger Renato Moicano said: “Paddy in 2024 – Easy Money. Paddy in 2025 – Not so easy.” maintaining his humor with his respect for the Scouser. Following his victory, Pimblett even called out Conor McGregor, who had bet half a million dollars on ‘Iron’ Mike to beat Pimblett. After losing that much money, even Conor acknowledged that Pimblett has been improving with every fight and regretted not betting on him in his X post after UFC 314. It is unreal, the kind of impact Pimblett has had on the sport.

With a large crowd behind him, it’s safe to say that Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has turned himself into one of the biggest draws in the UFC. His next fight will not just be a big fight for his career, but with every eye focused on the Scouser, it will be an even bigger fight for the UFC to bring in money. Slowly and steadily, Pimblett is taking over the UFC just like a certain someone we all know from the past—he’s beating everyone we thought he would lose to. And it looks like no one can stop his meteoric rise. Do you think Paddy Pimblett can become the next Conor McGregor? Let us know in the comments.