[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] see similarities in the path [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] and [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag]John’s UFC career unfolded.
Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) remained undefeated in the Octagon when he quickly submitted King Green at UFC 304 last month. The finish earned Pimblett a spot in the UFC lightweight rankings and an extra $200,000 in Performance of the Night bonus money.
White compared Pimblett’s rise and star power to that of McGregor, with the UFC CEO saying both fighters exceeded expectations.
“He reminds me of Conor when Conor started,” White said during a interview with Jim Roma. “Because everyone said, ‘Oh, Conor’s not that good, all this hype, and this and that,’ and they keep telling everyone that every time they fight.
“Paddy is one of those guys – everyone keeps doubting him, everyone keeps saying he’s no good. People keep criticizing him and wanting to fight him. So to come in and do what he did to Bobby Green, it’s hard to say Paddy isn’t the real deal. He’s fun, entertaining and a tough kid.
A fan favorite, Pimblett is on the right track. However, he still has a long way to go before reaching McGregor’s heights, as “The Notorious” holds multiple pay-per-view records as well as becoming the UFC’s first two-division simultaneous champion. McGregor is also arguably the sport’s biggest star, recently making his Hollywood debut in the remake of “Road House” starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal.
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This article was originally published on MMA Junkie: Paddy Pimblett reminds Dana White of Conor McGregor: ‘Everyone keeps doubting him’
