Paddy Pimblett reacts to accusations of Michael Chandler being a cheater ahead of UFC 314

LONDON – Paddy Pimblett addressed accusations of Michael Chandler not being a clean fighter.

Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) meets former title challenger Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) at UFC 314 on April 12 in Miami (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN/Disney+, ESPN+).

Chandler’s in-fight antics have been called out by his former opponents Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira. Poirier called Chandler a dirty fighter after accusing him of fish hooking his mouth while he had him in a rear-naked choke in their UFC 281 fight. He also complained about getting hit on the back of the head, and claimed that Chandler was purposely shooting out blood from his nose on him.

Oliveira also accused Chandler of repeatedly striking him in the back of the head during their UFC 309 rematch. When Pimblett was asked about Chandler’s antics against Oliveira, he put the blame on referee Keith Peterson, who was officiating the bout.

“Well, it’s not going to get to round 5,” Pimblett said at a UFC fan Q&A prior to Friday’s UFC Fight Night 255 weigh-ins at The O2. “He’s going to be finished before that. It’s not on me, lad. It’s on the referee. You know what I mean? The referee was quite slow in the Charles Oliveira fight and he didn’t stop him, so Chandler just kept hammer-fisting the back of his head. It’s on the referee.”

Chandler has often been criticized for not utilizing his decorated wrestling background in fights, but Pimblett doesn’t see him even trying.

“His big overhand right and his left hook (is what I have to watch out for),” Pimblett said. “He’s explosive, and he’s going to try and take my head off, and that’s what we’re preparing for. We’re ready for it. I don’t think he’s going to shoot any takedowns because he knows I’ll submit him.”