It’s rare for any MMA fighter to make headlines outside of the field of combat. The likes of Conor McGregor may be more ‘notorious’ for their exploits away from the sport but he is an exception that tends to prove the rule.
In certain other combat sports, there can be something of a showbusiness element but serious fight fans like to see it removed from Mixed Martial Arts. That may be why opinion is so divided when it comes to Paddy Pimblett. The Englishman is making a name for himself for a number of reasons but is he just a sideshow or does he have a seriously successful career ahead of him in the Octagon?
Pimblett in Numbers
Victory over Jordan Leavitt in July 2022 was Pimblett’s 19th win as a professional MMA fighter. The man known as Paddy the Baddy has three defeats to add to his overall record of 19-3 from 22 contests.
With a solid early record, Ultimate Fighting Championship felt that Paddy Pimblett was a perfect fit for the biggest organization within the sport.
Three impressive victories have followed and the future for Pimblett is a bright one. If he can stay on top of his game, shots at championship titles will surely follow. Despite all this, his nudge towards celebrity status means that the jury is out in regards to his true fighting worth.
Opinion Divided
Paddy Pimblett has a respectable record at this early stage of his career but not everyone is convinced about his fighting ability. Muhammad Mokaev, who was on the same bill as the Englishman in London, said that he didn’t think Pimblett was a great role model for the sport.
Mokaev went on to talk about several other fighters who he felt deserved more column inches than the Liverpudlian. Due to his antics both inside and outside of the Octagon, he even went on to liken Pimblett to an animal.
The Cult of Personality
Over in the UK, sportsmen and sportswomen are in contention for a rather unusual honor at the end of each calendar year. Main broadcasters BBC host a Sports Personality of the Year show to reward the great and the good of British sport.
The show goes out in December but betting markets are already in place for the 2022 edition. Odds are slow to come through at the moment but the best betting sites in Poland are among those who have already declared and they put record-equalling World Snooker Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan as the clear favorite.
Others in contention include England’s soccer captain Harry Kane and Matt Fitzpatrick, the golfer who won his first Major at the 2022 US Open.
Down among the outsiders is Paddy Pimblett. At odds of around 80/1, he is unlikely to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award but the fact that an MMA fighter is even mentioned in this market is a serious endorsement of his high profile.
Anyone who is interested in following this market can track the odds which are supplied via sources linked to Sbo.net. In the weeks leading up to the broadcast, the prices are subject to change and any updates will be reflected on the website.
While assessing the numbers, readers can also take into account any news posts that appear. Sbo.net also review all of their linked sportsbooks and it’s possible to get directly involved with the markets. Anyone can sign up and look to take advantage of a generous welcome package.
A range of funding options gets the account moving while other benefits may include mobile betting and access to live streaming of top sporting events.
What next for Paddy Pimblett?
With his shock of blonde hair, there is a resemblance to a contestant from a reality TV Show but it would be unfair to suggest that he’s just a mere sideshow. He can, of course, use his profile to do good, as evidenced by his speech about mental health awareness after the Leavitt bout.
Whatever happens, Paddy Pimblett will be an important figure for UFC moving forward and he’s starting to make waves in his native England where MMA is yet to fully take off. He divides opinion but he has an impressive fighting record that demands respect.