'I'd submit him'… Paddy Pimblett plays down Islam Makhachev's win over Dustin Poirier as he names his 'Submission of the Year'
12/24/2024 12:11 AM
Paddy Pimblett picked an under-the-radar finish for his 2024 ‘Submission of the Year’ frontrunner.
UFC lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett has demonstrated elite grappling throughout his career, and more specifically since joining the UFC. He further proved his grappling prowess at a recent gym competition, rolling for an hour with a submission specialist.
As 2024 draws to a close, many fighters, media platforms, and fans are making their cases for the annual MMA awards, including ‘Submission of the Year’. A common selection is Islam Makhachev’s win over Dustin Poirier, in which Makhachev overcame big damage early to smother Poirier in the championship rounds by D’Arce choke.
Pimblett is knocking on the door of a potential title shot, and although he respects Makhachev’s elite skillset and standing, he went a different route for his SOTY selection.
Paddy Pimblett: ‘I’d submit Dustin Poirier’
In a recent Vlog uploaded to his YouTube channel, Pimblett downplayed Makhachev’s submission in favor of an undefeated juggernaut’s finish.
“Obviously Islam’s sub is good, but it’s just a D’Arce choke. I transitioned from a guillotine to a triangle to an armbar, from the feet,” Pimblett said. “Still think Khamzat’s sub was better, Khamzat against Robert Whittaker was a better submission. No one’s done that to Robert Whittaker…Poirier’s been submitted multiple times before.
“I’d submit Dustin Poirier. No one submitted Bobby Green in like f***** 12 years or whatever it was.”
The undefeated Khamzat Chimaev gave former UFC titleholder Robert Whittaker a loss, and an extensive post-fight oral surgery, at UFC 308 in October. Chimaev submitted Whittaker with a face crank that resulted in Whittaker suffering a horrific mouth injury.
Pimblett most recently tapped out King Green at UFC 304 in July. He’s nearing a potential return to the cage against one of Poirier’s former rivals.
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Paddy Pimblett picks Khamzat Chimaev for ‘Submission of the Year’
While Pimblett’s confidence in submitting Poirier is fair, it’s worth mentioning that Poirier has a solid ground game to go with his elite boxing. He’s famous for ‘jumping the gilly’ in his fights and nearly submitted UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov with a choke at UFC 242.
Makhachev’s D’Arce choke submission at UFC 302 was his first victory with the technique. He’s finished the likes of Dan Hooker, Charles Oliveira, and Thiago Moisés with submissions during his UFC tenure.
Pimblett and Makhachev could potentially be on a future collision course if the UK star can earn a few more wins in the stacked lightweight division. 2025 could be a big year for Pimblett as he continues to face greater competition.
As for his views towards Poirier, Pimblett respects the former interim titleholder’s accolades but believes submission grappling is far from being a concern for his opponents.
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