Topics: Dana White, Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje, UFC, UFC News
UFC president Dana White has criticised Paddy Pimblett's game plan during his unanimous decision defeat to Justin Gaethje.
Ahead of fight night, a confident Pimblett promised to walk towards Gaethje and trade punches in their interim lightweight title bout - despite being renowned as one of the best grapplers in the game.
"I'll keep it on the feet with him. There's the blueprint there to beat him, Max [Holloway] did it," Pimblett told TNT Sports. "Everyone underestimates my striking, everyone thinks I'm just going to come in and I'm going to take him down, I'm not."
He added: "He had an absolute war with [Michael] Chandler and pieced him up. I know MMA math doesn't work but you'll see Jan. 24 when we have a perfect game plan, and we finish him within three [rounds.]"
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Given that Pimblett had won three of his seven fights in the UFC by submission, many were surprised by the Liverpudlian's comments as he prepared to face one of the lightweight division's biggest punchers.
Gaethje, who has 20 knockouts on his record, proceeded to inflict some serious damage to Pimblett throughout the five-round contest, with the latter being taken to a nearby hospital for medical checks.
Speaking in his post-event press conference, UFC president Dana White brought up Pimblett's game plan as he questioned whether it was the right call to engage in stand up as the rounds went on.
"I don't think that his game plan was the greatest," said White.
"Tonight, he showed he is tough and durable against a guy like Gaethje. If you can eat those punches from him... You know, it's one thing to say, 'I know I believe in my durability, in my chin, in my ability to go toe-to-toe with this guy'.
"But when it starts to not work, at some point you have to say, 'It's the third round, I have two rounds left, I should probably try to take him down'."
White, who posted a picture of Pimblett's injuries on Instagram alongside the caption 'SAVAGE!!!', confirmed that the fighter was taken to hospital for an assessment.
“We sent Paddy Pimblett straight to the hospital and we’re gonna send Gaethjae too," said White.
“He got dropped a bunch of times and obviously took some big shots from a guy who knocks everybody out. But he’s tough, he’s durable and he can take a punch. He can take a lot of punches, actually.”
Thoughts on Pimblett's game plan at UFC 324? Do you agree with Dana White? Let us know in the comments.
