Sean O’Malley expresses confusion over Paddy Pimblett‘s career trajectory and his upcoming fight with struggling veteran Tony Ferguson, which he believes may not offer much benefit for Pimblett, despite ongoing support from fans and former fighters.
Sean O’Malley has reached the pinnacle of his career, having navigated a fairly simple path to achieve his current standing. The confusion for him lies in the trajectory that Paddy Pimblett has opted for. Despite encountering some hitches since his induction from the Contender Series back in 2017, O’Malley’s fame has consistently escalated with every matchup. This trajectory reached its zenith in the triumph over Aljamain Sterling during UFC 292 in August, where he claimed the bantamweight championship via a knockout.
Meanwhile, Pimblett’s popularity has also significantly soared since transitioning from England’s Cage Warriors promotion. Mimicking O’Malley’s journey, Pimblett has accrued a balanced mix of both supporters and critics. Despite this, his triumph in his first four UFC fights is undeniable. He’s set to face popular lightweight Tony Ferguson during the UFC 296 event scheduled for December 16 – a face-off that has garnered mixed reactions.
O’Malley’s perspective on Pimblett’s fight against a veteran, whose recent track record has been less than stellar, has sparked some debate. His immediate reaction was one of surprise, confessing that the scenario could be a potential lose-lose situation for Pimblett. In his opinion, should Pimblett outperform Tony – who admittedly is a formidable opponent but caught up in a six-fight losing streak – he may not receive the recognition he deserves. On the contrary, the credits will be bestowed upon Pimblett’s triumph over a renowned opponent who was expected to lose. The stakes can be high since it’s not an easily winnable fight.
Meanwhile, former interim UFC lightweight champion, 39-year-old Ferguson is entangled in a career-low with six consecutive losses since June 2019. These defeats have transpired in multiple disheartening ways: brutal knockouts, unexpected submissions, and one-sided decisions. Pimblett, on the other hand, will be heading back into the octagon after a year. His latest win, a highly disputed unanimous decision over Jared Gordon, places him as a significant favorite. However, past fighters like Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier are lending their support to Ferguson, implying a potential upset. These varied perspectives generate an intriguing anticipation of the approaching fight.