Covington Vs. Pimblett – How Does It Play Out?

Colby Covington is targeting a fight against lightweight Paddy Pimblett, as we look at how the fight could play out. 

Covington’s last fight against Joaquin Buckley ended in a doctor’s stoppage due to a severe cut above his eye, marking a TKO loss. The defeat followed Covington’s other loss to Leon Edwards. The defeats have raised questions about his form at 170 pounds. With several fighters ranked higher than him in the welterweight division, a move down in weight to face Pimblett could be a good move.

Meanwhile, Pimblett is undefeated in the UFC with seven straight victories, his most recent being a stoppage of Michael Chandler at UFC 314 in April. The win over a veteran like Chandler propelled Pimblett into the top 10 of the lightweight rankings. Now, Covington wants the challenge.

Covington Reacts

"I mean, the Paddy Pimblett fight super interests me ’cause in Miami, he was talking… running his mouth backstage. Like, I wasn’t even looking at him or talking to him. He wants to start some shit. He’s been saying some shit. He was saying in an interview the other day his doctor said he had liver failure from cutting to 155.

"Dude, come up a weight class. Come to 170. Why are you being a weight bully, Paddy? You know, you’re a bum. You’re a gimmick. Your little English accent and your little bowl cut. That’s the only reason people know you. So, let’s get it going, Paddy. And if I can’t get Paddy, then maybe Gilbert Burns. That would be good," Covington said

The Approach

Covington will try to apply relentless pressure and his wrestling. Covington will likely look to close the distance quickly, pin Pimblett against the cage. He will want to constantly threaten with takedowns to wear down Pimblett’s cardio and force him to expend energy. Covington is a master of top control and ground-and-pound, which he used to dominate his opponents in his prime. An example of this is his performance against Rafael dos Anjos, where he secured a dominant decision victory.

Pimblett’s path to victory lies in his finishing ability on the feet and on the ground. Pimblett is a dangerous striker with knockout power and a slick submission game. He has shown a willingness to absorb damage to land his own shots, as he did in his TKO win over Michael Chandler. Pimblett’s game plan would likely involve using his footwork to stay out of the clinch and land big shots. If the fight does go to the ground, Pimblett possesses a dangerous submission arsenal. His technical submission victory over Bobby Green with a triangle choke shows that even from his back, he can be a threat.

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