PADDY PIMBLETT IS one of the most exciting young prospects in mixed martial arts at the moment and the level of expectation on the Liverpudlian’s shoulders only looks set to increase after his performance tonight in his hometown.
Pimblett, who’s normally regarded as a submission specialist, stopped French veteran Johnny Frachey via TKO after just 95 seconds of the first round of the co-main event at Cage Warriors 78 at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
The 21-year-old’s eighth consecutive victory took his professional record to 12-1 and earned him the Cage Warriors featherweight title which was recently vacated by UFC-bound Alex Enlund — the same belt that helped to propel Conor McGregor to MMA’s biggest stage back in 2012.
(Click here if you are unable to view the clip)
With the win, Pimblett reiterated his calls for a shot in the UFC, which are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: “I am going to be the pound-for-pound best in the world.”
In the main event, Pimblett’s team-mate Chris Fishgold successfully defended his Cage Warriors lightweight title with a first-round submission of Jason Ponet.
The fight had a somewhat controversial ending, however, as Ponet claimed that there was no tap-out, but the replays of the incident appeared to suggest otherwise.
(Click here if you are unable to view the clip)
Elsewhere on the main card, Tim Wilde overcame former UFC lightweight Mickael Lebout, former welterweight title challenger Mohsen Bahari submitted Ali Arish and highly-regarded Swedish middleweight Victor Cheng returned from a four-year absence to defeat Leeroy Barnes.
Cage Warriors 78
- Chris Fishgold def. Jason Ponet via submission (guillotine choke) after 1:04 of round one
- Paddy Pimblett def. Johnny Frachey via TKO (punches) after 1:35 of round one
- Tim Wilde def. Mickael Lebout via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Mohsen Bahari def. Ali Arish via submission (guillotine choke) after 4:04 of round one
- Victor Cheng def. Leeroy Barnes via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Ellis Hampson def. Jordan Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Dez Parker def. James Lewis via submission (armbar) after 1:09 of round one
- Dylan Mcloughlin def. Alexandre Roumette via TKO (strikes) after 4:30 of round one
- Sam Creasey def. Sam Halliday via submission (rear-naked choke) after 1:47 of round one
