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One of the most controversial fights of 2022 was Paddy Pimblett vs. Jared Gordon. The ‘Baddy’ won a unanimous decision against Gordon at UFC 282 this past December — a decision that drew the ire of fans, fighters and pundits alike. The general consensus was that ‘Flash’ won two of three rounds against Pimblett, who improved to 4-0 in the promotion.
Paddy Pimblett revisits potential Jared Gordon rematch
Pimblett defended the decision, saying that fights are scored ‘on damage,’ which he thought he did more of against Gordon. When approached with a potential rematch, the Liverpudlian had no interest — until recently. After rewatching the fight, Pimblett admitted that it was ‘closer’ than he originally scored, so he was ‘game’ for a rematch.
This past March, Pimblett ramped up his efforts to get a rematch against Gordon. Following a successful surgery to repair an ankle injury sustained during their fight, the 28-year-old sent a message to his former foe from the hospital.
“I’m going to punch his head towards the end of the year,” said Pimblett. “I am going to ruin it back. I hope he beats Bobby Green [because] I’ll snap his arm for him in a round. I had a boxing match with him and I still won [because] you’re s—t. I hope he watches this. You’re f—king dogs—t. At my worst, you couldn’t beat me at your best. Injured, everything going wrong. You couldn’t beat me on my worst day, and I beat you on your best. [Because] you’re a little bum.”
Jared Gordon discusses Pimblett’s recent call out
To Gordon, that message from Pimblett confirmed his initial thoughts on the fight. The UFC veteran said he won it, and the only thing he ‘missed out on’ was the other half of his purse. And with that, Gordon was uninterested in fighting Pimblett again, especially if he can get through Bobby Green at UFC Vegas 71 on Saturday.
“I’m clearly living rent-free in his head,” said Gordon at his media day on Wednesday (video provided by MMA Junkie). “He just had surgery, and he’s in his recovery room in the hospital, and the first couple words he’s talking about is Jared Gordon. If I thought I won a fight and I wanted to move on and upward, I wouldn’t be talking about Paddy Pimblett from my hospital bed. But it’s not just me living rent-free in his head. It’s every other media outlet and person in the industry. Joe Rogan, Nate Diaz, I think said something. A bunch of people know I won the fight.
“If it was worth it for me, but when I get past Bobby, that’s fighting backwards,” continued Gordon. “So, unless they give me some really big spot and it would put me in the spotlight obviously and it would grow my brand and grow me as a fighter, but at that point, it’s more of risk for me fight-wise after I get through Bobby. But if they offer me something good and money, I might think about it.”
Gordon focuses on next fight against Bobby Green
For his next appearance, Gordon faces Bobby Green, the fellow UFC veteran who presents a ‘puzzle’ that the former is ready to figure out.
“He’s a veteran and he’s really good,” said Gordon. “He’s beat a lot of really good guys. He’s got great boxing, great, underrated wrestling. He’s got great takedown defense, he knows how to get up underneath people. It’s going to be a puzzle for me. I think besides Diego Ferreira and Charles Oliveira, this is my toughest fight to date. Definitely tougher than Paddy, but that’s why I’m here, right? To fight the best guys and climb the ranks. Everything that I’ve gone through and where I stand in my career and where Bobby stands, I think it’s the perfect fight for me right now.”
Green vs. Gordon is scheduled for UFC Vegas 71, the upcoming Fight Night on Sat., April 22, at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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