Matt Frevola is one of the last people you’d expect to hear praising Paddy Pimblett.
The long-time lightweight contender has been calling for a fight with ‘The Baddy’ for years.
Unfortunately for UFC fans, they almost certainly won’t be scrapping anytime soon.
Paddy Pimblett is currently looking for a ranked opponent after cracking the top 15 by putting Bobby Green to sleep at UFC 304 in July. Meanwhile, Frevola is looking to get his career back on track after consecutive knockout losses.
- READ MORE: Who is Paddy Pimblett? Get to know the ‘baddy’ of MMA who is making his presence felt in UFC
Matt Frevola shares rare Paddy Pimblett praise
UFC fans were divided when footage of Pimblett competing in a gym fight went viral online.
The 30-year-old decided to settle a feud with another fighter by turning up at his gym for a scrap.
Dozens of people gathered around as Pimblett and his rival, Denis Frimpong, settled their differences the old-fashioned way. Footage of their fight was subsequently shared on social media to be viewed by millions.
Pimblett won when he locked up a rear-naked choke. However, he almost caused a riot when he refused to let go of the submission after his opponent tapped, prompting several bystanders to intervene before he put Frimpong out cold.
The UFC star has since faced backlash for putting Frimpong in danger by failing to acknowledge the tap.
Frevola has a different perspective on the fight. ‘Streamrolla’ gave props to both men for squashing their beef in the gym.
“Honestly, there aren’t many UFC fighters that would go to another gym and throw down like @PaddyTheBaddy did with cameras recording. Big respect,” Frevola tweeted on Tuesday.
He added: “[Frimpong] held his own as well. Was a good scrap. Respect to both fellas.”
Paddy Pimblett’s rival comes to his defense
Pimblett fired back at the people bashing him for holding his choke in a social media statement.
“He agreed to no tapping beforehand. All you butthurt idiots who don’t know what you’re talking about just pipe down don’t talk when you don’t know the context,” he said.
“Not my fault he tapped like a (dog emoji) when he was saying he was going to KO me on the feet and got out struck.”
Somewhat surprisingly, Pimblett has been backed up by the man he tried to put to sleep after the tap.
“To everyone chatting s*** about @PaddyTheBaddy not letting the choke go, chill out,” Frimpong tweeted.
“It’s a f***ing choke. I didn’t even go unconscious, and it was a straightener scrap. I went in fully expecting that if he caught a choke, he was gonna try put me out, don’t chat s**t you don’t know.”