Paddy Pimblett seems to have been left awestruck by Alex Pereira’s dominant win at UFC 320.
Reclaiming the light heavyweight crown in sensational fashion, Brazilian fan-favorite Alex Pereira made light work of bitter enemy Magomed Ankalaev in the pair’s immediate rematch.
And launching a staggering 80-second knockout win over the Russian star, Pereira would avenge his first-ever loss at light heavyweight in the promotion, following a close decision defeat to Ankalaev earlier this year.
Releasing his reaction to the title headliner in Las Vegas, top lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett was left staggered by the fashion in which Pereira stopped Ankalaev with such ease at UFC 320.
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Paddy Pimblett questions Magomed Ankalaev’s defense at UFC 320
Clocked with a massive overhand right in the early exchanges of their clash, Pereira would force Ankalaev to pull guard with a tame single leg attempt off the back of the strike.
And finding himself on the receiving end of a massive slew of 12-6 elbow strikes from Pereira, Ankalaev was stopped in just over a minute by the Brazilian, who mocked him afterwards with a now-trademark celebration.
However, as far as Pimblett is concerned, he was left surprised at how little defense Ankalaev showed off the back of the initial shot, which staggered him.
“Wow, nice right hand — hurt him (Ankalaev),” Pimblett said of Pereira on his YouTube channel. “Wow, it’s over! Oh my God, it’s over already? Wow, that was fast. Why didn’t Ankalaev move there, though?
“I was thinking — I thought Herb Dean was gonna jump in — I thought it was gonna be an early stoppage,” Pimblett explained. “…And Ankalaev just didn’t move, lad.
“I thought he was gonna move — I never even really reacted there, ’cause I thought, ‘Yeah, Ankalaev is gonna single-leg now and like wrestle up with a single leg.’ And he just never [did].”
Alex Pereira rips Magomed Ankalaev’s manager after UFC 320 win
Involved in a heated dispute with Ankalaev and his team ahead of their first pairing earlier this year, Pereira had some words for the Russian’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, post-fight.
Releasing a statement thanking his fans and family for their support amid his championship loss, Pereira poked at Dominance MMA leader Abdelaziz.
“When a manager has never been an athlete and wants to promote to gain fame and money, but you’re the one in there risking your life, and he’s outside laughing,” Pereira posted on Instagram.