Paddy Pimblett intends to alert the referee about potential foul play from Michael Chandler during their UFC 314 fight. He highlights accusations of cheating against Chandler from previous opponents, citing incidents like head strikes on Charles Oliveira and fish-hooking Dustin Poirier. Pimblett believes Chandler has a history of bending the rules to his advantage and hopes the referee will be vigilant during their bout.
Pimblett acknowledges that fighters are expected to protect themselves, but he will still mention his concerns to the referee backstage. He references Chandler`s past actions, such as punches to the back of Charles Oliveira`s head. Pimblett expresses his desire to have a reputable referee like Marc Goddard or Jason Herzog, rather than someone like Keith Peterson, who he believes might miss illegal actions. He mentions another instance where Chandler poked Justin Gaethje in the eye and then punched him when the referee intervened.
Chandler denies intentionally cheating. However, Pimblett is taking precautions, recognizing Chandler`s win-at-all-costs mentality. Despite acknowledging Chandler`s friendly demeanor outside the octagon, Pimblett calls him “dirty” inside the cage. Pimblett understands that defeating Chandler would significantly advance his goal of becoming UFC lightweight champion. He anticipates that even a dominant victory over Chandler might be downplayed by critics, a common experience for him. Pimblett is accustomed to such skepticism and focuses on proving his abilities by winning.
