UFC 296: Michael Bisping Shares Thoughts On Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett

Michael Bisping recently weighed in on the highly anticipated Tony Ferguson vs. Paddy Pimblett lightweight matchup at UFC 296. The former middleweight champion thinks a lot is at stake for both men in their upcoming fight. 

‘El Cucuy’ is booked to face ‘Paddy The Baddy’ in a 155-pound contest on December 16th at UFC 296. The matchup was widely criticized for its being lopsided in terms of form. However, it seems the UFC wants it to happen, and both parties have agreed to it. 

Tony Ferguson will be looking to break his six-fight losing skid. Meanwhile, Pimblett will aim to build on his six-fight winning streak and prove his ankle injury has healed. The Englishman will also look to wipe off the stink of his highly controversial decision win over Jared Gordon last December at UFC 282. 

In a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Michael Bisping slammed those who counted Ferguson out. Despite Ferguson’s recent losses, Bisping argues that he’s still taking on the best of the best. Bisping sees the fight as a challenge for Pimblett, stating that there is equal pressure on both fighters to perform.

He stated that a lot of people on social media are criticizing this fight, and he doesn’t understand why. Paddy ‘The Baddy’ needs a credible opponent after his surgery; Tony Ferguson fits the bill.

He is a tenacious fighter who relentlessly moves forward, requiring his opponents to finish him to stop him. At 39 years old, he has endured a lot of physical tolls, but his experience is invaluable.  

Tony Ferguson remains a dangerous opponent. Paddy Pimblett faces a tough challenge as he could lose regardless of the outcome. Bisping stated that there are already people talking down and claiming that Paddy is being handed an easy opponent. However, Tony Ferguson is not an easy opponent for anyone. It’s an unfortunate reality that Tony Ferguson has lost six fights in a row. If Pimblett manages to win against him, people might say that it was an easy victory given Ferguson’s losing streak. After all, he has been finished in his last three fights. However, ‘El Cucuy’ remains one of the most dangerous opponents anyone could ever face as a 155-pounder in the UFC. 

In stark contrast to Michael Bisping’s take on the matchup, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo speculated that the matchup was meant to force Ferguson into retirement. He asked if the UFC was trying to get rid of Tony Ferguson or if they were trying to feed him to Pimblett. At the same time, Cejudo questioned whether Pimblett was risking too much with a steep challenge that could jeopardize his undefeated reputation in the promotion. 

If Paddy ‘The Baddy’ loses to Tony Ferguson, will he lose much of his hype? Both fighters in this freestyle fight are skilled in the same style, which could be detrimental to the UFC. Cejudo stated that Tony Ferguson would be a much tougher opponent than people tend to assume. As a result, he’s unsure about the UFC’s plan to feature Paddy ‘The Baddy’ in a high-profile fight. If he loses, the UFC will lose one of their best prospects. 

Cejudo and Bisping voiced differing opinions on whether Tony Ferguson should be featured in this fight, but both agreed that this fight presents a tough test for Paddy Pimblett. 

Despite the controversy surrounding his win over Gordon, Paddy Pimblett remains undefeated in the octagon. He has recorded victories over world-class opponents like Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas, and Jordan Leavitt.

Meanwhile, Tony Ferguson has not been able to secure a victory since 2019. His losing streak includes defeats to Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, Beneil Dariush, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and most recently, a loss to Bobby Green at UFC 291. 

Despite his 12-fight winning streak, “El Cucuy” was never given a title shot. However, he now has an opportunity to get back in the win column against Pimblett, who has recently recovered from an ankle injury. Don’t miss the chance to witness “El Cucuy” reignite his winning streak and prove that he deserves a shot at the title. Tune in for the upcoming match and see what happens. The fight is set to take place 12 months after Pimblett’s surgery.