There are very few fighters in the UFC who are as explosive as Michael Chandler. His two wins in the UFC have come via knockout which shows he is capable of finishing his opponents. However, the former Bellator champion hasn’t quite won the much-coveted title in the UFC as of yet. At UFC 314 he will go up against Paddy Pimblett who is boasting an undefeated record inside the Octagon at 6-0. ‘The Baddy’ has shown that he is one of the most versatile fighters in the division. He not only has good striking but is exceptional on the ground as well. So who holds the upper hand in the clash?

Well, Chandler’s training partner Jared Gordon feels his power will be the deciding factor. For the unversed, Pimblett and Gordon locked horns at UFC 282 in 2022. The fight went the full distance and Pimblett managed to win the fight via a unanimous decision. The 36-year-old has seen both fighters from close quarters and has an idea of how the fight may pan out at UFC 314.

According to Gordon, the fight will definitely be tough for both lightweights, but it’s Chandler who will come out on top. Home Of Fight took to their X account to share the video where the 36-year-old gave a detailed insight into the fight. He said, “I mean it’s a tough fight for both of them.” 

Looking at the recent form of both Pimblett and Chandler, momentum is definitely on the side of ‘The Baddy’. But Michael Chandler is no stranger to surprising us with his power. Gordon further added, “And you know you are probably gonna get punched in the face by Mike when you fight him. So like, there’s a pretty good chance that he would hurt you or finish you. Ya, Mike would definitely win I don’t know the odds”.

Paddy Pimblett has time and again made it clear that he’s here to prove he belongs among the elite. Fresh off an electrifying victory over King Green in front of a raucous home crowd last July, the 30-year-old fighter has put his money where his mouth is.

However, he is now preparing for the biggest test of his career with a chance to enter the top 10 of the division. On the other hand, Chandler isn’t quite worried about the hype surrounding his opponent. He feels he has a lot left to prove in the division, given that he’s in his twilight years as a fighter. Almost two weeks out from his UFC 314 clash, he shared his honest opinion about Paddy Pimblett as a fighter.

Michael Chandler feels Paddy Pimblett will struggle against him at UFC 314

Chandler’s recent run in the Octagon hasn’t quite lived up to his usual standards. But every MMA fan knows just how dangerous ‘Iron’ is once he enters a fight. The former Bellator champion never lacks confidence, walking into each fight with the belief that he can put anyone away. However, this time, he faces an opponent who matches his self-assurance.

Paddy Pimblett isn’t just confident—he’s convinced that he’s the future of the lightweight division. He is ready to take the torch as the division’s biggest names begin to fade from their prime. But his comments didn’t quite go well with the 38-year-old fighter.

During a recent conversation with Tobin on his YouTube channel, he shared his honest opinion of him and said, “Yeah, I mean only he knows whether he is a lion or not. Is he young? Yes. But is he a lion? He definitely has not proven that yet.” Chandler then went on to point out that ‘The Baddy’ will definitely struggle against him at UFC 314. He further added, “But I got a sneaky suspicion he wouldn’t be able to hang with the dudes like me. The Poirier’s, the Gaethje’s, the Oliveira’s. These guys who you literally have to kill to get outside of the Octagon. You know it remains to be seen.” 

With UFC 314 just around the corner, the buzz surrounding Chandler vs. Pimblett is far from over. This fight just serves as a beautiful segway into the featherweight title fight between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes in the main event. So who do you think will win the co-main event at UFC 314? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.