Paddy Pimblett has just put the entire lightweight division on notice. In a strong co-main event performance at UFC 314, the proud Scouser blasted through Michael Chandler in a competitive affair that ended with a nasty ground-and-pound TKO finish in the third round. What began as a collision of youth and experience rapidly transformed into a showcase for Pimblett’s evolution—his striking, poise, and fight IQ were all on full display as he took ‘Iron’ Mike apart. But it was what came after the fight that had fans buzzing.

Pimblett, who is 7-0 in the UFC and has recently defeated veterans such as Tony Ferguson and King Green, used the post-fight interview to call out the largest fish in the pond—Islam Makhachev. “I want that world title,” he said without hesitation. And it wasn’t all talk. Belal Muhammad, a UFC welterweight contender, quickly endorsed the idea, posting: “Islam got a new contender.” Well, it looks like he has caught the attention of some major names now who could help him strengthen his case for Dana White to give him the title shot.

After all, ‘The Baddy’ fought as if he had something to prove to himself from the get-go. Chandler hit a number of his trademark strikes and earned a couple of takedowns, but everything was reactive. Paddy Pimblett stuffed shots, lit him up with leg kicks, and even absorbed a low blow without losing momentum. Once on top, he ripped Michael Chandler open with a soaring knee, secured mount, and rained down elbows and punches.’Iron’ Mike was bruised, fatigued, and outmatched by the time the referee entered the picture to call it an end.

Still, Paddy Pimblett was not satisfied with just one name. He also threw down the gauntlet to Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, and Charles Oliveira, indicating that the young Scouser with the quirky hair and larger-than-life attitude is now a major concern for anyone with a number next to their name.

But for now, it would be interesting to see if Islam Makhachev gets to fight ‘The Baddy,’ especially after his dear friend Muhammad backed the new possible contender. However, the welterweight champion isn’t the only one who identifies Paddy Pimblett’s talent. Tom Aspinall, too, has been a fan of his fighting; so much so, that he even predicted how Pimblett would win the fight against Chandler.

Tom Aspinall predicts Paddy Pimblett’s game to perfection

Tom Aspinall wasn’t simply rooting for a fellow Brit; he was reading the script before it was written. As Pimblett annihilated Michael Chandler at UFC 314 and ended the fight with a brutal third-round TKO, Aspinall’s pre-fight prediction aged like fine wine. The heavyweight interim champion had doubled down on his idea that ‘The Baddy’ would surprise everyone by knocking Chandler out rather than submitting him cleanly. And that is exactly what happened inside the Kaseya Center.

Aspinall has proven a keen eye for fighting before, but his analysis of Pimblett struck out due to its precision. While most people focused on Paddy’s wrestling background or dismissed him totally, the Briton looked past the hair, accent, and wild interviews to see what many others missed: Pimblett’s striking was evolving rapidly. “People massively overlook Paddy,” he said before the fight. “I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people.” By the time Pimblett was pounding Chandler into the canvas, surprise had turned to disbelief.

Now, with Aspinall’s prediction coming true down to the method of winning, it’s difficult not to give both men credit—Paddy Pimblett for pulling it off, and Tom Aspinall for seeing it coming when most others didn’t. If this win signals the start of a legitimate title run, the interim heavyweight champion’s vision may not be a fluke. It may be the beginning of something great, and Paddy Pimblett could be precisely what Aspinall predicted all along: a future UFC champion lurking in plain sight. What do you think? Do you see ‘The Baddy’ winning the lightweight belt anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.