Daniel Cormier thinks the comparisons between Paddy Pimblett and Conor McGregor need to stop.
Pimblett and McGregor both stormed onto the UFC scene as former Cage Warriors champions brimming with confidence and personality. McGregor’s first four UFC wins came over Marcus Brimage, Max Holloway, Dustin Poirier and Diego Brandao. Pimblett finished Luigi Vendramini, Rodrigo Vargas and Jordan Leavitt, then defeated Jared Gordon by controversial decision at UFC 282.
Although Pimblett (20-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is on the right track with a 4-0 start to his octagon tenure, Cormier says the competition level has been completely different than former UFC dual-champ McGregor’s.
“You know what’s crazy? When they compare him to McGregor,” Cormier said on his “DC & RC” ESPN show. “In McGregor’s fourth fight, he beat Dustin Poirier and then he beat Max Holloway, and then Max Holloway after losing to Conor McGregor won 12 in a row, became the champion and did what he did. We can’t really compare their accomplishments, especially in the first four fights.”
Although Cormier thinks Gordon should have gotten his hand raised against Pimblett, he doesn’t deny the Englishman’s star power. He doesn’t see his popularity taking a hit, but says more questions have risen in regards to his fighting after the Gordon win. Cormier isn’t drawing conclusions on Pimblett’s ceiling, but rather that he sees McGregor’s rise as incomparable.
“Nobody really takes the McGregor path,” Cormier said. “It takes a long time. I think right now, we need to chill on those comparisons. Compare the star power at least at that time, but let’s not compare them in terms of fighting skill right now because Conor McGregor was at a much higher level, much faster.”
