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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Donagh Corby

Paddy Pimblett told he received a "Christmas gift" with controversial points win

Paddy Pimblett's rival Ilia Topuria was one of the most outspoken critics of the Scouse fighter after his controversial win over Jared Gordon.

All three judges scored Pimblett as the 29-28 winner over Gordon in his fourth UFC fight, much to the annoyance of many fans watching, as well as experts in the sport. The pair fought three close rounds, with the Brit being taken the distance for the first time in his octagon career.

And after himself winning a second round submission over Bryce Mitchell, Topuria took to the media room at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to give his thoughts on the result. He told reporters there that he felt Gordon had won all three rounds, and that Pimblett had been handed a "Christmas gift" by the judges.

"He clearly lost the fight," Topuria said. "I don't think that anyone in this room would disagree with me, Jared won all three rounds, he didn't win any rounds. But anyway, right now I'm going to celebrate my win, he's not on my way right now, god bless anyone who is not on my way.

"If he crosses my way, then we're going to put his head like Bryce's head tonight."

He wasn't the only person to have this take, with the phrase "robbery" trending on social media after the fight and a host of other fighters weighing in. Gordon himself tweeted: "I was robbed everyone knows it... I can cry about it but I been back from worst and gods plan is the best plan so I know there’s something big to come from it."

Paddy Pimblett took a controversial points decision over Jared Gordon (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Who do you believe won last night's fight? Paddy Pimblett or Jared Gordon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Pimblett defended the decision, insisting that he felt not only that he had won the fight, but it wasn't a particularly close call. "I know I won that fight," Pimblett said after the fact. "I deal in facts and I won an unanimous decision, it wasn't even like it was a split decision.

"Look at his face and then look at mine, fights get scored on damage now and I landed a lot more damage. After looking at the stats after the fight, I think I won all three rounds. He can take a punch, I hit him with some big shots and he kept coming forward.

"Hats off to Jared, he's a phenomenal fighter and phenomenal. I'm pretty happy because I've just done my first ever three five minute rounds in the UFC against a tough opponent who has good cardio."

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