Laura Sanko: Paddy Pimblett at ‘the beginning of a series of tests’ he must pass to prove he’s the real deal

Paddy Pimblett has done nothing but win since first arriving in UFC, but that doesn’t mean he’s being lauded as the next big thing in the lightweight division.

Always outspoken with a rabid fan base supporting him, the 29-year-old scouser constantly touts himself as a future UFC champion, but his sample size against the best fighters in the world is simply too small to really know his ceiling right now. Pimblett has a chance to advance his agenda on Saturday when he faces veteran lightweight King Green in a featured bout on the UFC 304 main card.

While Green has never been a UFC title contender, he’s lingered around the top 15 for several years and racked up impressive wins over names like Grant Dawson, Jim Miller, Tony Ferguson, and Al Iaquinta. That’s a level of competition that Pimblett hasn’t faced yet, but he will this weekend.

“This is certainly the beginning of those stretch of fights,” UFC analyst Laura Sanko told MMA Fighting about Pimblett’s proving ground at UFC 304. “Up until this point, Paddy is proving he’s as good as he said he was in Cage Warriors, and to a large degree, he’s made true on those promises.

“The reality is he’s passed every test we’ve put in front of him. Some of them controversially, but the fact is when you go to his Tapology page, there’s nothing but green in the UFC and we have to tip our hat to that. King Green is a different test altogether.”

Pimblett currently sports a 5-0 UFC record, although many argue he should have one loss on his résumé after earning a razor-close decision win over Jared Gordon back in 2022.

Despite claiming that he’s destined to wear gold around his waist, Pimblett hasn’t quite looked like a polished product in the UFC just yet, but he has an opportunity to change that narrative at UFC 304.

“To take out someone like Tony Ferguson, a name, is always impressive, but I think we all understand where Tony is in his career at this point and it’s not like taking out the Tony Ferguson of 2016,” Sanko said of Pimblett’s most recent win. “It’s just not the same thing. King Green, he’s a unique test for anybody, I believe, because of his hand speed.

“He’s one of the fastest guys and most unique looks on the feet that you’re ever going to fight at lightweight. No one fights like him. He occasionally pays for it, but way more often than not, and certainly with great frequency lately, he has been chalking guys with his hand speed, his position, and just the fact that his strikes are coming from places that it’s just really tough to train for.”

Sanko points directly at Green’s awkward and unique style as the biggest reason why Pimblett could potentially struggle at UFC 304. Green’s approach, where he oftentimes comes after his opponents with his hands at his hips before launching combinations, essentially goes against what any top striking coach would tell you to do fundamentally.

Somehow, Green uses it effectively, and because it works, it also makes it that much harder for any opponent to game plan against him.

“We always talk about the guys with the really traditional karate stances, we’ve got to find a guy to really mimic that,” Sanko explained. “Good luck finding a guy who can fight like King Green does in the gym. Because he’s lightning fast, he throws from his hips, he’s got a swag that I think when you see that swag come out in a fight, I can only imagine as the opponent there’s a little part of your brain that goes, ‘Oh shit, he’s found his flow.’

“When he gets flowing, he’s a very dangerous, powerful guy because of how precise and how fast he is.”

Like every other fight he’s had thus far in UFC, Pimblett exudes confidence that he’ll dispatch Green and continue his march up the lightweight rankings.

Maybe that’s true, but Sanko believes this is actually just the first of many obstacles Pimblett must get through before convincing a skeptical world that he’s the real deal.

“Is this a test for Paddy? Huge test for Paddy,” Sanko said. “But I think it’s the beginning of a series of tests that we’re going to need to see him pass. He’ll have a couple of fights like this where it’s fringe top 15, early top 15, and then if he passes those tests, then the ceiling is endless for Paddy.

“These are important moments and important times for him to go out there and make good on a lot of promises that he’s made the fan base.”