Daniel Cormier believes Paddy Pimblett cannot be compared to Conor McGregor in terms of skillset

Paddy Pimblett has the potential to ascend to Conor McGregor's level of popularity, according to certain fans in the MMA community. While an analogy can be drawn between the personalities of the European MMA stars, Daniel Cormier strongly believes that the comparisons are futile.

McGregor's meteoric ascent to prominence in MMA can be traced back to the fact that the Irishman proved the accuracy of his bold proclamations with amazing displays in the octagon.

There is a school of thought within the MMA community that believes Paddy Pimblett's performance at UFC 282 was substandard considering that he was handed the opportunity to fight in the co-main event spot on a massive pay-per-view card after just four fights in the promotion.

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According to several fighters and MMA experts, Pimblett lost the fight to Gordon.

Considering all that, Daniel Cormier provided his take on why he believes that in terms of skill set, Pimblett cannot be compared to Conor McGregor. Speaking on a recent episode of the DC & RC show on ESPN MMA, Cormier stated:

"You know what's crazy? When they compare him [Pimblett] to McGregor.... In McGregor's fourth fight, he beat Dustin Poirier [at UFC 178 via TKO]... and then he beat Max Holloway. We can't really compare their accomplishments, especially in the first four fights."

Speaking on what it will take for Pimblett to emulate the success of 'The Notorious' inside the octagon, Cormier added:

"Nobody really takes the McGregor path. It takes a long time. Right now, I think we need to chill on those comaprisons. Compare the star power atleast at that time but let's not compare them in terms of fighting skills right now because Conor McGregor was at a much higher level, much faster."

Catch Cormier's comments (18:30) below:

What did Paddy Pimblett say about fighting Conor McGregor in the future?

While opinions on Liverpool native Paddy Pimblett diverge, it's safe to say that whenever he competes, the Scouser draws attention. Conor McGregor possesses a similar charisma, and the MMA world has taken notice.

McGregor remains the most popular fighter in the UFC, but Pimblett has quickly become one of the rising prospects in the game with superstar potential. As far as the fight between the two is concerned, 'The Baddy' has no doubts that it will be the highest-grossing bout in UFC history.

Speaking to ESPN MMA ahead of his fight against Jared Gordon at UFC 282, Pimblett stated:

"It would be the biggest pay-per-view that the UFC has ever seen, like put it that way, goes without saying. Yeah, get that paper, you know that [speaking about a potential fight with McGregor]. No brainer, you know what I mean? Anybody that says no to fight Conor is an idiot, simple as that."

Watch the full interview below:

About the author

Abhishek Ramadasan Nambiar is a journalist who covers MMA at Sportskeeda. As a long-time practitioner of various martial arts, seeing the fusion of different forms into a quest for the ultimate fighter felt both primal and profoundly technical. At Sportskeeda, Abhishek's primary goal is to offer a fresh and distinctive angle through his writing, aiming to provide readers with more than just the basics of MMA. Along with keeping them informed about the latest developments in the sport, he strives to offer valuable insights that enhance their understanding of MMA.

When not writing about MMA, Abhishek often spends time reviewing music or devouring Brian Evanson's and Blake Crouch's work. Sign up to receive news, regular updates, and exclusive coverage.

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Edited by Dave