Paddy Pimblett and King Greene will meet in a featured bout at UFC 304 on Saturday at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. Check out a quick analysis of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Paddy Pimblett vs. King Greene UFC 304 Preview
There's no doubt that England's Pimbret (21-3 MMA, 5-0 UFC) is a huge favorite in Manchester. The former Cage Warriors champion is riding a seven-fight winning streak, including five straight at UFC, and is looking to maintain his star status. After losing his first three UFC bouts against opponents considered “underdogs,” Pimbret has won his last two bouts by unanimous decision over veterans Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson. … Another tough veteran, Green (32-15-1 MMA, 13-10-1 UFC), should also be a formidable opponent. He has won three of his last four bouts, most recently beating Jim Miller in April.
Paddy Pimblett vs. King Green UFC 304 expert picks, predictions
A showdown between Green and Pimblett is set to be a featured lightweight attraction.
I have no intention of riding any kind of wave, whether hype or hate-based, but I can't help but question the limitations of the skill I see in people confidently rooting for Pimbret.
Aside from the undeniable fact that Pimblett has been treated with care as a promotional darling who has been well-liked both inside and outside the Octagon by organisations and judges alike, no one is citing actual advanced skill, much less basic process, when analyzing Pimblett's fights.
This is nothing personal against “Paddy the Buddy” and I really appreciate him using his platform to speak out about issues like mental health, but given his lack of depth as a fighter I don't see why people are bothering.
Not only does Pimbret still have the advantage on offense and defense, but he hasn't shown a reliable process of consistently taking fights into his submission stronghold as he's risen through the ranks.
Green, on the other hand, is a criminally underrated fighter who has had the opposite luck to Pimblett in life and on the scorecards, given that the veteran Green is primarily a counter-striker who goes for the body (a notorious and at this point undeniable blind spot for judges).
That being said, if this were to happen in the mid to late rounds, I think Green (unless he does something stupid and gets replaced early by Club) would end up hurting Pimblett more than he ever has before.
The choice was made to be “King” Green, who won by TKO in the third round.
“If you challenge a king, you had better not fail” – Omar Little
Paddy Pimblett vs. King Green UFC 304 odds
Oddsmakers had the Americans as nearly 2-to-1 favorites to win, but the public has boosted the odds on the bout, with Green at -114 and Pimblett at -106, according to FanDuel.
Paddy Pimblett vs King Green kick-off time and how to watch
The headline bout will see Pimblett and Green take to the cage at approximately 11:15 PM ET and will be streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
For more on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC 304 event hub.
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