Paddy Pimblett was the name on Matt Frevola’s lips after he picked up a career-best win over long-time contender Drew Dober.
In the featured UFC 288 preliminary card bout at Prudential Center in Newark, Frevola dropped and stopped his opponent in the first round.
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At the end of a fun round of stand-up exchanges, the 32-year-old landed a massive right hand that dropped Dober who was never able to fully recover.
Frevola swarmed with a flurry of ground strikes, prompting veteran referee Herb Dean to step in and wave off the fight – but Dober immediately protested the stoppage.
However, when he stood back up and tried to prove he was fit to continue, he did the opposite as he looked seriously unsteady on his legs.
Dober is known for having a granite chin. Despite suffering 12 defeats during his 39-fight career, he’s only ever been knocked out once before and that was all the way back in 2011.
After stretching his recent win record to 3-0 by beating the 14th-ranked lightweight contender, Frevola announced his intention to work his way to the 155lb UFC belt.
First, he wants to have a scrap with ‘The Baddy’.
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“Listen up, Paddy Pimblett, you absolutely suck,” Frevola said during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
“Stop being a b**** and let’s fight! You’re on a four-fight win streak. I’m on a three-fight win streak. If you’re in the UFC, you can’t pick and choose your fights. You’ve got to fight who the fans want to see you fight.
“Let’s go! Who wants to see Paddy Pimblett and ‘The Steamrolla?’
“Who wants it? Let’s go, bro. The time is now!”
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Unfortunately for fight fans, the time isn’t now for Frevola vs Pimblett as the British MMA star is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on his foot.
The 28-year-old injured himself while stretching his perfect UFC record to 4-0 in a controversial decision win over Jared Gordon last December.
Pimblett recently suggested the recovery process may keep him out of action for all of 2023, so Frevola may need to find someone else to fight next.
With a massive win added to his CV and a ranking next to his name, the American KO artist won’t be short of willing opponents in Pimblett’s absence.
