BUZZ Pimblett says Chandler's year-round camps 'didn't help him' against him

Paddy Pimblett has found a new way to needle Michael Chandler: by pointing out that all the discipline in the world did not save him on fight night. The comments came in a sit-down with Jeremy Piven, according to LowKick MMA, which describes the jab as lighthearted.

Pimblett's argument is about lifestyle. He says he is the most disciplined fighter, even though he does what he wants when he is not in camp. LowKick MMA notes that he gains a good amount of weight in the offseason and cuts most of it in the two to three months before a fight. Chandler is his opposite number: "Michael Chandler, who I fought, is in camp like 24/7. He always eats diet meals and he's always in shape but it didn't help him when he fought me."

The record backs the point Pimblett is making, if not the tone. He stopped Chandler by TKO at UFC 314. According to LowKick MMA, Chandler then lost by first-round knockout to Mauricio Ruffy at the White House on June 14, and is now on a four-fight losing streak. Ruffy, a 30-year-old Brazilian with a heavy knockout record, has since been stopped himself, by an elbow from Arman Tsarukyan in round one at UFC 331 on Sep 19.

Chandler, 40, has not changed his public routine. LowKick MMA says he regularly posts cardio and strength videos, though fans have urged him to add sparring. The outlet reports that he still hopes to fight Conor McGregor before retiring.

Pimblett, 31, has his own focus. He is a UFC lightweight, and Bloody Elbow reported on Oct 29 that he received stem cell injections in his left hand, with training limited. He has also said he wants a rematch with Justin Gaethje ahead of a fight with Ilia Topuria, and Gaethje has rejected the idea. Neither Pimblett nor Chandler has a booked fight in the material so far, so the next thing to watch is whether Chandler answers.