Paddy Pimblett downplays Islam Makhachev’s win over Dustin Poirier

Paddy Pimblett has given his reasoning for why UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev should not be considered for Submission of the Year.

Makhachev secured his third title defense by defeating Dustin Poirier with a fifth-round D’Arce choke at UFC 302 in June. Pimblett also achieved a win by submission when he became the first fighter to submit King Green at UFC 304 in July.

Considering Poirier’s history of being submitted multiple times in his career, Pimblett does not view Makhachev’s submission as particularly remarkable.

“Obviously Islam’s sub was good, but it’s just a D’Arce choke,” Pimblett said on his YouTube channel. “I transitioned from a guillotine to a triangle to an armbar, all while standing. I still believe Khamzat’s submission on Robert Whittaker was superior. Poirier has been submitted before, but no one had submitted Bobby Green in over a decade.”

For Pimblett, Khamzat Chimaev’s first-round face crank on Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 stands as the top submission of 2024.

Following his submission victory over Green in July, Pimblett made his debut in the UFC lightweight rankings and hinted at his next fight using Michael Chandler’s famous “see you at the top” quote.