Dominant Pimblett stops Chandler for biggest UFC win

Paddy Pimblett earned nan biggest triumph of his profession arsenic he stopped Michael Chandler successful nan 3rd information of a ascendant capacity astatine UFC 314 successful Miami, Florida.

The Liverpudlian out-struck and out-grappled America's Chandler successful a connection triumph arsenic nan referee ended nan title pursuing repeated crushed strikes.

UFC commentator Jon Anik welcomed nan 30-year-old to "the elite" arsenic nan triumph extended his unbeaten tally successful nan UFC to 7 bouts.

Pimblett, who will move into nan apical 10 of nan UFC's lightweight ranking, called for a top-five force aft nan bout, which was a imaginable title-eliminating contest.

"Anyone successful nan apical five, I want that world title. All laughter arsenic you want and opportunity I'll ne'er beryllium ranked, I'll ne'er beryllium successful nan apical 10, but what now you pack of mushrooms?" said Pimblett.

"I want Dustin [Poirier], Justin [Gaethje], Charles [Oliveira] aliases Arman [Tsarukyan].

Pimblett, who is 12th successful nan UFC lightweight rankings, had called nan bout pinch Chandler nan biggest of his career, pinch nan American classed 5 places supra him successful seventh.

Chandler, 38, has built up a large instrumentality guidelines successful nan UFC pinch his gung-ho style, while nan fanfare surrounding charismatic Pimblett led to nan bout being described arsenic nan "people's main event".

Fans were connected their feet astatine Kaseya Centre arsenic a smiling Pimblett danced towards nan octagon, while a focused-looking Chandler walked retired purposefully draped successful an American flag.

Chandler's explosiveness was predicted to origin problems for Pimblett but he navigated nan title pinch aplomb, keeping Chandler astatine bay pinch his scope and out-working him connected nan ground.

Pimblett opened pinch a succession of limb kicks earlier Chandler secured nan first takedown of nan fight, but he was incapable to return advantage of nan position.

With Pimblett's power of region causing problems for Chandler, nan action went to nan crushed again successful nan 2nd round, pinch nan Briton threatening submissions arsenic nan crowd roared connected nan action.

Pimblett was successful power of nan conflict and nan defining rustle was moments distant arsenic he opened a immense trim beneath Chandler's near oculus pinch a knee successful nan 3rd round.

With nan American stunned and retreating, Pimblett secured a takedown earlier moving his measurement to full-mount connected nan canvas and ending nan title pinch a flurry of crushed strikes.

Pimblett celebrated arsenic he shouted "what now?" into tv cameras, earlier dancing anterior to his post-fight interview.

"Everything we've worked pinch my squad has conscionable happened here. This is really we win, we gameplan, usage our conflict IQ and we hit group up. Anyone other sewage immoderate questions?" said Pimblett.

"I respect Dustin and Justin but Charles is nan biggest fable of them all. He gets called nan champion submission creator nan UFC has ever seen but I conflict that - I'm here."

The main arena saw Australia's Alexander Volkanovski go a two-time champion arsenic he hit Brazil's Diego Lopes by unanimous decision.

The 36-year-old won a back-and-forth title 48-47 49-46 49-46 connected nan judges' scorecards to regain nan loop he mislaid to Ilia Topuria past February.

The title lucifer was made erstwhile Topuria vacated his title successful February to move up to lightweight.

Volkanovski - wide regarded arsenic 1 of nan top featherweights of each clip - was fighting for nan first clip since that defeat, pinch Lopes earning nan opportunity aft a five-fight triumph streak.

Volkanovski started strongly, rocking Lopes early pinch a left-right operation and ending nan first information successful ascendant manner connected nan ground.

Volkanovski continued to outclass Lopes until being rocked by a consecutive correct astatine nan extremity of nan 2nd round.

But nan Australian recovered quickly, and contempt being stunned again successful nan 4th information and forced connected nan retreat, Volkanovski was nan busier striker crossed each information arsenic he secured victory.

"It's bully to beryllium back, I've ne'er felt nan emotion truthful much. I promised my girls I'd bring nan loop backmost to them," said Volkanovski.

"A batch of group counted maine retired but to travel backmost and hit a feline for illustration Diego Lopes. For everyone watching, adversity is simply a privilege. This infinitesimal is incredible."