Paddy Pimblett Addresses Controversial Choke in Sparring Match

Paddy Pimblett has responded to criticism surrounding his recent sparring session with Denis Frimpong, where he appeared to ignore taps and choke his opponent unconscious. The footage, which surfaced online, sparked debate over sportsmanship and safety. However, Pimblett claims both fighters had a clear agreement before stepping into the gym.

“We both agreed, we don’t stop until someone’s unconscious,” Pimblett explained on his YouTube channel. “Taps don’t count. Quitting to strikes doesn’t count. We just go until someone’s out cold.”

Pimblett revealed that the sparring session was arranged after Frimpong had been calling him out online. The UFC lightweight initially challenged Frimpong to a fight, but scheduling conflicts delayed the meetup. Eventually, Pimblett traveled to Manchester Top Team for the spar, which ended within minutes when he locked in a choke.

“I think he gave me the choke,” Pimblett claimed. “He stuck his neck out because he didn’t want to get flattened out and ground-and-pounded unconscious. I took the choke, and if you get choked out, you wake back up.”

The bad blood between the two stemmed from Frimpong’s previous interactions with Pimblett’s teammates, including reported trash talk about a deceased family member. Pimblett admitted that this fueled his motivation for the fight.

Despite the controversy, both fighters have since moved on. Frimpong even urged fans to “chill out” regarding Pimblett’s actions. “We shook hands, it’s done,” Pimblett concluded. “End of.”

Pimblett continues his rise in UFC, while Frimpong focuses on his next steps in MMA.