Henry Cejudo admits Paddy Pimblett is best than he initially thought.

Pimblett (22-3 MMA, 6-0 UFC) takes on former title challenger Michael Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) in Saturday’s five-round UFC 314 co-headliner (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at Kaseya Middle in Miami.

Though Pimblett is a slight betting favourite over Chandler, Cejudo would think about it an upset if he’s in a position to beat the previous multiple-time Bellator champion – and he thinks he’ll.

“I’m smelling an upset,” Cejudo mentioned on his “Pound 4 Pound” podcast with Kamaru Usman. “Paddy Pimblett, I believe he’s going to herald the grappling. I believe he would possibly pull guard on this dude. His fingers aren’t unhealthy, both. I additionally assume he can power Michael Chandler to do one thing within the backside. If he can not take Michael Chandler down, he’s extra possible going to have to try this.

“However I simply really feel like Paddy Pimblett, he’s so much higher than what I believed and what he was in a position to do to Bobby Inexperienced, his transitional stuff. We’ve obtained to place some respect on that dude’s title, and he’s solely gotten higher, bro. I simply really feel like with Michael Chandler, I believe the UFC is aware of what they’re doing. They’re doing a 5 rounder. Like, give it some thought. I believe Paddy Pimblett is so much higher than what we expect, and I’m smelling an upset right here.”

Trying on the panorama of the light-weight division, Cejudo sees large implications for Pimblett with a win.

“I do consider that this, a win over Michael Chandler, may put him in a very good place,” Cejudo continued. “He might be one struggle away from preventing for the title.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 314.