UFC London sees the return of Paddy Pimblett in his second fight for promotion. The Liverpool native picks up Kazula Vargas on what will be his fourth fight in the UFC. There are many strong opinions about the fight and most of them have to do with Pimblett’s hair. To be very honest, the fight should put Pimblett on his feet so that he breaks out and becomes a big star in the promotion. The Liverpool native has been compared to Conor McGregor and is expected to have a similar career path if he can win his fights. Vargas will hope to prove everyone wrong and derail the hype train in front of his home country.
Paddy Pimblett was a big star in the Cage Warriors before joining the UFC last year. There was much talk about when the promotion would actually bring him. At the moment, the promotion is slowly building him up. This has been criticized by many including Israel Adesanya. It’s unfair for Kazula Vargas to write so many people to him, but that’s what happens when you are with someone so popular. Pimblett made his UFC debut with a big knockout. He usually does not finish people off strike and usually relies on his smooth submission play for most of his finishes. Vargas will present a complicated test on the feet with its knockout power.
Kazula Vargas flies under the radar towards event and will look to make a big statement. Part of him who flies under the radar has to do with Paddy Pimblett, the other part has to do with the fact that he only fights once a year. He had big knockouts on the regional scene, but had difficulty translating that to the UFC. Vargas comes off a big win over Rong Zhu by decision. There’s a good reason the UFC matched him with Pimblett and they would not expect him to shock the London card. He has some holes in the grappling game and that will be a problem against the English. Vargas will have the power on his side and it will be something to watch.
Here are the UFC opportunities, with our Pimblett-Vargas forecast, powered by FanDuel.
UFC Odds: Pimblett-Vargas Odds
Paddy Pimblett (-590)
Kazula Vargas (+440)
About: 1.5 rounds (-112)
Below: 1.5 rounds (-112)
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As Paddy Pimblett wins the fight at UFC London
Paddy Pimblett is known for his grappling and this is the real fight for him to show it. Kazula Vargas showed some big holes to recover from in his UFC debut in 2019. Pimblett had some issues in his standup and that could be a problem with Vargas’ sneaky power. The way to victory for Pimblett is to get through the fight to the ground and find a smooth submission. He will probably look to shoot a big knockout in front of the London crowd, but that would be a risky move for the Liverpool native. Vargas’ power and Pimblett’s defense problems on his feet could create difficulties if the fight stays on his feet for too long. Pimblett most likely tests Vargas on the feet before finding a smooth submission in the second round.
As Kazula Vargas wins the fight at UFC London
It was suggested but Kazula Vargas should get the knockout. Simple as that. Paddy Pimblett has several holes in his defense on his feet. Vargas has power but he has struggled to keep things going in the UFC. Staying off the ground and keeping the fight on your feet is very important to Vargas. He was fighting in his UFC debut and there’s a good chance it could happen here if he does not stop the takedown. He needs to earn Pimblett’s respect on his feet and watch him take advantage of moments of chaos where his chin goes up and his hands go down. It’s a hard fight but there is a way to victory for Vargas. He most likely wins by knockout in the second round.
Final Pimblett-Vargas Forecast & Pick
Paddy Pimblett is a big favorite for good reason. The Englishman is expected to put on a great show at UFC London and win in an emphatic way. Kazula Vargas will be able to land some big punches and could offer a gruesome moment for the Pimblett. The grip will be an important point in the fight as it is a clear advantage for Pimblett. The first round will be interesting and the second round should be where there is an end for the Liverpool native. Pimblett finds a submission with his superior grappling.
Final Pimblett-Vargas Pick: Paddy Pimblett wins by submission in the second round.
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