Paddy Pimblett has officially arrived as a lightweight title contender.
UFC 314's co-main event on Saturday featured a high-stakes lightweight clash between England's Pimblett and perennial top contender Michael Chandler. Given 25 minutes to work, Pimblett needed less than three full rounds to finish the former three-time Bellator champion with savage ground-and-pound.
Following his most significant and impressive win yet, Pimblett called his shot and targeted a top-five lightweight opponent next. Once backstage, however, it was three-time failed welterweight title challenger Colby Covington who came looking for a fight, interrupting Pimblett's post-fight media rounds and causing a brief stir.