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Footage shows teenage Paddy Pimblett ‘nearly behead’ opponent with fight-ending elbow after surviving heavy knockdown
Paddy Pimblett ‘nearly beheaded’ an opponent during his days as a teenage MMA prospect slicing his way through the regional scene.
In November 2014, ‘The Baddy’ made his featherweight debut against 2-2 fighter Stephen Martin in Newcastle at Cage Warriors 73.
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It almost ended in disaster as the 19-year-old, who had suffered a shocking submission loss to Cameron Else a year prior, was dropped just 15 seconds into the bout.
Martin landed a heavy one-two combination that sent Pimblett crashing to the canvas and had Cage Warriors commentator Brad Wharton screaming, “This could be over!”
The 6-1 prospect ate a flurry of ground strikes before scrambling for position and finding himself in a wrestling match with Martin for most of the first frame.
Just before the horn sounded, Martin jumped off the floor and ate a massive elbow from Pimblett who went back to his corner screaming after opening up a massive gash on his opponent’s face.
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Martin was covered in blood and looking a bit concerned as veteran referee Marc Goddard ordered the cageside doctor to come and assess the damage.
The fight was ultimately waved off as Martin was in no fit state to continue.
As he often does, Pimblett celebrated his comeback win by dancing.
Following the bout, MMA news site summed up the fight with a headline that read: "Cage Warrior Paddy Pimblett nearly beheads opponent with a cutting elbow."
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Martin eventually retired from the sport with a 6-4 record in 2018.
Meanwhile, Pimblett’s career has gone from strength to strength in recent years and he’s become one of the biggest UK stars on the UFC’s stacked roster of fighters.
The popular Liverpudlian went on to win the Cage Warriors featherweight title, fight for the lightweight belt and amass an 18-3 record before getting called up to MMA’s premier league in 2021.
Since then, he’s picked up four consecutive wins inside the Octagon.
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Pimblett KO'd Luigi Vendramini in his promotional debut before tapping out Kazula Vargas when the UFC returned to London for the first time in three years in May 2022.
Another submission win over Jordan Leavitt followed, but fans started to turn on the Englishman when he took issue with popular MMA journalist Ariel Helwani ahead of his fight with Jared Gordon at UFC 282 last December.
Pimblett walked away from his last outing with a unanimous decision victory - but Joe Rogan, Nate Diaz and countless MMA fans thought he lost the fight.
One year later, he is all healed up from the foot injury he suffered during the bout and preparing to face his toughest test to date at UFC 296.
Former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson will look to snap his six-fight losing run when he takes on Pimblett at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The 155lb duo’s verbal sparring session at a press conference on Thursday only adds to a crossroads clash that is eagerly anticipated by fighters and fans alike.
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