Denis Frimpong made a successful return to competition this past Saturday, securing a victory after previously gaining significant attention for a viral gym sparring session involving UFC star Paddy Pimblett.
Earlier this year, footage circulated widely showing Paddy `The Baddy` Pimblett participating in a training fight. This came after an online disagreement between Pimblett and the 6-2 MMA prospect, Denis Frimpong, which they decided to settle with a sparring match.
During the session, the UFC lightweight contender utilized his signature rear-naked choke submission. The situation became contentious when Pimblett seemed hesitant to release the hold, despite Frimpong clearly tapping out, nearly leading to a confrontation.
Frimpong`s Triumphant KO Victory Silences Critics
The highly publicized encounter with Pimblett put Frimpong in the spotlight, although he recently mentioned in an interview that the viral incident generated more negative feedback than positive support.
However, Frimpong delivered a powerful response to his detractors with a dramatic win at OKTAGON 71. He overcame challenges within the fight against his opponent, Arijan Topallaj (who held a 7-1-1 record), ultimately stopping him with strikes in the third and final round. The bout took place at BMW Park in Munich, Germany.
What`s Next for Paddy Pimblett?
For Paddy Pimblett, the viral sparring incident with Frimpong served as a preamble to a major professional challenge. In April, the Liverpool native faced Michael Chandler at UFC 314, securing a dominant third-round stoppage victory.
Pimblett is now openly pursuing a potential title eliminator bout against former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje.
He commented on his prospects, stating, “I know for a fact that if I beat [Justin] Gaethje, I’m next in line.”
He added, “It could be [next for me], yeah. It’s just whether he says yes or not, isn’t it? He’d be fighting down the rankings again.”
Pimblett expressed his preferred timeline and location for the potential matchup: “[I’d like to fight him] in Abu Dhabi in October, that Pay-per-view, that’s when I want to fight, that’s when I’ll be gearing towards, and after what I did to Chandler, I think I’d finish Justin Gaethje.”
Gareth Pendleton