LAS VEGAS – As a UFC commentator for the past 13 years, Jon Anik’s been around long enough to know a good trash talker when he sees one. And as far as the current state of the sport is concerned, there might be nobody better than Paddy Pimblett.
At least to Anik.
“Paddy Pimblett’s a master orator,” Anik told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on the red carpet before 2025 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony. “Not unlike Conor McGregor, nothing that Paddy says is scripted. I think that’s a big part of it for me, right? I love Chael Sonnen. He’s one of the best orators I’ve ever been around, but some of his material was scripted. Ilia Topuria, Paddy Pimblett, they just shoot straight from the hip.”
With his bombastic personality and his nightclub-like walkout, Pimblett, 30, immediately made a strong impression on the UFC fan base when he made his debut in 2021. The comparisons to McGregor were immediate given their gift of gab and road to the big show, with both men serving as Cage Warriors champions in the U.K. prior to their UFC arrivals.
Pimblett has parlayed his big personality into stardom, which should come as no surprise.
“Right now if you’re asking me, the best trash talker in mixed martial arts today is Paddy Pimblett,” Anik said. “And I think the scouser accent is part of the equation.”
While he certainly has displayed the gift of gab, Pimblett’s in-cage resume is catching up. Pimblett is 7-0 in the UFC and is coming off the biggest win of his career after he finished former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in April at UFC 314.
