Over the years, Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett has built up a strange cult of wig-wearing followers, all based on his Liverpool ketwig shag. But, what’s going to happen to all of them now that Pimblett has switched his fight night hairstyle to cornrows?
Pimblett had a tough task at UFC 296 this past weekend (Sat., Dec. 16, 2023) in Las Vegas, Nevada: defeat former interim Lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson, a man who once ruled over the 155 pound division with ferocious violence. As a result, “The Baddy” — who has been criticized in the past for a lack of striking defense — came in leaving nothing to chance: rather than leave his ridiculous mane of hair loose, he had it braided into tidy cornrows.
Pimblett went on to defeat Ferguson via lopsided unanimous decision when all was said and done. And while the hair change wasn’t key to his success, Pimblett insisted that it helped.
“Whenever I used to play Fight Night or the UFC game or anything like that, I’d always put cornrows on my character,” Pimblett said at UFC 296’s post-fight press conference (watch it here). “But, the reason I’ve done it was because I’m sick of getting hit with little punches and left hooks and stuff like that and people be like, ‘Oh, he’s rocked! He’s rocked!’ Like, nah, my hair just moved. I’m not rocked at all.
“So, I think it was a little bit of a tactical one as well because also my hair goes in my eyes, lad,” Pimblett continued. “And I’ve got to lift my chin up and I think I’ve done a little bit of a better job keeping my chin down tonight with the cornrows. So … I know I may look like White Boy Rick, but they’re sound.”
Was this a one time thing? Will the Scouser’s classic look return? Or, is it corn rows forever for Pimblett?
“Yeah, it’s gonna stay now, I’m gonna have to keep it because me hair doesn’t get in me eyes,” he declared. “When it gets in me eyes, it’s frustrating, I’ll be honest.”
With this win over Ferguson, Pimblett remains perfect (5-0) in UFC and 21-3 over his mixed martial arts (MMA) career. “El Cucuy” is the best scalp Pimblett has claimed yet. Will he face someone in the Lightweight Top 15 next? “The Baddy” refused to call out any names, and it will be interesting to see what UFC matchmakers have in mind for its budding British star.
For complete UFC 296: “Edwards vs. Covington” results and play-by-play, click HERE.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
