Paddy Pimblett defeats Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision as the British star earns the biggest win of his UFC career over lightweight icon in Vegas

British UFC star Paddy Pimblett scored his biggest win of his career with a unanimous decision win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 296.

Pimblett showed off his wrestling skill for 15 minutes, scoring 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards.

The fight started with both men trading combinations on their feet. Pimblett closed out the first round by scoring a knockdown and swarming Ferguson, who survived the flurry.

In the second, Pimblett took advantage of an early slip by Ferguson and controlled from above for most of the lap.

Pimblett was visibly exhausted in the third, but again controlled the round on top of Ferguson. Pimblett pinned Ferguson at the final buzzer to secure the decision.

Pimblett controlled Ferguson on the ground for most of the fight to secure three 30-27 cards

“But an absolute legend,” Pimblett said of Ferguson. “Legend, it’s a great honor to share the cage with him.

“You can’t deny me then, I won every round quite easily.”

Before Saturday, Pimblett won six straight bouts, including his first four fights in the UFC. Pimblett finished five of those fights, scoring two knockouts and three submissions.

Pimblett now has an MMA record of 21-3 with six knockouts. However, fans continue to question his latest victory over Jared Gordon. The criticism seemed to spur Pimblett to perform well against Ferguson.

“I feel better,” Pimblett said. “I’m still a little disappointed that I didn’t finish, but I’m happy with myself.”

Ferguson has now lost his last seven fights after an incredible 12-fight winning streak that stretched from 2013 to 2019. Ferguson was finished in his last three bouts before falling to Pimblett on Saturday.

Pimblett is tied with Benoit Saint Denis for the second-longest active win streak in the UFC lightweight division. Pimblett and Saint Denis, five each, follow lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s 12-fight winning streak.