Luke Rockhold, the former UFC middleweight champion, has openly criticized the promotion, asserting that they are deliberately manufacturing a path for rising star Paddy Pimblett to quickly contend for the lightweight title.
Rockhold suggested that the UFC is engineering advantageous circumstances for the British fighter to ensure his ascent.
“It seems to me they are going to extraordinary lengths to secure a title shot for `Little Paddy.` I am annoyed by fighters who genuinely believe an interim title holds significant meaning…” Rockhold stated.
“They are simply providing Paddy with the most advantageous matchups possible solely to elevate him to champion status.”
Rockhold’s comments underscore a frequent critique leveled against the promotion: that the UFC sometimes prioritizes marketing potential over competitive rankings, especially for highly popular, new fighters like Pimblett.
