You'd have excused Paddy Pimblett for fighting conservatively after suffering his first defeat in four years last April.
After going undefeated in nine bouts, Liverpool's Pimblett dropped a unanimous decision to Nad Narimani at Cage Warriors 82 last year and he wouldn't have been blamed for competing with an air of caution in his return to action on Saturday night.
But 'The Baddy' doesn't do caution.
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Pimblett dived back into the win column with an astonishing submission victory over Alexis Savvidis at Cage Warriors 90 in Liverpool's Echo Arena to remind everybody that he remains one of the most talented young prospects in Europe.
The 23-year-old was making his lightweight debut, having lost his 145lbs title last year, and the jump-up in weight didn't look to have any impact on Pimblett's ability to dictate a contest on the mat.
While he found himself in trouble on the feet against Savvidis and was even in danger of tapping out to an armbar at the end of the first round, Pimblett fully believed that he possessed a decided grappling advantage and wasn't afraid to get creative in his pursuit of the finish.
With just 20 seconds gone in round two, Pimblett felt so confident in his skills that he took to the air and set up a triangle in mid-flight, before cinching it up perfectly once his back hit the mat.
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After securing the seventh submission of his young career by adding some focus on Savvidis' arm, Pimblett set his sights on the Cage Warriors 155lbs title which is currently held by close friend Chris Fishgold.
But Pimblett isn't suggesting an all-Merseyside battle for lightweight gold as he believes it's only a matter of time before Fishgold outgrows the Cage Warriors lightweight division.
Pimblett said: "I want this lightweight belt. Fishy has got it but he is going on to bigger and better things. Jacobson. Sweden. I’ll come to your backyard. Let’s do it."
