Did Dana White just receive a fight offer from Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano? It seems that way after Pimblett took a swipe at Moicano, sparking a wave of debate among MMA fans. The controversy stemmed from Pimblett’s criticism of Moicano’s reaction to Makhachev’s D’Arce choke, with many fans offering conflicting opinions about whether the Brazilian had given up too easily. Now, the Englishman is openly challenging Moicano on his X account, offering Dana White the perfect matchup.

And guess what? Moicano has accepted. In a recent post on X, Pimblett posted a direct challenge to the Brazilian fighter and taunted him, “I won’t need judges for you—they’ll have the night off if we fight. Just make sure you don’t tap when I choke you.” He then tagged Moicano’s X account with the challenge. Moicano wasted no time responding, promptly replying, “@danawhite just book this fight already.”

Pimblett recently received significant backlash from MMA fans after his remarks following Islam Makhachev’s win over Moicano. Pimblett had criticized the Brazilian for tapping out quickly to Makhachev’s tight D’Arce choke, which many fans felt was an unfair judgment, given the submission’s suffocating nature that left little room for escape.

Championship Rounds shared Pimblett’s post on X, which read, “You fuc–g tapped that quick, Renato? Go asleep lad. Go out on your shield. I f–ing hate that.” It is obvious that Moicano had no choice but to tap out in that situation, as the choke was expertly executed and nearly impossible to escape.

Despite Moicano’s declaration that he would “shock the world” when he accepted the fight on 24 hours’ notice, the 35-year-old was no match for Makhachev, who continued to prove why he’s one of the best in the game. It seems the critiques and suggestions for Dana White are pouring in from all sides, as even Makhachev has joined the conversation, but for a different reason.

Islam Makhachev is now the ‘real’ #1 P4P fighter

After his dominant victory, the UFC’s official page interviewed Makhachev to discuss Dana White’s renewed stance on his choice for #1 pound-for-pound fighter. Celebrating his winning moment, the 155lbs champ subtly took a jibe at White. In the video, Makhachev said, “Now you know Dana now you know. Honestly, I feel very happy because nobody can say something. I feel like the number 1 best fighter in the world.”

This sly remark was a nod to the UFC boss’s earlier reluctance to acknowledge Makhachev as the true pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter, despite the Dagestani’s impressive win streak and dominance in the lightweight division. However, the head honcho eventually relented and admitted his oversight. During the post-fight press conference, White acknowledged Makhachev’s position, saying, “He’s already the pound-for-pound No. 1 ranking. Yeah, I’ll give it to him.”

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This acknowledgment came after Makhachev’s stellar performance, proving once again why he’s considered one of the best in the world, ready to face any opponent at a moment’s notice. In a lighthearted moment of camaraderie, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier also showed his appreciation for Makhachev’s victory. After the fight, Cormier presented Makhachev with pastries from Portos Bakery, saying, “The best for you, look at that, the best for you.”

What do you think of this whole ordeal? Has Dana White finally given Makhachev the recognition he deserves? Let us know your thoughts below!