Some memories refuse to fade. For Jared Gordon, one night in December 2022 still echoes with the sound of injustice. UFC 282 saw Paddy Pimblett walk away with his hand raised after a decision that left fans and fighters scratching their heads. Now, nearly three years later, Gordon’s voice hasn’t wavered.
According to a recent post on X by ‘Verdict MMA’, it was revealed that, “Jared Gordon says he mentally feels like he’s on a 6-fight winning streak. He still feels like he defeated Paddy Pimblett 3 years ago.” And after what he did at UFC Vegas 106? It’s hard to argue against him. Gordon stormed back into the win column with a statement-making performance against Thiago Moises.
The judges? Not needed at all, as Gordon perfectly timed an overhand right that sent Moises crashing to the canvas. A barrage of ground strikes followed that sealed the deal. The win marked his second first-round finish in three fights, signaling a late-career surge as he bounced back from a split-decision loss to Nasrat Haqparast.
Yet despite the highlight-reel knockouts, it’s his split with Pimblett that continues to haunt both men. Pimblett, for his part, has not shied away from the controversy. After UFC 282, the Liverpool native released a video on his YouTube channel where he stated, “At my worst, you couldn’t beat me at your best. Injured, everything going wrong. You couldn’t beat me on my worst day, and I beat you on your best.”
Jared Gordon says he mentally feels like he’s on a 6 fight winning streak.
He still feels like he defeated Paddy Pimblett 3 years ago. pic.twitter.com/0xxePCvHTN
— Verdict (@VerdictMMA) May 17, 2025
Fans haven’t forgotten that fateful night in 2022 either. The fight was close, sure. But many believed Gordon’s pressure, control, and cleaner shots did enough to win. Instead, the judges gave the nod to Pimblett, unanimously. It was labeled the “Robbery of the Year” by MMA Junkie, and the scars from that decision are still visible in the MMA community today. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say after Gordon’s UFC Vegas 106 performance!
Fans aim their crosshairs at Paddy Pimblettt as Jared Gordon finds overwhelming support for his controversial loss to ‘The Baddy’
One fan wrote, “We all feel like he beat Paddy Pimblett. Unfortunately, one of these guys is getting co-main events on PPVs and one of them is fighting on the prelims of an Apex card.” This fan pointed to the glaring career gap between Pimblett and Jared Gordon. Despite the public outrage over the decision at UFC 282, it’s Pimblett who got the push and is hovering on the edge of title contention, while Gordon has to grind his way back, knowing one decision may have robbed him of his shot at a surge in stardom.
Another fan chimed in with, “I thought he did too tbh not a great moment for Paddy. I hope Jared works his way up the rankings and fights Paddy again.” A rematch has become more than a wish, it’s justice overdue. Since the questionable loss to Pimblett, Gordon finished Mark Madsen before losing the split decision to Haqparast. The question now is, how many wins will it take till he gets to run it back against ‘The Baddy? What do you think?
“He did. That was the greatest robbery in history of MMA”, for this fan, that bout at UFC 282 wasn’t just close, it was a blatant misfire by the judges. A moment that left fans questioning the very system meant to ensure fairness inside the Octagon.
A more nuanced take offered, “The thing most people don’t like to admit is that Paddy broke his foot in the fight. Don’t get me wrong, Jared definitely won, but if they get back that fight the win is probably going to Paddy.” Injuries can shift the dynamics of a fight. While this fan still gave the edge to Gordon, they acknowledged that Pimblett’s injury may have prevented the kind of performance he’s capable of. A healthy rematch, in their view, could tell a different story. When and if that story gets told, only time will tell.
Another wrote, “Hard to argue against him honestly.” That’s the tone of the room now. With each passing performance, Jared Gordon is slowly shifting the narrative. The echoes of that 2022 decision haven’t faded, but with every highlight-reel finish, Gordon might be writing his own redemption arc
In the end, maybe that’s what this all comes down to: redemption. Jared Gordon isn’t begging for sympathy or dwelling in the past. The gap between him and Pimblett may still be wide in terms of UFC promotion and popularity, but in the cage, Gordon just made a statement that’s hard to ignore. And if the fan reactions are anything to go by, a rematch might be the only way to lay the ghost of the ‘robbery’ to rest, once and for all. Do you think Paddy Pimblett should re-match Jared Gordon? Why or why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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