Former Manchester City star Micah Richards learned a painful lesson about mixed martial arts when he challenged UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett to demonstrate a chokehold on him during a recent television appearance.
The incident unfolded on the popular British sports panel show A League of Their Own, where Pimblett was invited as a guest. The Liverpool fighter first showed off his rear naked choke technique on comedian Josh Widdicombe.
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Pimblett showed professional restraint as he went towards Widdicombe and reassured him: “I don’t want to put you to sleep.”
Paddy released Widdicombe after a few seconds, but that was enough to make the host uncomfortable. Immediately, Widdicombe responded with an expletive-laden reaction of “f**king hell” as he felt the pressure of the submission hold.
He then went on to say, “That genuinely was so much worse than I thought it was gonna be.”
Rather than taking note of Widdicombe’s distress, Richards displayed the overconfidence that made him a fearless defender during his playing days. He boldly challenged the UFC contender, saying “I can take that. That’s not that bad.”
His co-host Josh Widdicombe warned: “Honestly mate, don’t try it.”
However, Richards was adamant. He told Paddy, “Come on, let’s have it.”
What happened next became an instant viral moment. As Pimblett applied the chokehold, Richards quickly realized he was in serious trouble.
The studio atmosphere shifted from lighthearted banter to genuine concern as the former footballer struggled in the fighter’s grip. After a few seconds, Richards ended up tapping out by banging on the table.
After being released, a visibly shaken Richards needed medical attention. He called out: “Medic! My wind pipes gone,” he complained, clearly regretting his bravado.
Widdicombe then went on to make fun of Richards by saying: “For the record, only one of us tapped out.”
The clip quickly circulated across social media platforms, with fans both amused by Richards’ misplaced confidence and impressed by Pimblett’s controlled application of the technique.
