Paddy Pimblett’s teammate axed from UFC after latest defeat
Shem Rock lost on his debut with the promotion last year before dropping another decision against Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady in London last month
Liverpool star Shem Rock has been cut from the UFC following his second successive defeat.
The lightweight – real name Shaqueme Rock – lost on his debut with the promotion last year when he was outpointed Nurullo Aliev before dropping another decision against Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady in London last month. After losing to the Palestinian, Shem Rock aimed a punch at his opponent after Al-Selwady refused to shake his hand.
Shem Rock, who trains with Paddy Pimblett, made light of being axed when he wrote on social media: “Looks like I’ve got to change my username,” referring to him having ‘UFC” in his handle.
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Pimblett, meanwhile, is set to return to the cage this summer after losing his first fight in the UFC when he was outpointed by Justin Gaethje in January. “I’m just starting [my camp],” Pimblett said on The Wayne Rooney Show. “I’m going to be fighting in 12 weeks or something, but I’m just starting my diet now. July 11 it’s going to be. The World Cup is on, but I’ll go out 11 or 12 days before.”
Pimblett also insisted he processed his defeat by Gaethje quicly. “I’ve lost before when I was younger – lost a couple when I was 18 and 22/23,” he added. “After all them fights, I was proper devastated, like sat there crying and that. I didn’t even cry after [the loss to Gaethje]. I just watched it back the next day and was like, yeah, I could have done this different, could have done that differently.
“I’ve matured a lot. I know I could have won that fight if certain things had gone my way, but it’s one of those: it was his night. I always say it’s destiny he was meant to win. I know I’m going to win the belt, that’s in my destiny. It was just that it wasn’t my time. So I just have to keep training, working hard, and it will come.”
