Michael Chandler picks Paddy Pimblett over Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329

Michael Chandler thinks Paddy Pimblett is being underestimated heading into his July 11 lightweight bout against Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329 in Las Vegas.

Chandler told UFC on TNT Sports that he initially lobbied to face St. Denis himself at UFC White House: Freedom 250 on June 14 before the promotion pivoted him to Mauricio Ruffy. The former Bellator champion argued to matchmaker Hunter Campbell that a clash between him and the Frenchman would deliver chaos—both men bring forward pressure, and St. Denis served in the military. "I told Hunter Campbell, 'Name a better fight that you can put on the White House than me vs. BSD,'" Chandler said, per Sherdog. "It would have been a chaotic fight."

Why Chandler backs Pimblett to win at UFC 329

Despite St. Denis entering as a slight favorite, Chandler believes Pimblett has the tools to hand the Frenchman his first loss in five outings. He pointed to the Liverpudlian's mental toughness on display during his interim title loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year. "Paddy is better than everybody thinks he is. He showed it in the Justin Gaethje fight," Chandler said. "Paddy is mentally tough, we saw that in the Gaethje fight. I think Paddy is more skilled, Paddy has more ways to win. I think Paddy gets the win."

Pimblett was undefeated through seven UFC appearances—including a submission win over Chandler—before dropping the Gaethje fight. St. Denis has stopped his last four opponents and sits 9-3 in the promotion. Chandler faces Ruffy this weekend before the Pimblett-St. Denis lightweight clash headlining UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Michael Chandler: Why Paddy Pimblett will beat Benoit St. Denis at UFC 329