Paddy Pimblett promises Benoit Saint Denis annihilation at UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett has promised to obliterate Benoit Saint Denis when they meet at UFC 329 this weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The Liverpool lightweight, coming off a decision loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year, told Paramount+ that Saint Denis presents a significantly lesser challenge than his previous opponent. Pimblett pointed to his perfect record against southpaw fighters and his history of finishing French competition inside two rounds as evidence he will handle the No. 5-ranked contender.

Pimblett dismisses Saint Denis challenge after Gaethje test

"Justin Gaethje is a completely different animal to him, and that's just a fact," Pimblett said, per MMA Mania. He added that Saint Denis lacks both the cardio and the chin to replicate the pressure Gaethje applied across five rounds. "If he wants to have a scrap like that, I'll knock his rear end out," the Englishman warned.

Pimblett laid out two paths to victory for himself. "He's gonna try and take me down and get choked, or he's gonna try and stand with me and get knocked out," he said. The 29-year-old noted he has never lost to a southpaw stance and dispatched three previous French opponents inside the first two rounds.

With Conor McGregor also fighting on the card, Pimblett expects a massive contingent of English and Irish supporters to pack the arena. His final prediction for Saturday? "They're gonna see a Frenchman get absolutely annihilated by an Englishman. Simple as."

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Pimblett: We’ll see ‘a Frenchman get absolutely annihilated’ at UFC 329 | MMA Mania