Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis set for UFC 329
Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint Denis in a lightweight bout at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, per multiple reports.
As MMA Fighting first reported, the bout pairs two aggressive grapplers looking to rebound into title contention during International Fight Week. Saint Denis (17-3, 1 NC) sits at No. 7 in the lightweight rankings after stopping Dan Hooker with a second-round knockout in January. The win pushed his current streak to four straight finishes following a two-fight slump in 2024 that included losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano.
Pimblett returns after first UFC loss
Pimblett (23-4), ranked No. 12, dropped his first UFC bout in January when Justin Gaethje won a unanimous decision in their five-round interim title fight at UFC 324. The Englishman had opened his octagon tenure with seven consecutive wins, including stoppages of Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler. According to MMA Mania, sources confirmed the matchup after Alvaro Colmenero broke the news.
Both fighters are known for high-pressure grappling and offensive scrambles, which could make for a finish-heavy main card bout. Saint Denis holds a 9-3 UFC record with recent wins over Beneil Dariush, Mauricio Ruffy, and Kyle Prepolec. Pimblett has not competed since the Gaethje loss four months ago.
The winner positions himself for a title eliminator against Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, or another top-five lightweight. UFC 329 has no announced main event, though Conor McGregor has been rumored for a return on the card.
Original reporting:
Related Fighters & Stats
Get Ringside Updates
Fight announcements, results, and analysis delivered to your inbox. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.