Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 on July 11, the UFC has officially announced. According to Ariel Helwani, the promotion is also working on booking Holloway vs McGregor for UFC 329 and Makhachev vs Garry for UFC 330. Additionally, UFC 6 video game cover athletes have been revealed, with Alex Pereira on the standard edition and Max Holloway on the deluxe edition. These announcements come as the UFC continues to build its summer schedule.
The UFC has officially announced that Paddy Pimblett will take on Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 on July 11, giving the lightweight division one of its most anticipated matchups of the summer.
Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," enters the fight ranked sixth in the lightweight division with a record of 23-4-0. The 31-year-old from England trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and brings an aggressive, well-rounded attack to the octagon. He lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a threat in all phases of the fight.
UFC 329 is shaping up to be a stacked card beyond Pimblett versus Saint-Denis. According to reporter Ariel Helwani, the promotion is also working to book Max Holloway against Conor McGregor for the same event. Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings, carries a 27-9-0 record and is one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, averaging 7.2 significant strikes per minute. The 34-year-old Hawaiian trains out of Gracie Technics and fights out of an orthodox stance with a 69-inch reach.
Helwani also reported that Islam Makhachev is being targeted to face Ian Garry at UFC 330. Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, holds a 28-1-0 record. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw is among the most complete fighters on the roster, posting a remarkable 58 percent striking accuracy and averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.1 submission attempts in that same span.
Why it matters
- Pimblett versus Saint-Denis carries significant lightweight ranking implications, with "The Baddy" looking to crack the top five
- A potential Holloway-McGregor booking at UFC 329 would add enormous commercial weight to an already high-profile card
- Makhachev versus Garry at UFC 330 would pit the sport's top pound-for-pound fighter against a rising welterweight contender
