The UFC has officially announced a lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis for UFC 329 on July 11. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also working on booking Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry for UFC 330. The post also mentions that Gor Azizyan, trainer of Pavlovich, stated he wants a rematch with Volkov, claiming Alexander only ran during their fight and that Pavlovich needs a tactical adjustment to win. Additionally, Anatoly Malykhin explained why he won't move to the UFC despite receiving offers, citing loyalty to ONE Championship's leadership.
The UFC has officially confirmed a lightweight matchup between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis for UFC 329, scheduled for July 11.
Pimblett, the charismatic Liverpool native, has built one of the sport's most dedicated followings since arriving in the UFC. The lightweight contender brings a submission-heavy ground game and a natural ability to generate fan engagement, making him one of the promotion's most marketable names in the 155-pound division.
Saint-Denis, the French finisher nicknamed "DeSancho," has pushed himself into lightweight contention through a series of aggressive, high-pressure performances. His combination of wrestling and striking power has drawn comparisons to some of the division's elite, and a win over Pimblett would substantially raise his profile on the global stage.
Why it matters
- A victory for either fighter could push them firmly into the top ten of a loaded lightweight division.
- The style matchup pits Pimblett's submission threats against Saint-Denis's physicality and forward pressure.
- The fight anchors an event that, per Ariel Helwani, could also feature Max Holloway against Conor McGregor on the same card.
Beyond UFC 329, the landscape around the event is busy. Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound at 34 years old, is reportedly being targeted for a blockbuster bout with McGregor on the same night. Separately, pound-for-pound number-one Islam Makhachev, the 34-year-old Russian champion now competing at welterweight with a 28-1 record and an elite 58 percent striking accuracy to go alongside 3.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes, is being lined up to face Ian Garry at UFC 330.
Also drawing attention this week, the trainer of Sergei Pavlovich stated publicly that heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov, who stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and carries a 40-11 record, simply ran throughout their previous meeting, and that Pavlovich requires only a tactical adjustment to earn a different result in a rematch.
