Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis will face off at UFC 329 on July 11, the promotion has officially announced. According to Ariel Helwani, UFC is also working to book Holloway vs. McGregor for UFC 329 and Makhachev vs. Garry for UFC 330. The matchup marks a significant test for both lightweight contenders, with Pimblett looking to continue his rise and Saint Denis aiming to prove himself against a high-profile opponent. Details about the card location and other bouts have not yet been disclosed.
The UFC has officially announced that Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis will collide at UFC 329 on July 11, with the promotion confirming the lightweight matchup between two of the division's rising contenders.
Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," enters the bout ranked sixth in the lightweight division. The 31-year-old from England trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and carries a professional record of 23-4-0. Fighting out of an orthodox stance, the five-foot-ten Liverpudlian generates significant output at 5.49 significant strikes landed per minute with a 52 percent striking accuracy, and he supplements his standup with a consistent submission threat, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," comes in ranked ninth in the division with a record of 17-3-0. The 30-year-old southpaw stands five-foot-eleven and shares the same 73-inch reach as Pimblett. His numbers point to a well-rounded and aggressive game: 5.62 significant strikes landed per minute, a 58 percent striking accuracy, and a notably high 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes, complemented by 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Both fighters sit inside the lightweight top ten, meaning the winner could push significantly closer to title contention.
- The stylistic matchup pits Pimblett's submission-oriented grappling against Saint Denis's high-volume wrestling and finishing ability.
- According to reporter Ariel Helwani, UFC 329 is also being targeted for Holloway vs. McGregor, which would make this one of the more ambitious cards the promotion has assembled in recent memory.
- A card location and full fight card have not yet been disclosed.
