The UFC has officially announced that Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint-Denis on July 11 at UFC 329. According to reporter Ariel Helwani, the promotion is also working on booking Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for UFC 329, and Islam Makhachev versus Ian 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. Trainer Gor Azizyan suggested he would like to see Sergei Pavlovich rematch Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran during their first fight.
The UFC has made Paddy Pimblett versus Benoit Saint-Denis official, with the lightweight matchup confirmed for UFC 329 on July 11.
Beyond that booking, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the promotion is working to finalize Max Holloway against Conor McGregor for the same card. Holloway, 34, enters any potential fight carrying a 27-9 record and currently sits fourth in the lightweight rankings and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Hawaiian, who trains out of Gracie Technics, is one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy — numbers that would make any lightweight matchup compelling.
Also in the pipeline, according to Helwani, is a welterweight title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and Ian Garry, targeted for UFC 330. Makhachev holds a 28-1 record and is rated the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. The Russian southpaw, fighting out of Eagles MMA, combines elite grappling with sharp striking, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and converting submission attempts at a rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes, while landing strikes at 58 percent accuracy.
On the periphery of the news cycle, trainer Gor Azizyan publicly stated he wants Sergei Pavlovich to rematch Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov avoided engagement during their previous meeting. Volkov, nicknamed "Drago," is the number-one ranked heavyweight at 37 years old, carrying a 40-11 record. The six-foot-seven Russian holds an 80-inch reach and has averaged 4.78 significant strikes landed per minute throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis is a high-profile lightweight clash with top-ten implications for both fighters
- A potential Holloway-McGregor fight at UFC 329 would be among the most commercially significant bouts in recent memory
- Makhachev vs. Garry would put the welterweight title on the line against one of the division's rising names
- A Pavlovich-Volkov rematch could determine the next heavyweight title contender
