The UFC has officially announced a lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano for UFC 329 on July 11. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also working to book Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry for UFC 330. Guram Azizyan, coach to several fighters including Sergei Pavlovich, stated he would like Pavlovich to rematch Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran during their first fight and that a tactical adjustment would secure victory for Pavlovich. Sean O'Malley was teaching Nina Nunes how to ride a motorcycle, with predictable results as a teacher. Anatoly Malykhin explained why he won't move to the UFC despite receiving offers, citing loyalty to his current promotion ONE Championship and its leadership.
The UFC has made official a lightweight matchup between Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano, set for UFC 329 on July 11.
Pimblett, the 30-year-old Liverpudlian fan favorite, has built one of the sport's most recognizable profiles since joining the UFC roster. He competes at lightweight and carries a passionate following into every appearance, making him a consistent draw on major cards.
Moicano is a seasoned Brazilian lightweight whose grappling and submission game have made him a dangerous opponent at 155 pounds. He enters the bout as a credible test for Pimblett's continued climb up the division.
Why it matters
- Both fighters are positioned to push toward the upper tier of the lightweight rankings with a strong performance.
- Pimblett's high-profile status means a win or loss carries significant card-level consequences for his trajectory.
- Moicano's technical ground work creates a genuine stylistic challenge for Pimblett, making for a competitive matchup on paper.
The UFC 329 card is shaping up to be a stacked event. According to reporter Ariel Helwani, the promotion is also working to finalize Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for the same card. Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound at 34 years old, carries a 27-9 record and one of the most prolific striking outputs in the sport at 7.2 significant strikes landed per minute.
Helwani also reports that pound-for-pound number-one ranked champion Islam Makhachev, who holds a 28-1 record and currently competes at welterweight, is being targeted to face Ian Garry at UFC 330. Makhachev lands takedowns at a rate of 3.2 per 15 minutes and connects on 58 percent of his significant strikes, making him the defining force in his division.
