Paddy Pimblett will face Renato Moicano Saint-Denis on July 11 at UFC 329, as officially confirmed. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is planning additional matchups including Holloway vs. McGregor at UFC 329 and Makhachev vs. Garry at UFC 330. Gor Azizyan, trainer of Pavlovich, stated he wants a rematch with Volkov, claiming Alexander only ran during their fight and that Pavlovich just needs to change tactics. Anatoly Malykhin explained why he won't move to UFC despite offers, citing loyalty to his current promotion and boss. Alex Pereira and Max Holloway will appear on the UFC 6 game covers.
Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano Saint-Denis have been officially booked to meet on July 11 at UFC 329, confirming a lightweight clash that has been in the works for some time.
Pimblett needs no introduction to UFC fans, though verified fighter data for him was not included in the matchup dossier. Saint-Denis likewise awaits confirmed statistical context, but the pairing promises fireworks given both men's aggressive, finish-seeking styles in the lightweight division.
Beyond the confirmed main card addition, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is targeting further high-profile bouts for the same card and the one that follows. Among those reported plans are Max Holloway facing Conor McGregor at UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev defending against Sean Garry at UFC 330. Neither of those contests has been officially announced.
Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion, carries a 28-1-0 record and is ranked first pound-for-pound in the world at 34 years old. The Russian southpaw boasts a striking accuracy of 58 percent and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters on the roster.
Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound, enters any potential bout at 27-9-0. The 34-year-old from Hawaii is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, averaging 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis gives UFC 329 a confirmed marquee lightweight fight ahead of potentially bigger announcements
- Makhachev vs. Garry and Holloway vs. McGregor, if confirmed, would make UFC 329 and 330 among the most anticipated back-to-back events in recent memory
- Both reported bouts carry title or elite-level stakes that could reshape the lightweight and welterweight divisional landscapes
