Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint Denis on July 11 at UFC 329, according to an official announcement. Additionally, according to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is planning to book Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry for UFC 330 in the near future. In other news, Gadzhi Azizyan, trainer of Pavlovich, stated he would like a rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran during their previous fight and that Pavlovich simply needs to change tactics to win. The post also mentions that Alex Pereira and Max Holloway will appear on the UFC 6 game covers.
Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis have been officially booked to meet on July 11 at UFC 329, with the promotion confirming the lightweight matchup.
Beyond that confirmed bout, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is working toward booking Max Holloway against Conor McGregor at UFC 329, and pound-for-pound number-one Islam Makhachev against Ian Garry at UFC 330, though neither contest has been formally announced.
Holloway, 34, carries a 27-9 record and is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound. The Hawaiian is one of the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. A decorated former featherweight champion, he fights out of Gracie Technics with an orthodox stance and stands five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach.
Makhachev, also 34, holds the welterweight title and enters with a 28-1 record, making him the reigning pound-for-pound king. The Russian southpaw from Eagles MMA brings elite grappling credentials, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, and posts an imposing 58 percent striking accuracy.
In separate news, Gadzhi Azizyan, the trainer of heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich, has called for a rematch with number-one ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov. Azizyan argued that Volkov relied on movement throughout their previous encounter and maintained that a tactical adjustment would be enough for Pavlovich to reverse the result. Volkov, 37, holds a 40-11 record and stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, presenting an enormous physical challenge for any opponent.
Why it matters
- The Pimblett vs Saint Denis booking gives the lightweight division a high-profile clash between two fan-friendly finishers
- A potential Holloway-McGregor fight at UFC 329 would make the card one of the most commercially significant events in recent memory
- Makhachev vs Garry at UFC 330 would pit the pound-for-pound king against a rising welterweight contender with major title implications
