Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint-Denis on July 11 at UFC 329, according to an official announcement. The post also mentions that according to Ariel Helwani, the UFC plans to book Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry for UFC 330 in the near future. Additionally, Anatoly Malykhin's coach Gor Azizyan expressed interest in a rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran during their previous fight and that Malykhin just needs to change tactics. Malykhin himself stated he will not move to the UFC despite receiving offers, citing loyalty to his current promotion's boss who gave him opportunities when no one else would.
The UFC has officially confirmed that Paddy Pimblett will take on Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329 on July 11, setting up a lightweight clash between two of the division's most aggressive finishers.
Pimblett, 31, enters the fight ranked sixth at lightweight with a professional record of 23-4-0. The Liverpool native, who trains out of Next Generation MMA, is known for his high-volume attack, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a constant threat on the ground as well as on the feet.
Saint-Denis, nicknamed "God of War," is ranked ninth in the lightweight division and carries a record of 17-3-0. The 30-year-old southpaw stands five-foot-eleven with a 73-inch reach and brings elite grappling pressure to the matchup, averaging an imposing 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy of 58 percent also edges out his opponent's, making him a well-rounded threat across all phases.
Why it matters
- Both fighters sit inside the lightweight top ten, meaning the winner pushes firmly into title contention
- Saint-Denis's elite takedown volume clashes directly with Pimblett's active submission game, setting up a compelling grappling dynamic
- The bout adds significant weight to the UFC 329 card, which per reports from Ariel Helwani is also being targeted to feature Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor
