The UFC has officially announced a lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis for UFC 329 on July 11. This represents a significant step up in competition for the popular British fighter Pimblett against the French contender Saint Denis. According to reporter Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also planning to book Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for the same UFC 329 card, plus Islam Makhachev versus Ian Garry for UFC 330. Additionally, former UFC heavyweight title challenger Alexander Volkov's coach Gor Azizyan stated he would like a rematch with Volkov, claiming Alexander only ran during their previous fight and that Pavlovich just needs to change tactics for victory.
The UFC has officially announced a lightweight showdown between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis, set for UFC 329 on July 11.
Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," enters the fight ranked sixth in the lightweight division with a record of 23-4-0. The 31-year-old from England trains out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool and stands five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. An orthodox striker, he lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underscoring the finishing ability that has made him one of the sport's most popular figures.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," holds a record of 17-3-0 and sits ninth in the lightweight rankings. The 30-year-old Frenchman is a southpaw standing five-foot-eleven with a matching 73-inch reach. He edges Pimblett in striking accuracy at 58 percent and lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute, but his most dangerous weapon may be his grappling — he averages an impressive 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes along with 1.8 submission attempts per 15 minute, making him a multi-dimensional threat.
Why it matters
- Pimblett is ranked sixth and Saint Denis ninth, meaning a win for either fighter significantly strengthens a top-five case in a stacked lightweight division.
- The contrasting styles — Pimblett's submission hunting against Saint Denis's elite takedown volume — set up a compelling grappling chess match.
- Reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated UFC 329 could also feature Max Holloway against Conor McGregor, raising the card's profile considerably and giving this lightweight bout a high-stakes stage.
Separately, the coach of former heavyweight title challenger Alexander Volkov, Gor Azizyan, has publicly stated his desire for a rematch with Sergei Pavlovich, arguing that Volkov was overly passive in their previous meeting and that adjusted tactics could yield a different result.
