Paddy Pimblett will face Renato Moicano on July 11 at UFC 329, according to Ariel Helwani. Additionally, Helwani reported that 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. Guram Azizyan, trainer of Sergei Pavlovich, stated he would like a rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov merely ran during their previous fight and that Pavlovich only needs to change tactics to win. In other news, Sean O'Malley was teaching Nina how to ride a motorcycle, though reportedly not effectively. Anatoly Malykhin explained why he's rejecting UFC offers despite receiving them, citing loyalty to his current promotion and boss who supported him when no one else would.
Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano have been officially booked to meet on July 11 at UFC 329, per a report from Ariel Helwani.
Beyond the confirmed matchup, Helwani also reported that the UFC is planning to book Max Holloway against Conor McGregor at UFC 329, and to schedule a lightweight title defense for Islam Makhachev against Ian Garry at UFC 330. Neither of those bouts has been formally announced.
Holloway, 34, enters any potential matchup carrying a 27-9 record and currently sits fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Hawaiian lands an exceptional 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, making him one of the sport's most relentless volume strikers.
Makhachev, also 34, is the reigning welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, holding a 28-1 record while fighting out of Russia under the Eagles MMA banner. The southpaw grappler averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 58 percent of his significant strikes, combining elite wrestling with precise output.
In heavyweight news, trainer Guram Azizyan expressed a desire for his fighter Sergei Pavlovich to get a rematch with Alexander Volkov, alleging that Volkov simply moved away throughout their previous contest and that a tactical adjustment would be enough to flip the result. Volkov, ranked first in the heavyweight division at 37 years old, carries a 40-11 record and stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, averaging 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Pimblett vs. Moicano is the only confirmed bout from this cluster of news, giving UFC 329 a notable lightweight attraction.
- A potential Holloway-McGregor booking and a Makhachev-Garry title fight would make UFC 329 and UFC 330 two of the biggest cards on the calendar, though neither is official.
- Azizyan's public call for a Pavlovich-Volkov rematch adds pressure to the heavyweight rankings picture around the division's top-ranked contender.
