The UFC has officially announced a lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis for UFC 329 on July 11. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also planning to book Max Holloway vs Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev vs Ian Garry for UFC 330 in the near future. Additionally, Guram Azizian, the trainer of several Russian fighters including Pavlovich, stated he would like his fighter to rematch Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran during their fight and that Pavlovich simply needs to change tactics to win. The post also mentioned that Anatoly Malykhin explained why he won't move to the UFC despite receiving offers, citing loyalty to his current promotion and boss.
Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis have been officially booked to meet at UFC 329 on July 11, with the UFC formally confirming the lightweight matchup.
Pimblett has become one of the most-watched fighters on the roster since arriving in the UFC, building a strong fanbase behind his aggressive, submission-heavy style. The Liverpudlian competes at lightweight, though his verified divisional ranking data was not included in the database pull for this bout.
Saint Denis, known for his explosive fighting style, is another lightweight contender who has drawn attention for his finishing ability. His verified ranking details were similarly not available in the current data set.
Why it matters
- The official confirmation gives the July 11 card a high-profile lightweight contest between two fan-friendly fighters.
- Reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is also targeting Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for the same UFC 329 card, which would make it an exceptionally stacked event.
- Helwani also reports Islam Makhachev, the welterweight champion carrying a 28-1 record, is being lined up to face Ian Garry at UFC 330, which would represent a significant crossroads bout for Garry.
Separately, Guram Azizian, trainer to several prominent Russian fighters including Sergei Pavlovich, publicly stated he wants Pavlovich to rematch Alexander Volkov. Azizian argued that Volkov, the number-one ranked heavyweight at 40-11 and six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, relied on movement in their first meeting and that a change in tactics from Pavlovich could produce a different result. No rematch has been announced.
