The UFC has officially announced that Paddy Pimblett will face Benoit Saint Denis on July 11 at UFC 329. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also planning 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 addressed recent UFC offers, stating he will remain loyal to ONE Championship until boss Chatri Sityodtong tells him he's no longer needed. Alex Pereira and Max Holloway will appear on the cover of UFC 6 video game, with Pereira on the standard edition and Holloway on the deluxe version.
The UFC has made it official: Paddy Pimblett will take on Benoit Saint Denis at 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 brings a well-rounded offensive game to the cage. He lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a threat in all phases of a fight. His 73-inch reach — 185 cm — gives him a notable physical edge in most matchups.
The card carries additional intrigue beyond the confirmed booking. Reporter Ariel Helwani has noted that the UFC is working to finalize Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for the same event. Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings, holds a 27-9-0 record. The 34-year-old Hawaiian is one of the sport's most prolific strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute. Meanwhile, Islam Makhachev — the reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record — is being targeted to defend against Ian Garry at UFC 330. The 34-year-old Russian is a dominant grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a 58 percent accuracy rate.
Off the competitive calendar, Pereira and Holloway have been named as cover athletes for the upcoming UFC 6 video game, with Pereira featured on the standard edition and Holloway on the deluxe version.
Why it matters
- Pimblett at sixth in the lightweight rankings needs a strong performance to push into title contention
- A potential Holloway-McGregor booking on the same card would raise UFC 329's profile significantly
- Makhachev versus Garry at UFC 330 would put the welterweight title on the line against a ranked contender
