Paddy Pimblett will face Renato Moicano (referred to as Saint-Denis) on July 11 at UFC 329. According to Ariel Helwani, UFC is planning to book Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry for UFC 330. Guram Azizyan, coach to several fighters including Sergei Pavlovich, expressed desire for a rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran during their previous fight and that Pavlovich needs only a tactical change to win. Anatoly Malykhin explained he won't move to UFC despite offers, citing loyalty to his current promotion's boss who supported him when others didn't. UFC 6 game covers will feature Alex Pereira on the base version and Max Holloway on the deluxe edition.
Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano have been officially booked to meet on July 11 at UFC 329, adding a high-profile lightweight contest to what is shaping up to be a stacked card.
Beyond that confirmed pairing, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is planning to book Max Holloway against Conor McGregor for the same event. Holloway, 34, holds a 27-9-0 record and is ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound standings. The Hawaiian fighter competes out of Gracie Technics and is one of the sport's most prolific volume strikers, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Helwani also reports that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev is being targeted for UFC 330 against welterweight contender Ian Garry. Makhachev, also 34, carries a 28-1-0 record and holds the top spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. Fighting out of Eagles MMA as a southpaw, the Russian champion averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands significant strikes at a sharp 58 percent accuracy rate.
Why it matters
- A Holloway-McGregor booking at UFC 329 would add enormous pay-per-view weight to an already loaded card.
- Makhachev's potential UFC 330 title defense against Garry would mark a division crossover matchup with major rankings consequences at lightweight.
- Separately, the heavyweight picture could shift as coach Guram Azizyan publicly called for a rematch between Sergei Pavlovich and the number-one ranked heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who holds a 40-11-0 record and a rare 80-inch reach at six-foot-seven.
- Anatoly Malykhin confirmed he will remain outside the UFC despite reported offers, citing loyalty to his current promotion.
