Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis will fight 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. Gadzhi Azizyan, trainer for fighters including Sergei Pavlovich, stated he would like a rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming that Volkov only ran during their previous fight and that Pavlovich simply needs to change tactics to win. Anatoly Malykhin explained why he won't move to the UFC despite receiving offers, citing loyalty to his current organization's leadership for supporting him when no one else would. Alex Pereira and Max Holloway will appear on the covers of UFC 6 video game, with Pereira on the base version and Holloway on the deluxe edition.
Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis have been officially booked to face each other at UFC 329 on July 11, giving lightweight fans one of the most anticipated matchups in the division.
Pimblett, the Liverpool-born fan favorite, has built a devoted following since joining the UFC, and a high-profile bout of this nature represents a significant step up in competition. Saint-Denis, the French knockout artist known as "God of War," has made a rapid rise through the lightweight ranks and brings an aggressive, pressure-heavy style that should produce fireworks against Pimblett's submission-oriented game.
Beyond the confirmed main card addition, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is working toward further blockbuster bookings for the same event. Max Holloway, currently ranked fourth in lightweight at 34 years old with a 27-9 record, is reportedly being targeted to face Conor McGregor at UFC 329. Holloway lands an exceptional 7.2 significant strikes per minute and connects at 48 percent accuracy, making him one of the most prolific volume strikers in the sport.
Welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, who holds a 28-1 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings at 34 years old, is separately being lined up to defend his title against Ian Garry at UFC 330. The Russian champion converts takedowns at 3.2 per 15 minutes and lands at a sharp 58 percent striking accuracy, combining elite grappling with increasingly refined standup.
Why it matters
- Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis is now locked in, raising the stakes for both men in a crowded lightweight division
- A potential Holloway vs. McGregor booking would be among the biggest pay-per-view draws in UFC history
- Makhachev vs. Garry would put the welterweight title on the line against one of the division's fastest-rising contenders
- UFC 329 is shaping up as one of the most loaded cards in recent memory if the additional bouts are finalized
