The UFC has officially announced that Paddy Pimblett will face Renato Moicano 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. Anatoly Malykhin explained why he won't move to the UFC despite receiving offers, citing loyalty to ONE Championship's CEO who supported him when no one else did. Malykhin stated he would only consider other promotions if his current boss tells him he is no longer needed. The post also mentioned that Alex Pereira and Max Holloway will appear on the covers of UFC 6 video game.
The UFC has made Paddy Pimblett versus Renato Moicano official for UFC 329, scheduled for July 11, 2026, with reporter Ariel Helwani also revealing plans for Max Holloway to face Conor McGregor on the same card and Islam Makhachev to defend his title against Ian Garry at UFC 330 in the near future.
Pimblett, 31, enters the fight ranked sixth in the lightweight division with a 23-4-0 record. The Liverpool native trains out of Next Generation MMA and brings a well-rounded offensive game to the cage, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a rate that reflects the grappling threat he carries throughout every bout.
Holloway, ranked fourth at lightweight and ninth pound-for-pound at 34 years old, holds a 27-9-0 record and is one of the sport's most relentless volume strikers, averaging 7.2 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. The Hawaiian standout, who trains out of Gracie Technics, is listed as an orthodox fighter standing five-foot-eleven with a 69-inch reach.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the number-one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, carries a 28-1-0 record into his anticipated matchup with Ian Garry at UFC 330. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw is one of the most dominant wrestlers in the sport, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and a 58 percent striking accuracy rate that makes him difficult to engage at every range.
Why it matters
- Pimblett at ranked sixth takes on a significant step up if Moicano remains a top-five threat, with the result carrying real divisional weight at lightweight.
- A potential Holloway versus McGregor co-main at UFC 329 would make the card one of the most commercially significant events in recent memory.
- Makhachev versus Garry at UFC 330 puts the welterweight title picture on a direct collision course with the lightweight champion, raising questions about divisional crossover.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
