Paddy Pimblett will face Renato Moicano on July 11 at UFC 329, with the matchup now officially confirmed. According to Ariel Helwani, the UFC is also working to finalize Max Holloway vs. Conor McGregor for UFC 329 and Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Garry for UFC 330. In other news, Sean Strickland shared that Francis Ngannou once questioned why he carries a weapon, to which Strickland replied Ngannou would find the reason in the mirror. Additionally, Gadzhi Rabadanov, coach to several fighters including Sergei Pavlovich, expressed interest in a Pavlovich rematch with Alexander Volkov, claiming Volkov only ran in their first fight and that a tactical adjustment would lead to Pavlovich's victory. Arman Tsarukyan revealed the UFC recently sent him $42,000 in unexpected bonus money, possibly related to his social media activity.
Paddy Pimblett and Renato Moicano have been officially booked to meet at UFC 329 on July 11, with the lightweight matchup now confirmed. The card is shaping up to be one of the busiest nights on the UFC calendar, with several other high-profile bouts in various stages of negotiation.
Beyond the confirmed Pimblett-Moicano fight, reporter Ariel Helwani has indicated the UFC is working to finalize Max Holloway versus Conor McGregor for the same event. Holloway, ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth on the pound-for-pound list, carries a 27-9-0 record. The 34-year-old Hawaiian is one of the most prolific strikers in the sport, averaging 7.2 significant strikes landed per minute at 48 percent accuracy.
Islam Makhachev, the reigning welterweight champion and the top-ranked fighter pound for pound at 28-1-0, is also being targeted for UFC 330 in a bout against Ian Garry. The 34-year-old Russian is a dominant grappler, averaging 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, and connects at a remarkable 58 percent striking accuracy.
In a lighter note from the news cycle, middleweight champion Sean Strickland recounted a conversation in which Francis Ngannou asked him why he carries a weapon. Strickland, who holds a 31-7-0 record and lands 6.04 significant strikes per minute, offered a typically blunt response, suggesting Ngannou would find the answer by looking in a mirror.
Separately, coach Gadzhi Rabadanov — who trains heavyweight Sergei Pavlovich among others — stated publicly that he wants a rematch between Pavlovich and Alexander Volkov, arguing that Volkov avoided engagement in their first meeting and that a tactical correction would produce a different outcome.
Why it matters
- The confirmed Pimblett-Moicano bout gives UFC 329 its first official lightweight contest
- Holloway-McGregor and Makhachev-Garry, if finalized, would dramatically raise the card's profile
- Rabadanov's public callout signals Pavlovich's team is actively pushing for a heavyweight rematch
Saturday, July 11, 2026
