Paddy Pimblett believes Benoit Saint Denis will hesitate to attempt takedowns against him due to the danger Pimblett poses on the ground. Pimblett acknowledges that grappling is Saint Denis's default game plan but expects him to think twice once he feels Pimblett's striking. He does anticipate wrestling will feature in the fight regardless, predicting Saint Denis will revert to his takedown-heavy approach after absorbing strikes.
Paddy Pimblett has said he expects Benoit Saint Denis to think twice before shooting for takedowns when the two lightweights meet, arguing that the danger he presents on the mat will force the Frenchman to reconsider his instincts.
Pimblett, ranked sixth in the UFC lightweight division, enters the fight with a 23-4 record and a reputation built on a well-rounded ground game. The 31-year-old Liverpudlian, who trains out of Next Generation MMA, averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a rate of 5.49 per minute with 52 percent accuracy. He acknowledged that grappling is Saint Denis's natural habitat but believes a taste of his striking will give the Frenchman pause before committing to his wrestling.
Saint Denis, ranked ninth at lightweight, carries a 17-3 record and is one of the more prolific takedown artists in the division. The 30-year-old southpaw averages an imposing 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes and attempts 1.8 submissions in the same window, making his intentions in any fight fairly predictable. He also connects at a higher striking accuracy of 58 percent, landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute, suggesting he is no one-dimensional wrestler.
Pimblett does not expect the grappling to disappear entirely. His prediction is that Saint Denis will absorb enough punishment on the feet to hesitate initially, but will ultimately revert to his takedown-heavy approach as the fight progresses.
Why it matters
- A win for Pimblett would move him closer to the top five of a deep lightweight division.
- Saint Denis's elite takedown volume is among the highest in the weight class, making Pimblett's ground defense the central question of the matchup.
- The contrast in styles — Pimblett's submission threat against Saint Denis's wrestling output — sets up a genuine grappling chess match regardless of where the fight begins.
