An intriguing lightweight bout between top-10 contenders Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis has been booked for UFC 329.
MMA reporter Alvaro Colmenero confirmed the Pimblett vs. Saint Denis fight, which was first reported by La Sueur. We recently took a look at five potential opponents for Pimblett in his return to the Octagon, and Saint Denis was on the list.
“By the way, it’s more than just a rumor, but I’ve been able to confirm with reliable sources that the fight between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis for International Fight Week is a reality,” Colmenero wrote on X.
Vers un Benoit St-Denis vs Paddy Pimblett lors de l’International Fight Week à Las Vegas, le 11 juillet prochain !
#UFC329
Pimblett vs. Saint Denis will likely be the co-main event for UFC 329, which is set for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event is the cornerstone of the UFC’s annual International Fight Week event.
Paddy Pimblett Looking to Remain in Title Contention
Pimblett lost at UFC 324 in January to Justin Gaethje in a failed bid to become the interim UFC lightweight champion. Had Pimblett won that fight, he would have been slated to fight UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. But he lost, and Gaethje gets that opportunity now, instead.
For Pimblett, the loss to Gaethje was his first defeat in eight UFC bouts, as he carries an impressive record of 7-1 in the promotion. Despite losing to Gaethje, however, Pimblett is still technically getting a step up in competition. Right now, Pimblett is ranked No. 6 in the official UFC rankings, while Saint Denis is ranked at No. 5, so the Scouser is still getting a big fight despite losing to Gaethje his last time out.
That being said, it’s a bit surprising that the UFC booked this fight. It’s a great fight, no doubt about it, but it’s risky because if Pimblett loses again, it basically eliminates him as a lightweight contender. Given he’s such a big star for the promotion, they can’t afford to kill off a draw like Pimblett, so the organization is likely counting on him to pull off the win.
Benoit Saint Denis Looking to Break Through at 155 lbs
As for Saint Denis, he has an overall record of 9-3 in the UFC, and he has won his last four fights in a row as he’s once again looking like a legitimate title contender at 155 lbs. The Frenchman lost his UFC debut as a welterweight in 2021, but he reeled off five straight wins after that at lightweight. Then, he lost by knockout in two straight fights to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano, and it looked like he was done as a title contender. But he’s won four straight fights by finish since then, and he is once again closing in on the belt.
The betting odds recently came out for the Pimblett vs. Saint Denis fight, with BSD opening as a slight favorite for the bout. Given Pimblett’s popularity, money will likely come in on him at some point, making this a close fight as far as the odds go when it’s all said and done. But based on the hot streak that BSD is on right now, you have to slightly favor him to win this fight.
Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis Booked for UFC 329