UFC lightweight star Paddy Pimblett said he will return at UFC 329, though he did not reveal his opponent.
Pimblett is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324, losing his chance to become the interim UFC lightweight champion. It was a disappointing defeat for Pimblett, who had gone 7-0 inside the Octagon before the Gaethje loss. Still, Pimblett remains a big name, and when he fights at UFC 329 in July, he will get a chance to get back into title contention at 155 lbs. The Liverpool native recently confirmed on the Wayne Rooney Show his targeted return date.
Pimblett didn’t name his opponent for UFC 329, but taking a look at the rankings, we can have an idea of who he may fight, given he is ranked at No. 6 in the lightweight division. Without further ado, here are five potential opponents for Pimblett’s upcoming fight at UFC 329.
- Mateusz Gamrot: After Pimblett was highly critical of him, Gamrot called out Pimblett following his recent win over Esteban Ribovics at UFC 327. Gamrot is currently ranked one spot behind Pimblett at No. 7 in the UFC lightweight division, so based on the rankings, this fight makes a lot of sense. Plus, they are both grappling-based fighters, so Pimblett vs. Gamrot could potentially be a very intriguing ground fight.
- Dan Hooker: Hooker and Pimblett share no love, as the two have talked mad smack about each other the last few years in interviews and on social media. Hooker is coming off two straight losses, so he could be a good bounce-back fight for Pimblett if the UFC wants to give the Liverpool native someone with a questionable ground game. Hooker is ranked No. 8 in the UFC lightweight division, just two spots below Pimblett.
- Renato Moicano: Moicano is coming off a big win over Chris Duncan to remain a contender in the UFC lightweight division, as he currently is ranked No. 9 in the weight class. Both Pimblett and Moicano are great on the mic, so this potential fight would have great trash talk leading up to it if the UFC books the fight.
- Conor McGregor: McGregor, the UFC’s biggest star, is set to return from a five-year layoff this summer, with UFC 329 being targeted for his return date. Though he is not ranked anymore, McGregor is the fight that everyone in the UFC lightweight division wants since he is such a big name. McGregor and Pimblett, two of Europe’s biggest MMA stars, have been linked to a fight for years, and perhaps this is the time to make it.
- Benoit Saint Denis: Saint Denis is coming off four straight wins, looking every bit of a legitimate UFC lightweight title contender. He is ranked one spot above Pimblett, at No. 5 in the UFC lightweight rankings, and on paper, he is the hardest fight on the list for Pimblett. But if the UFC thinks he can be competitive with BSD, the fight is a possibility.
Paddy Pimblett is Still a Huge UFC Star
Pimblett is one of the biggest stars in the UFC. On Instagram, he boasts an impressive 5.2 million followers, and he just headlined the UFC’s debut card on Paramount+. Despite losing to Gaethje, Pimblett’s star power has not dwindled, as the Scouser is still someone who UFC fans love to talk about, whether in a positive or negative fashion. Although Pimblett likely won’t headline UFC 329 since he lost his last fight, unless it’s against McGregor, he could be the co-main event for the card. But at the very least, he will be on the main card, putting plenty of eyeballs back on him.
Pimblett Can Get Back Into the Title Mix With Big Win at UFC 329
Despite losing to Gaethje earlier this year, Pimblett can get back into the title mix at 155 lbs if he picks up a big win at UFC 329. Should Pimblett beat someone in the top 10 of the weight class, it would allow him to keep his high ranking, if not move up a few spots. This is a crucial fight for Pimblett’s career if he does want to remain in the UFC lightweight title mix, as a win will keep him in the division’s elite, while a second straight loss would be devastating for his career.
Paddy Pimblett Returns at UFC 329: 5 Potential Opponents