Paddy Pimblett has dropped a big hint that his next fight will be against Benoit Saint-Denis. The bout is expected at UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas during International Fight Week.
Pimblett teases opponent
In a recent video blog, Pimblett teased his next opponent while holding a baguette and wearing a beret. He said he would not name the opponent himself and that the UFC would announce the matchup in time. Pimblett added that fans would know "soon enough."
How the matchup surfaced
The hint followed a post from Benoit Saint-Denis, who shared a photo holding a UFC contract with his baby on his shoulder. The rumor mill quickly linked the two men to UFC 329, and industry insider Ariel Helwani wrote on X that the fight appears planned for that card.
Former UFC champion and commentator Michael Bisping also backed the possible pairing. He said the fight "makes a tremendous amount of sense" because both fighters bring action and strong styles that sell well.
Fighters’ recent form and history
Pimblett rose fast in the UFC with a seven-fight winning streak in the promotion. During that run he beat names such as Michael Chandler, Khaos Williams (listed in some reports as King Green), and Tony Ferguson. That success led to an interim lightweight title shot against Justin Gaethje in January, where Pimblett lost by unanimous decision.
Benoit Saint-Denis became known as an exciting, aggressive fighter after a five-fight winning run a few years ago. He then suffered back-to-back knockout losses. Since those defeats, Saint-Denis has returned with four stoppage wins in a row, beating fighters including Mauricio Ruffy, Beneil Dariush, and Dan Hooker.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Paddy Pimblett | Lost interim title fight to Justin Gaethje by unanimous decision; had a seven-fight UFC winning streak before that |
| Benoit Saint-Denis | On a four-fight stoppage win streak after earlier back-to-back KO/TKO losses (wins include Mauricio Ruffy, Beneil Dariush, Dan Hooker) |
UFC 329 card talk
There is still talk that UFC 329 could feature other big names. Ariel Helwani suggested the event might include a Conor McGregor comeback, a possible McGregor vs. Max Holloway matchup, the debut of Gable Steveson, and a Cory Sandhagen vs. Rob Font or similar bout (sometimes reported as Sandhagen x Bautista). If these fights happen, UFC 329 would be a stacked International Fight Week show.
Whatever the final card looks like, a Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis fight would be a major lightweight contest. Both fighters bring style and fan interest, and the bout would be a big test for each after recent high-profile fights and runs of form.
Reporting and updates via UFCcoverage.
