Pimblett Secures Rapid Submission Victory Over Saint-Denis at UFC 329

Las VegasVenue·Las Vegas, Nevada – Paddy PimblettPlayer·Paddy Pimblett made a powerful statement in the lightweight division, securing a swift submission victory over Benoit Saint-DenisPlayer·Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event of UFC 329Competition·UFC 329 at the T-Mobile ArenaVenue·T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026. The English fighter, known as "The Baddy," dispatched his French opponent with a D'Arce choke just 52 seconds into the opening round, re-establishing his presence among the division's elite.

Saint-Denis initiated the engagement aggressively, pressing forward from the opening bell. In an attempt to secure a takedown by grappling Pimblett's left leg, Saint-Denis inadvertently exposed his neck. Pimblett, a skilled grappler, capitalized on the opportunity, swiftly locking in a D'Arce choke. The technique proved immediately effective, rendering Saint-Denis unconscious within seconds, prompting the referee to halt the contest.

This victory marks a crucial turning point for Paddy PimblettPlayer·Paddy Pimblett, who entered the bout following a unanimous decision loss to Justin GaethjePlayer·Justin Gaethje at UFC 324Competition·UFC 324 in January 2026, a fight contested for the interim lightweight championship. That defeat was Pimblett's first decisive loss in the UFC. Prior to that, in April 2025 at UFC 314Competition·UFC 314, he had stopped former Bellator champion Michael ChandlerPlayer·Michael Chandler with strikes in the third round, a win that propelled him into title discussions. With this latest triumph, Pimblett's professional record now stands at 24 wins and 4 losses.

Benoit Saint-DenisPlayer·Benoit Saint-Denis, ranked number 5 in the lightweight division before this encounter, saw his impressive four-fight winning streak come to an end. His recent run included a series of finishes, notably submitting Kyle PrepolecPlayer·Kyle Prepolec and Mauricio RuffyPlayer·Mauricio Ruffy in 2025, and knocking out Beneil DariushPlayer·Beneil Dariush. In January 2026, he secured a technical knockout victory over Dan HookerPlayer·Dan Hooker in the second round at UFC 325Competition·UFC 325. Saint-Denis's overall record now stands at 17 wins and 4 losses.

Before the fight, Pimblett had expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, "If he does that to me, I can see him quickly getting choked out." Following his dominant performance, Pimblett addressed Joe RoganPlayer·Joe Rogan, asking, "Who's next?" He also mentioned prominent names such as Conor McGregorPlayer·Conor McGregor, Max HollowayPlayer·Max Holloway, and Ilia TopuriaPlayer·Ilia Topuria as potential future opponents, signaling his ambition to challenge for the lightweight title. With Justin GaethjePlayer·Justin Gaethje currently holding the undisputed lightweight championship, Pimblett's rapid victory positions him for a potential rematch or another high-profile bout in the competitive lightweight landscape.