Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett targeted for UFC 329

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 24: Paddy Pimblett of England enters the Octagon in the UFC lightweight interim championship bout during the UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena on January 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Benoit Saint Denis and Paddy Pimblett appear to be headed for an International Fight Week showdown.

According to multiple reports, Saint Denis (17-3, 1 NC) is set to face Pimblett (23-4) in a lightweight bout that take places July 11 at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The matchup was first reported by Eurosport.

France’s Saint Denis – No. 7 at 155 pounds in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings – is on a hot streak after a two-fight slump in 2024 that threatened to bump him from the contender line. “God of War” bounced back in a big way in 2025, scoring finishes over Beneil Dariush, Mauricio Ruffy, and Kyle Prepolec. He made it four straight victories this past January with a second-round knockout of Dan Hooker, a win that boosted his UFC record to 9-3.

Pimblett (ranked No. 12) is coming off of his first UFC loss. After a 7-0 start in the octagon, the Englishman found himself in a headlining spot against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 with an interim lightweight title on the line. Gaethje won a unanimous decision after a brutal five-round battle and earned a unification bout with Ilia Topuria at UFC White House, while Pimblett now has to battle his way back to the top.

UFC 329 goes down July 11 as the culmination of the promotion’s annual International Fight Week event in Las Vegas. A main event is yet to be officially announced, though former two-division champion Conor McGregor has been rumored to be making his long-awaited return at the show.