Paddy Pimblett confirms date for next big UFC fight: ‘I’ve just started camp’

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 18: Professional UFC Fighter Paddy Pimblett is seen on the phone ahead of the Super Bantamweight fight between Molly McCann and Ashleigh Johnson at M&S Bank Arena on April 18, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ask and ye shall receive … at least if you happen to be Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett, one of the UFC’s biggest stars these days.

Pimblett showed up to the UFC London post-fight press conference back in March and called his shot, asking UFC CEO Dana White to book him for International Fight Week. White reacted favorably to the request, and now we’re learning that the promotion has gone ahead and booked Paddy for UFC 329 on July 11th in Las Vegas.

“I’ve just started [my camp] really because I’m going to be fighting in like twelve weeks or something, I’m just starting me diet now,” Pimblett said on the Wayne Rooney Show. “11th of July it’s going to be. It’ll be the first time I’m fighting while a World Cup’s on.”

The World Cup runs from June 11th to July 19th, with the quarterfinals ending on UFC 329 fight day. So while Paddy will be preoccupied for a big chunk of the tournament, the Scouser will get to enjoy the semis and the finals following his big International Fight Day match.

There’s no word thus far on who Pimblett could fight. There were rumors that perhaps Paddy could face off against Conor McGregor, which would be absolute madness. That assumes the UFC manages to get a deal with McGregor across the finish line, and assumes they’d put the two stars against each other. It makes a lot of sense. Paddy’s the new rising star, yet McGregor would still have a chance to win.