Paddy Pimblett is anything but subtle, but he is not trying to be either. The 31-year-old is coming off a devastating loss to two-time interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January. In the process, Pimblett had to kiss goodbye to a title shot against Ilia Topuria. However, Paddy ‘The Baddy’ appears to be gunning for a quick turnaround with his next fight. And he has taken to his YouTube channel, wearing blonde pigtails, a beret, and eating a baguette, to hint at who his next opponent will be.
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“I am not gonna reveal who [my] opponent is,” Pimblett said. “The UFC will do that in due course. We will find out soon enough, are we?”
If that didn’t give it away already, Paddy Pimblett appears to be suggesting that he will be fighting Benoit Saint-Denis next. Since baguettes and berets are popularly associated with France, it’s not too difficult to deduce what he appears to be suggesting. But the most convincing evidence came directly from the 30-year-old himself.
The Frenchman took to Instagram earlier today and shared a picture of himself holding his baby on his shoulder while holding what appeared to be a UFC contract in his other hand.
“See you soon @ufc 👀,” he captioned the post.
Since Benoit Saint-Denis has signed a fight contract and Pimblett is dropping anything but subtle hints, it’s safe to surmise that the pair is booked for a fight very soon. But you must be wondering where and when? After UFC London, during the presser, Pimblett had a request for Dana White.
He asked the UFC CEO for a spot on the 2026 International Fight Week card, and the latter agreed. So, it’s safe to assume that the Scouser has a fight locked in for UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas. Even a veteran MMA journalist confirmed the report today.
“Sounds like Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint Denis is the fight in the works for UFC 329 in July,” Damon Martin wrote on X.
However, despite the reports, the UFC hasn’t officially announced the fight. But that shouldn’t take that long either.
Michael Bisping is convinced Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint-Denis is happening at UFC 329
UFC legend Michael Bisping is convinced the promotion will capitalize on a compelling lightweight matchup for International Fight Week. And he is backing Paddy Pimblett vs. Benoit Saint-Denis as the right fight for UFC 329.
“Paddy vs. Benoit Saint-Denis at International fight week, this makes a tremendous amount of sense,” Bisping said.
Their stylistic clash and contrasting personalities make the bout an obvious draw, particularly for a major Las Vegas card.
“It’s got all the marketing,” he added. “Paddy talks a lot of [expletive] as we know. He’s got tremendous grappling, and he showed last time that he’s a dog and he’s got the chin and all that. Benoit Saint-Denis, the former French special forces guy. That guy’s a killer. He really is. Last time out, he looked absolutely phenomenal. So, I think that’s the fight they’re gonna do.”
Pimblett is currently ranked sixth in the lightweight division, and ‘God of War’ is ranked one spot above him at fifth. Since Paddy ‘The Baddy’ is a favorite of the UFC, it makes sense that they would give him another chance to move up in the rankings right after a massive loss.
While the UFC has yet to make it official, all signs—from Paddy Pimblett’s cryptic video to Bisping’s endorsement—point toward a high-stakes clash with the Frenchman at International Fight Week.
