Paddy Pimblett captured the spotlight by defeating Benoit Saint Denis in less than a minute, overshadowing Conor McGregor’s presence at the event. Pimblett aimed to bounce back from a previous loss and secure a shot at the lightweight title with a win. Saint Denis, who had shown strong form lately, faced a quick defeat at Pimblett’s hands.
Nicknamed the ‘Baddy’, Pimblett’s entrance into the ring was met with enthusiastic cheers from the American crowd. Eager to impress, he wasted no time in taking down Saint Denis after the latter’s failed leg kick attempt.
Pimblett swiftly applied a chokehold on Saint Denis, leading to a quick victory as the referee stopped the fight. This unexpected outcome may have catapulted Pimblett into title contention, potentially setting up a rematch with Gaethje.
Following his win, Pimblett expressed confidence and issued challenges to fellow fighters, including Topuria. He emphasized his ability to dominate opponents with his signature chokeholds, defying critics who had written him off after his loss to Gaethje.
Pimblett’s triumph played a crucial role in salvaging UFC 329, which faced a setback when McGregor suffered an early leg injury in his fight against Holloway. The event also featured Kavanagh’s defeat by Royval and impressive wins by other fighters like Luken Riley and King Green on the main card.