A key lightweight bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint Denis has been added to July’s UFC 329 event in Las Vegas.
The fight was originally reported by Alvaro Colmenero and later confirmed by the folks at MMA Mania.
Paddy Pimblett (23-4 MMA) will be returning to action for the first time since suffering a decision loss to Justin Gaethje in a fight for the promotion’s interim lightweight title this past January at UFC 324. That setback snapped a nine-fight winning streak for ‘The Baddy’, a stretch which included stoppage victories over Michael Chandler and King Green.
Meanwhile, Benoit Saint Denis (17-3 MMA) currently boasts a four-fight win streak, with his most recent victory coming by way of TKO against Dan Hooker this past February at UFC 325 (see that here). Prior to that triumph, ‘God of War’ knocked out Beneil Dariush in just 16-seconds at UFC 322.
In addition to ‘Pimblett vs. Saint Denis’, UFC 329 will also reportedly showcase the light heavyweight debut of former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.
(via Zuffa LLC)
Whittaker (26-9 MMA) will apparently be taking on Nikita Krylov this coming International Fight Week. ‘The Reaper’ will enter the bout on two-fight losing skid, this after suffering a split decision loss to Reinier de Ridder and submission defeat to Khamzat Chimaev.
Meanwhile, Nikita Krylov (31-11 MMA) most recently competed in the Octagon this past January at UFC 324, where he scored a third-round knockout victory over Modestas Bukauskas. That triumph snapped a two-fight losing skid for ‘The Miner’, who had previously suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Dominick Reyes and Bogdan Guskov.
If that wasn’t enough to get you excited, UFC 329 is also set to feature the following contests:
170lbs.: Leon Edwards vs. Daniel Rodriguez
135lbs.: Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista
125lbs.: Cody Durden vs. Ode Osbourne
Also rumored for the fight card is the debut of highly touted heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson.
Stay tuned to the site for further announcements.