Paddy Pimblett completes stunning UFC 329 comeback with submission victory over Benoit Saint-Denis within a minute
Paddy Pimblett has put his first UFC defeat firmly behind him, coming back in style with a thrilling win over Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329.
Pimblett got the job done via submission in the first minute of their lightweight fight Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The Liverpudlian wasted no time in Sin City. He fired early and struck cleanly of his own and Saint Denis never got the chance to prove himself.
Once the fight reached the ground, Pimblett’s grappling pedigree came into play and he moved into a dominant position, locking in the choke and leaving Saint Denis unanswered.
The win halted Saint Denis’ four-game losing streak and returned the Liverpudlian firmly back into title contention just months after his defeat to Justin Gaethje.
Pimblett arrived in Las Vegas under more scrutiny than he had earlier in his career. A loss to Gaethje in January – his first defeat inside the Octagon – ended his undefeated run in the UFC and cost him a shot at interim gold; That raised new questions from critics who have long doubted whether his level of opposition matches his level of enthusiasm.
Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett made it easy for Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329, delivering a serious submission in the first round that sent the Las Vegas crowd into hysterics.
Pimblett reacts to Saint-Denis lying motionless on the mat at UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena
Pimblett couldn’t contain his excitement after first round defeat against Saint Denis
A defeat here would result in back-to-back losses for the first time in his professional career.
Instead, Pimblett now has a chance to move up the UFC lightweight rankings significantly after entering the bout ranked No. 9.
‘Who wants it next?’ Pimblett asked the question during his victory speech ahead of Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return. ‘I will win [Ilia Topuria] get up, I’ll match with Justin again [Gaethje]I’ll fight Conor or Max [Holloway] Next. I do not approve. ‘Give me someone and I’ll punch their head in.’
Pimblett, a known Liverpool supporter, also took a moment in his victory speech to pay tribute to the team’s midfielder Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who died in a car crash in Spain a year ago.
“He died last week, just like a year ago,” Pimblett said. ‘All Liverpool fans at home, sing it with me!’
Pimblett then led the crowd in a pro-Jota chant.
