Paddy Pimblett defeats Benoit Saint‑Denis in 52‑second submission at UFC 329

At UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, the co‑main event in Las Vegas’ T‑Mobile Arena saw Liverpool‑born Paddy Pimblett submit French lightweight Benoît Saint‑Denis in just 52 seconds. Pimblett secured a D’Arce (guillotine-to‑D’Arce) choke, forcing Saint‑Denis unconscious and earning a Performance‑of‑the‑Night bonus of $100,000. The victory marked Pimblett’s comeback after his interim‑title loss to Justin Gaethje in January and renewed his claim for a lightweight title shot, with the fighter immediately calling out Ilia Topuria, Justin Gaethje, Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. Saint‑Denis entered the bout as the betting favorite on a four‑fight win streak and was widely expected to test Pimblett’s ranking, but the rapid finish upended those expectations. The result was a highlight of a card that also featured Conor McGregor’s injury‑marred return and several other finish bonuses.