Who Is Paddy Pimblett’s Next Opponent?

UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett (23-4) has hinted at his next opponent, leading fans to believe he will face Benoit Saint Denis (17-3-0, 1NC).

Pimblett stated he will return to the Octagon at UFC 329 on July 11, 2026, in Las Vegas, pending an official announcement. “The Baddy” last competed on January 24 at UFC 324, where a unanimous decision loss to Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title cost him a shot at the undisputed belt. That title is currently held by Ilia Topuria, who is scheduled to face Gaethje on the June 14 “Freedom 250” White House card.

Pimblett teased a Saint Denis matchup by wearing a necklace of garlic cloves and eating a French baguette. He also revealed that his current camp is prioritizing southpaw sparring partners. This aligns perfectly with Saint Denis, a southpaw who is coming off a win over Dan Hooker at UFC 325 in January.

“We know who his opponent is. You probably don’t, but you could probably guess if you read between the lines. I’m not going to reveal who my opponent is. The UFC will do that in due course. We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?,” Pimblett