Paddy Pimblett needed a big performance at UFC 329 and delivered in a hurry, submitting Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds in their co-main event clash in Las Vegas.
Saint Denis shot in for a takedown early, but Pimblett wrapped up a rapid choke to force the tap and secure one of the quickest finishes of the card. The win came after Pimblett entered the bout off a loss to Justin Gaethje at the start of 2026.
Breaking down the finish, Pimblett said, "I knew I had that cinched up," and added, "I knew he was good at defending a guillotine, so we’d worked on other things around the guillotine, and that was just there. Picture perfect … And it wasn’t a proper Peruvian necktie, but I literally drilled a Peruvian necktie for the first time in about ten years about five weeks ago … And it was like a mixture between a D’arce and a Peruvian necktie."
Looking ahead, Pimblett made his ambitions clear. "I wanna be the undisputed champion of the world. I wanna be the first ever world champion from Liverpool. And I’m gonna do that. I know that’s in my destiny. I know it’s in my fate. Whether it’s the next fight or the next 10 fights, I wanna be a world champion. It’s that simple."
Pimblett also expressed willingness to face Justin Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Ilia Topuria, or Charles Oliveira next, stating, "If you want me to fight Justin [Gaethje] next, if you want me to fight Poshboy [Arman Tsarukyan] next, if you want me to fight Chorizo [Ilia Topuria] next, if you want me to fight Charles [Oliveira] next, anyone can get it."
