Paddy Pimblett needed less than a minute to make a major statement in the UFC 329 co-main event, submitting Benoit Saint Denis by D'Arce choke at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The finish came just 52 seconds into the fight, as Saint Denis shot for a takedown and Pimblett locked up the choke for the rapid tap.
The loss snaps a four-fight winning streak for Saint Denis, who had earned finishes over Mauricio Ruffy, Beneil Dariush, and Dan Hooker during his run. He entered the bout with the nickname "The God of War."
After the defeat, Saint Denis addressed fans, saying, "Thank you for the support," and adding, "Sorry for disappointing you. I'm learning through the pain, but I'll learn. I'll be back stronger. Well done Paddy for your performance. I'm convinced that our paths will cross some day. See you soon."
With the victory, Pimblett improves to 24-4 in MMA and 8-1 in the UFC, while Saint Denis moves to 17-4 in MMA and 9-4 in the UFC.
