Paddy Pimblett needed less than a minute to make a statement at UFC 329, submitting Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds in the co-main event.
The result halts Saint Denis’ four-fight win streak, a run that had featured four finishes, and came in a matchup where he entered ranked above Pimblett in the official UFC rankings. Pimblett secured the rapid submission in the first round, improving his professional record to 24-4, while Saint Denis now sits at 17-4 with 1 no contest.
Pimblett later broke down the finish, saying, "It wasn’t a proper Peruvian necktie, but I literally drilled a Peruvian necktie for the first time in about 10 years about five weeks ago with my coach and it was like a mixture between a D’Arce and Peruvian necktie, but that’s just how good my jiu-jitsu is," before adding, "I can link things together like that flawlessly. I’ve never done that before. I just did that on the fly, that’s how I roll. My jiu-jitsu’s the best in the world."
Despite the quick defeat, Saint Denis is not expected to be out for long. He will not need surgery, did not suffer significant damage, can still eat solid foods, and is expected to be able to return relatively quickly. Addressing fans after the loss, he said, "Thank you for the support," and continued, "Sorry to have disappointed you. I’m learning from the pain, but I’m learning. I’ll come back stronger. Congratulations to Paddy for his performance. I’m convinced that our paths will cross again one day. See you soon."
