Paddy Pimblett choked Benoit Saint Denis unconscious in under a minute at UFC 329, delivering a stunning victory that overshadowed Conor McGregor's return. The Liverpool native, known as 'The Baddy,' bounced back from his first UFC defeat against Justin Gaethje in January 2026 with a first-round submission that left the Frenchman unresponsive.
Quick Finish Stuns Crowd
Saint Denis, who entered the bout on a four-fight winning streak after back-to-back losses in 2024, attempted an early leg kick but was quickly taken down by Pimblett. The 31-year-old Scouser sunk in a deep rear-naked choke, forcing the referee to wave off the fight as Saint Denis went limp. The entire bout lasted less than 60 seconds.
Pimblett, already a fan favorite in the US, danced into the arena to a roaring crowd and fed off the energy. After the win, he told UFC commentator Joe Rogan, "Sub of the year! I knew he was out. I had to say to the ref 'he's not conscious' and he had to check him. I told everyone all week, try to grab my legs and I will choke him unconscious."
Call-Outs and Title Hopes
With the victory, Pimblett called for a rematch with Justin Gaethje or a shot at the lightweight title. He also named Ilia Topuria, Conor McGregor, and Max Holloway as potential opponents. "Everyone counted me out. Everyone said I was finished because I lost to Gaethje but what now? Am I finished? Who wants it next? I'll beat Ilia up, I'll rematch Justin, I'll fight Conor or Max next. Give me everyone and I'll punch their head in," he declared.
Saint Denis, who had a dominant win over Dan Hooker earlier in 2026, was tipped for a title shot with a victory. Instead, Pimblett may have punched his own ticket to a championship opportunity.
Other Brits on the Card
On the main card, British flyweight Lone'er Kavanagh saw his title hopes dashed when he was submitted by Brandon Royval in the third round. Kavanagh dropped the first round but rallied in the second before Royval took his back and forced a tap to a rear-naked choke.
Earlier, Pimblett's teammate Luken Riley moved to 14-0 with a first-round stoppage of Kai Kamaka III. A straight right hand dropped Kamaka, and the referee waved off the fight after a barrage of blows. King Green opened the main card with a buzzer-beating first-round stoppage of Terrance McKinney, dropping him with seconds left.
