Pimblett submits Saint Denis in 52 seconds at UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett emphatically rebounded from his first UFC defeat, submitting Benoit Saint Denis in just 52 seconds in the co-main event of UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 11. The victory immediately reinserts the popular English lightweight into the upper tier of the division.

Saint Denis, a former French paratrooper on a four-fight winning streak, opened aggressively with a head kick but quickly shot for a takedown. Pimblett expertly countered, locking in a choke that transitioned from a guillotine to a darce. He maintained the pressure until Saint Denis lost consciousness, ending the fight in the opening minute. Following the win, Pimblett declared he was back in title contention and called for fights against top contenders, specifically naming Ilia Topuria, who recently lost the undisputed title to Justin Gaethje. Gaethje, the current champion, was in attendance for the event.

The card also featured the highly anticipated UFC debut of Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA wrestling champion Gable Steveson. The 26-year-old heavyweight, a historic betting favorite, validated the hype with a first-round knockout of Elisha Ellison. After weathering an...