Andrew Ravens
Paddy Pimblett is preparing to cut 35 pounds ahead of his lightweight bout with Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 on July 11.
Pimblett revealed the figure on his vlog seven weeks out from the fight, showing a training camp weigh-in that put him at approximately 191 pounds — well above the non-title fight limit of 156 pounds for the lightweight division.
“It’s all about making weight and being ready for the fight,” Pimblett said in the footage.
The weight cut is a familiar story for Pimblett, who has been open throughout his career about ballooning between fights. Despite the dramatic swings, his fight week discipline has been consistent. In eight UFC appearances, he has never come in overweight, including coming in under championship weight at 154 pounds for his interim lightweight title bout against Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January.
That fight ended in a unanimous decision loss for Pimblett, the first defeat of his UFC career and the end of a seven-fight winning streak inside the octagon. His victories during that run came against Michael Chandler, King Green, Tony Ferguson, Jared Gordon, Jordan Leavitt, Kazula Vargas, and Luigi Vendramini.
Pimblett first signed with the UFC in 2021 after building his name in Cage Warriors, where he was a former featherweight champion. His UFC record stands at 7-1, with five finishes — three by submission and two by TKO. He has earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses during his time in the promotion and has established himself as one of the lightweight division’s most popular draws.
Saint Denis arrives as a genuine test. The French contender has been among the more impressive rising names in the lightweight division, and a win for either man carries real weight in the title picture. Pimblett made clear the focus heading into fight week is straightforward — get to 156 pounds and be ready to perform.
