Paddy Pimblett is set to return to the UFC Octagon at UFC 329 on July 12 in Las Vegas, aiming to reclaim his position in the lightweight title conversation. The Liverpool-based fighter will face Benoit Saint-Denis, seeking a victory that could pave the way for a rematch against Justin Gaethje.

Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," last competed in January when he narrowly lost an interim lightweight title bout to Gaethje on points. Gaethje later captured the undisputed lightweight championship by defeating Ilia Topuria earlier this month. The bout ended with Topuria’s corner stopping the fight after four rounds due to significant damage.

Pimblett has a history of tension with both Gaethje and Topuria, though for different reasons. He expressed surprise at Topuria’s defeat, characterizing it as a premature surrender after the Spanish-Georgian fighter experienced adversity for the first time in his career. Pimblett referenced a prior altercation with Topuria in 2022, indicating a longstanding rivalry. He emphasized his own experience in overcoming setbacks, citing previous moments in his career when he had to mount comebacks, including at age 18.

Looking ahead, Pimblett stressed the importance of his upcoming fight against Saint-Denis, describing the French opponent as a tough challenge. A win in Las Vegas would likely position him for a second encounter with Gaethje, a matchup Pimblett views as one of the best prospects this year.

Reflecting on his first fight with Gaethje, Pimblett raised concerns about the role of fouls, particularly eye gouging, in influencing the outcome. He claimed that during their initial bout, he suffered multiple illegal eye strikes from Gaethje that went unpenalized by the referee. According to Pimblett, these fouls significantly impaired his vision and performance, potentially swaying the fight’s result in Gaethje’s favor. He called for clearer and more stringent rules on such infractions, noting the current system leaves too much to the referee’s discretion.

Pimblett’s return at UFC 329 marks a critical moment in his career as he seeks to demonstrate resilience and position himself once again as a top contender in the competitive lightweight division. Further insights into his forthcoming fight and future plans, including thoughts on sharing the event card with Conor McGregor, are expected to be revealed in an upcoming interview.