Pimblett pits McGregor dream fight amid UFC 329 co-main event pressure
LAS VEGAS — Paddy Pimblett has a blueprint for the perfect end to 2026. Just hours before he steps into the octagon for the co-main event of UFC 329, the Liverpool fan favorite laid out an audacious vision: a showdown with Conor McGregor at Madison Square Garden later this year.
Speaking in a video posted to UFC Europe’s social media accounts, Pimblett said, “The perfect fight for me would be Conor. If McGregor wins and I win, I want to fight again before the end of the year. I’ll fight him at welterweight in MSG. Something like that?”
The callout comes with high stakes. Pimblett faces Benoit Saint-Denis on Saturday night in a lightweight bout that could define his trajectory. A win would put him back in title contention after his interim lightweight title loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 in January. A loss, analysts warn, could relegate him to the ranks of flash-in-the-pan hype.
“You don’t know what’s going to happen,” Pimblett added. “Conor’s got to beat Max, I’ve got to beat BSD. Anything can happen, as we know. In fighting sports, one punch can change the whole realm of the game.”
The stakes: make-or-break test for Pimblett’s credibility
UFC 329 represents a critical juncture for Pimblett. After winning seven straight fights to start his UFC tenure — including victories over Michael Chandler, Bobby Green, and Tony Ferguson — his stock took a hit with the Gaethje loss. Yet Pimblett claims the defeat paradoxically boosted his profile.
“I beat people like Michael Chandler, Bobby Green, Tony Ferguson, and people are just like, ‘Eh.’ Then I just got me head punched in for five rounds, and me stock went up,” he said.
Benoit Saint-Denis enters the bout on a four-fight winning streak, with notable wins over Mauricio Ruffy, Dan Hooker, and Beneil Dariush. The Frenchman’s skill, speed, and finishing ability make him a dangerous opponent for anyone at 155 pounds, as noted by Uncrowned’s Ben Fowlkes in a recent mailbag.
“If Pimblett wins, that would be huge for him. It would put him right back in the conversation. But if he loses? The conversation will be all about how he was a flash in the pan who made for good hype and fun sound bites but not much else,” Fowlkes wrote.
McGregor’s return after a five-year layoff — rematching Max Holloway in the main event — adds another layer of intrigue. Early traffic metrics indicate McGregor still draws massive audience interest, though fans remain divided over his return amid ongoing legal battles.
Pimblett vs. Tsarukyan: a war of words over inactivity
Beyond the McGregor dream, Pimblett took aim at Arman Tsarukyan during UFC 329 media day, dismissing the Armenian as a viable title contender due to inactivity.
“He needs to fight. He’s had like one fight in three years and he beat an absolute bum. He needs to actually fight. Not go around in a singlet tickling people,” Pimblett said.
Tsarukyan’s most recent UFC win came against Dan Hooker in October 2025, but he has since competed primarily in freestyle wrestling events (RAF), including a match scheduled this Saturday in Georgia. Pimblett urged him to “get in the octagon and actually fight.”
Perspective: the broader implications of a Pimblett-McGregor matchup
Should both men win at UFC 329, a Pimblett-McGregor fight would be among the most commercially lucrative in UFC history, combining two of the sport’s most polarizing personalities. Pimblett acknowledged as much, saying, “This is probably going to be the most-watched UFC of all time. I’m not going to be the star of the show on this one. Definitely not. Conor is. But I’ll probably be the second star of the show.”
However, Pimblett’s ambitions extend beyond one fight. He knows a win over Saint-Denis is just one step toward a rematch with Gaethje, whom he called “future lightweight champion.” He also referenced his ability to survive 25 minutes with Gaethje while Ilia Topuria couldn’t make it past the fourth round.
“Don’t go to war with Justin Gaethje” is the lesson Pimblett claims to have learned from January’s defeat.
Off the octagon: World Cup predictions and fan politics
Away from fighting, Pimblett made headlines this week by predicting Argentina will “slap” England in the World Cup semifinals should England get past Norway. The prediction stems from his well-documented refusal to support the England national team, citing chanting about the Hillsborough disaster and anti-Scouse sentiment.
“Scousers just aren’t into international football,” Pimblett said on the Pub Talk podcast. “Why should we support England? I’ve seen a video of England fans singing, ‘We all hate Scousers.'”
The comments underline Pimblett’s reputation as a fighter unafraid to speak his mind — a trait that has fueled his marketability even as critics question his ceiling inside the cage.
For now, all focus returns to Saturday night. A win could set the stage for the MSG megafight Pimblett craves. A loss would send him back to the drawing board.
As the Baddy himself put it: “One punch can change the whole realm of the game.”
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