Love him or hate him? Overestimation or underestimation? Actual job or hype job. There’s one reality about Paddy Pimblett proper now: he is one of many prime 10 light-weight fighters on the earth. And he is not 10 years previous.
Whereas the principle occasion of Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway was a catastrophe, Pimblett was the undisputed star of UFC 329. He held off the onrushing Benoit Saint-Denis in simply 52 seconds, washing away the bitterness of Pimblett’s loss to Justin Gaethje to open the 2026 season. This loss does not appear too unhealthy contemplating it lasted longer than Gaethje’s battle in opposition to Ilya Topuria.
Pimblett silenced a number of doubters by simply making it into the highest 15, so I am curious to see what the #haters should say about “The Buddy” making the assertion that he is the plain candidate. MMA Combating was so impressed with Pimblett’s Submission of the Yr candidate that he jumped from No. 12 to No. 7 on the chart. Instantly forward of him are PFL’s Usman Nurmagomedov and Max Holloway, with Max Holloway saying he desires to remain at welterweight (however maybe just for a 3rd battle in opposition to McGregor). prime 5 If we’re solely speaking concerning the light-weight fighters within the UFC.
It is unlikely Pimblett will problem Gaethje once more subsequent time, so he’ll most likely want another win in opposition to an elite 155er to solidify his case. Relying on how the cardboard goes, that would imply dancing with presumptive No. 1 contender Arman Tsarukyan, “BMF” champion Charles Oliveira, and even longtime rival Ilia Topria.
No matter who it finally ends up being, is it actually smart to guess on Pimblett beating the percentages once more?
Following UFC 329, try MMA Combating’s newest light-weight rankings under.
Current outcomes for ranked fighters (view earlier rankings): No. 5 Max Holloway def. Conor McGregor (welterweight bout), No. 12 Paddy Pimblett def. seventh Benoit Saint-Denis, 14th Rafael Fiziev def. Manuel Torres
Upcoming matches that includes ranked fighters: No. 6 Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Archie Colgan (PFL New York, July 31), No. 11 Mateusz Gamlot vs. No. 13 Quilan Salkild (UFC Vegas 120, August 8)
Fighters are additionally getting votes (present what number of appeared on the poll): Beneil Darish (1), Alfie Davies (1), Tom Nolan (1)
