TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett won $1,000 from Daniel Cormier on a World Cup bet during UFC 329 fight week
- Belgium defeated the USA 4-1 in the round of 16 match at Seattle Stadium
- Cormier paid Pimblett the full amount on camera and admitted he had ‘unnecessary confidence’
- Pimblett faces Benoit Saint-Denis in the UFC 329 co-main event on July 11
- The Liverpool fighter lost to Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title in January
Sources: yardbarker.com
Paddy Pimblett made $1,000 richer during UFC 329 fight week without throwing a single punch. The Liverpool lightweight collected the cash from former UFC champion Daniel Cormier after winning a bet on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The two fighters wagered on the USA vs Belgium round of 16 match while in Las Vegas for this weekend’s event. Belgium defeated the USA 4-1 in front of more than 66,000 fans at Seattle Stadium.
Cormier Pays Up After Belgium Dominates USA
In a video posted to the UFC’s official X account, Cormier approached Pimblett to hand over the money. “I was filled with unnecessary confidence watching us beat Bosnia and Herzegovina,” Cormier said in the video.
The former two-division champion admitted his mistake. “Sā. Bro, I owe you money. I owe you $1,000. I will give it to you.”
Pimblett called Cormier a “man of his word” after receiving the full $1,000. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently taking place across stadiums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The friendly bet between the two fighters became part of International Fight Week activities. Pimblett will compete at UFC 329 on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Daniel Cormier paid Paddy Pimblett $1K after losing a bet on the Belgium vs USA game š
"I was filled with uunnecessary confidence watching us beat Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sh*t."
(via @ufc) pic.twitter.com/xSLfCaQUoj
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 7, 2026
The English fighter faces Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event of the card. Their fight will set the stage for Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon in the main event.
Pimblett Seeks Bounce Back After Title Fight Loss
Pimblett lost to Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title fight this past January. The defeat ended his winning streak and his first attempt at capturing UFC gold.
Saint-Denis enters the fight with four straight victories. The French fighter knocked out Beneil Dariush in just 13 seconds during his recent run.
He also submitted Mauricio Ruffy to extend his winning streak. Pimblett needs a victory to work his way back toward another title shot against Gaethje.
The Liverpool fighter will hope to earn one of the UFC’s $100,000 performance bonuses with his showing. However, he has already added some extra cash to his fight week earnings thanks to the World Cup wager.
Cormier serves as a commentator and analyst for the UFC after retiring from competition. He held titles in both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions during his fighting career.
UFC 329 takes place live on Paramount Plus starting at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 11. The main card features McGregor’s highly anticipated comeback fight after his long absence from competition.
