TLDR
- Paddy Pimblett told Dana White he’s ready to fight Max Holloway after submitting Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329
- Conor McGregor injured his right knee 69 seconds into his rematch with Holloway, ending the fight
- Pimblett said it was “sad to see” McGregor’s return end in injury after five years away from fighting
- The Liverpool fighter improved to 8-1 in the UFC with his co-main event submission victory
- McGregor has now lost four of his last five fights and hasn’t won since defeating Donald Cerrone in 2020
Sources: middleeasy.com | mmajunkie.usatoday.com
Paddy Pimblett has offered to fight Max Holloway after Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury just 69 seconds into their UFC 329 main event rematch. The Liverpool fighter made his intentions clear following his own victory earlier in the night.
Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event at UFC 329 on Saturday. After his win, the lightweight fighter told UFC President Dana White he was ready to step in against Holloway.
“I’ll get in with Max now,” Pimblett said, referencing Holloway’s need for a new opponent after McGregor’s injury.
McGregor’s Return Ends in Disaster
McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the octagon ended in heartbreak when he injured his right knee with the first kick he threw. The Irish fighter fell multiple times before the referee stopped the fight due to his inability to continue.
The bout marked McGregor’s first fight in five years. He was coming back from a broken leg he suffered in a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier.
Pimblett expressed sympathy for McGregor at the post-fight press conference. “It was sad to see,” the 29-year-old fighter said.
Paddy Pimblett spoke with Dana White and Hunter Campbell after his win at UFC 329 👀
🗣️ Dana: "F*cking absolutely incredible, man."
🗣️ Paddy: "I'll get in with Max [Holloway] now."
🗣️ Hunter: "You and I will figure out that."
🗣️ Dana: "So don't eat too much pizza." 😭
(via… pic.twitter.com/Vw4Cs6nfXu
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 14, 2026
“That’s the thing with this sport: You’ve got to stay consistent,” Pimblett explained. “You’ve got to keep fighting, and I think where he hasn’t fought in so long, his body couldn’t keep up with it.”
The Liverpool native said he felt bad for the Irish superstar. “Coming out and throwing a crazy kick like that first thing, his knee just collapsed underneath him, and I feel bad for him,” Pimblett said.
Pimblett Extends Win Streak
Pimblett improved his UFC record to 8-1 with the submission victory over Saint Denis. The win extended his overall MMA record to 24-4.
Saint Denis dropped to 17-4 in his MMA career and 9-4 inside the UFC octagon. The French fighter had entered the bout as a dangerous opponent for Pimblett.
McGregor insisted after the fight that he entered UFC 329 completely healthy. The injury occurred during the actual fight sequence, not beforehand, according to the former two-division champion.
The loss dropped McGregor to 1-4 in his last five fights. His only win in that stretch came against Donald Cerrone in 2020.
Pimblett acknowledged the difficulty of McGregor’s situation. “He’s put so much into coming back and getting back in the octagon, and that happens in the first five seconds,” he said. “You’ve got to feel for him.”
Whether UFC officials will consider matching Pimblett with Holloway remains unclear. The two fighters compete in different weight classes, which could complicate any potential matchup between them.
