TLDR
- Benoit St Denis lost to Paddy Pimblett via D’Arce choke in 52 seconds at UFC 329
- St Denis issued an apology on social media for disappointing his fans
- The Frenchman entered the fight as the betting favorite on a four-fight win streak
- St Denis record dropped to 17-4 while Pimblett improved to 24-4
- The French fighter promised a rematch and vowed to return stronger
Sources: yardbarker.com | sports.yahoo.com | heavy.com
French UFC fighter Benoit St Denis has issued a public apology after losing to Paddy Pimblett in just 52 seconds at UFC 329 in Las Vegas. The Frenchman, who entered the co-main event as the betting favorite, was submitted by a D’Arce choke after shooting in for an early takedown.
“I’m sorry for letting you down and for not delivering the victory we had hoped for,” St Denis wrote on social media. “This defeat is brutal and hard to swallow, but it’s part of the journey.”
The loss came as a shock to many fans and observers who expected St Denis to dominate the fight. He had entered the bout on a four-fight finish streak and was considered one of the top contenders in the lightweight division.
Pimblett caught St Denis’s neck as the Frenchman attempted a takedown in the opening seconds of the fight. The English fighter locked in the submission before sweat could help St Denis escape.
Merci à toutes et à tous pour votre soutien. Je suis désolé de vous avoir déçus et de ne pas vous avoir offert la victoire que nous espérions.
Cette défaite est brutale et difficile à encaisser, mais elle fait partie du chemin. J'apprends dans l'épreuve, j'en tirerai toutes les… pic.twitter.com/Ne1v2QdpEE
— Benoît "God of War" Saint Denis (@BenoitSt_Denis) July 13, 2026
How the Fight Ended So Quickly
The fight ended almost as soon as it began when St Denis made the decision to grapple with Pimblett early in round one. Pimblett, known as a submission specialist, had actually predicted this scenario before the fight.
Many observers have questioned St Denis’s strategy of shooting for a takedown in the opening seconds. Fighters are driest at the start of a fight, making it harder to slip out of submissions.
The loss was St Denis’s first since 2023 and dropped his record to 17-4. Meanwhile, Pimblett bounced back from his first UFC defeat to improve his record to 24-4.
“Congratulations to Paddy for his performance,” St Denis added in his statement. “I’m convinced that one day, our paths will cross again.”
What’s Next for St Denis
The defeat represents a major setback for St Denis, who had been working his way toward a potential title shot at 155 pounds. He had previously bounced back from back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano two years ago.
After those losses, St Denis won four straight fights by stoppage to climb back into the top of the UFC lightweight rankings. His ability to recover from defeats has been proven before.
St Denis promised his supporters that he would learn from the loss. “I learn through trials, I’ll draw every lesson from it, I’ll keep working hard, and I’ll come back stronger,” he wrote.
The fight took place on the same card as the main event between Conor McGregor and Max Holloway. No timetable has been announced for St Denis’s return to the octagon.
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Potential matchups for St Denis’s next fight could include other ranked lightweights such as Rafael Fiziev, Tom Nolan, or Grant Dawson. These fighters are all ranked in the top 15 and would represent fresh competition for the Frenchman.
St Denis thanked his fans for their continued support in his social media post. The 29-year-old fighter has built a strong following during his time in the UFC despite this recent setback.
The co-main event loss at UFC 329 marked the end of St Denis’s impressive winning streak. His record now stands at 17-4 overall and 9-4 in the UFC.
