Paddy Pimblett intensified his bid for a lightweight title shot by submitting Benoit Saint-Denis in a mere 52 seconds at UFC 329. The victory marks a significant step for the Liverpool native in his pursuit of championship contention.
In another preliminary bout, Luke Riley, also from Liverpool's Next Generation gym, continued his impressive run under the UFC banner. Riley, 27, extended his undefeated professional record to 14 victories with a technical knockout win over Kai Kamaka III. This TKO marked Riley's third appearance with the UFC and followed a period where the organization had placed significant faith in him, including a co-main event slot at UFC London in March. Riley secured the finish late in the first round with a combination of knees and punches after dropping Kamaka with a powerful right hand. "When I hit someone it's bedtime - they are going for a nap," Riley stated after the fight, expressing satisfaction with his performance.
Meanwhile, Lone'er Kavanagh's aspirations of climbing the flyweight rankings were hampered by a submission loss to Brandon Royval. Kavanagh, who had previously upset former two-time champion Brandon Moreno in March, was unable to secure a finish early in the second round after landing a significant right hand. Royval recovered and gained dominance in the third round, ultimately securing a rear-naked choke. This defeat is Kavanagh's second in his last five fights since joining the UFC, necessitating a strategic reset for his career progression.