Paddy Pimblett will return to the Octagon at UFC 329 this weekend with another major test in front of him. The Liverpool star will face France’s Benoit Saint-Denis in the co-main event in Las Vegas. The fight comes after Pimblett suffered a tough defeat against Justin Gaethje earlier this year in his bid for the interim UFC lightweight title.Ahead of the contest, former UFC champion Ilia Topuria has shared his prediction. Although he admitted Pimblett can be difficult to judge, Topuria believes Saint-Denis has the edge based on Pimblett’s recent performance. He expects the French fighter to take advantage of the confidence gained from watching Pimblett struggle in his last outing.
Ilia Topuria says Benoit Saint-Denis has the advantage over Paddy Pimblett
Ilia Topuria told The Sun that Paddy Pimblett remains one of the hardest fighters to predict in the UFC. Speaking before UFC 329, the former champion explained that Pimblett has often surprised fans by defeating opponents who were expected to beat him. However, he also pointed out that Pimblett has lost fights when many expected him to win.Topuria said Pimblett’s unpredictable nature makes it difficult to know which version of the British fighter will enter the cage. According to him, Pimblett can produce impressive performances one night and struggle badly the next.The rivalry between Topuria and Pimblett has been one of the most talked-about stories in the UFC for the past few years. The two fighters have exchanged verbal attacks and were widely expected to meet inside the Octagon one day. However, Pimblett’s loss to Justin Gaethje delayed any possibility of that matchup.Pimblett’s defeat came after Gaethje controlled the fight with heavy strikes and earned a unanimous decision victory. It was one of the toughest losses of Pimblett’s UFC career and raised questions about his future in the lightweight division.Looking at that performance, Topuria believes Benoit Saint-Denis enters UFC 329 with a psychological advantage. He feels the French fighter will have extra confidence after seeing Pimblett struggle against an elite opponent.Topuria explained that Pimblett’s recent showing did not convince him that the Englishman is ready to bounce back immediately. He suggested that Saint-Denis has the tools to capitalize on the weaknesses displayed in Pimblett’s previous fight.In his assessment, Topuria said Pimblett is always capable of surprising people, but recent evidence points towards Saint-Denis being the stronger fighter. He believes the French contender will carry greater belief into the contest after studying Pimblett’s last appearance.Topuria added that while making predictions about Pimblett is never easy, his expectation is that Saint-Denis will come out on top. Based on everything he has seen recently, he feels the Frenchman has the momentum and confidence needed to secure the victory.The outcome of the fight could have a major impact on the UFC lightweight division. A win for Pimblett would put him back in contention after his defeat to Gaethje.
