​Last night (Sat., July 11, 2026), the UFC rolled into T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 329, bringing back the sport’s biggest star, Conor McGregor, after five years away. The Notorious returned to face an old rival, Max Holloway, ready to lay it all on the line. Yet amid all the hype around McGregor, the rest of the card proved to be stacked with talent as well. When former champions like Robert Whittaker and Cody Garbrandt appear on the undercard, you know you’re in for a stacked event. Let’s review the standout performances and techniques from the night.
Well, that was anticlimactic. If you paid a fortune to attend UFC 329 and saw the main event end with McGregor’s knee giving out in the opening seconds, I get why you’d feel let down. If you’re Holloway and you put in a lot of effort to win a rematch, you have my sympathy. But if, like me, you watched the main card from the comfort of your living room for the usual Paramount+ price, there’s no real reason to be upset. UFC 329 still delivered an absolute banger of a fight card. Nearly every bout was entertaining, and the event didn’t hinge on McGregor to be watchable. McGregor looked old and washed when the event was booked, and that won’t change anytime soon after this knee injury. Maybe he’ll bring back movement coach Ido Portal and avoid opening his next comeback with a flying kick of questionable timing. See you in five more years, perhaps.
I don’t think we can doubt Paddy Pimblett anymore. “The Baddy” claimed the best win of his career in seconds, choking Benoit Saint-Denis unconscious in the opening minute of their highly anticipated lightweight clash. Saint-Denis threw two punches and then attempted a double-leg takedown along the fence, and Pimblett was ready for him from the start. He pulled off a guillotine choke without pulling guard to reverse Saint-Denis onto his back. As Saint-Denis tried to scramble free, Pimblett transitioned to a d’arce choke and simultaneously pulled guard. Saint-Denis fought to create space but couldn’t, and he quickly went to sleep. Saint-Denis had won four straight finishes entering the bout and is in the prime of his career, yet Pimblett treated him like a brisket—smoked, clean and decisive. Critics can complain about Pimblett’s chin or his unorthodox boxing if they like, but the fact remains that only the elite contenders manage to effortlessly dispatch a proven Top 10 opponent like that.
The clash between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett is finally on the horizon. Brandon Royval scored another win, continuing to prove he belongs at the top of the division. Royval’s performance wasn’t pristine, but it reinforced his status as a consistent threat and a fighter whose execution continues to evolve. The event’s energy carried on through the night, delivering moments of brilliance even when the headlining bout didn’t live up to expectations. The night was a reminder that UFC 329 had depth beyond the McGregor spectacle, with Topuria vs. Pimblett as a potential marquee matchup to watch in the future.