​On Saturday, two elite lightweights collided in the UFC 329 co-main event as Paddy Pimblett faced Benoit Saint-Denis. The French contender entered as a solid favorite after a four-fight winning streak, all by finish. Yet Pimblett quieted the doubters once again, delivering an impressive submission just a minute into the bout and silencing the heavy-handed Saint-Denis. With the win, Pimblett’s standing in the UFC lightweight rankings has been updated.
Australian Quillan Salkilld has been turning heads since earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in late 2024. He ripped through his first four Octagon appearances, three of which were first-round finishes. His latest test came in May against a top-15 veteran, Beneil Dariush, and the result mirrored his earlier performances—Salkilld finished his foe in under a round. His 12th straight win earned him a place in our UFC lightweight top 10.
Renato Moicano closed 2024 as one of the division’s hottest contenders, riding a four-fight win streak, with stoppage wins over Jalin Turner and Benoit Saint-Denis. However, back-to-back losses, including a short-notice setback to former champion Islam Makhachev, slowed his momentum as the new year began. But in April he returned to the win column with a main-event victory over Chris Duncan, preserving his position in the 155-pound top 10.
Benoit Saint-Denis has enjoyed a strong 13-fight run in the UFC, though he has faced a few setbacks and suffered stoppage losses to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano. He rattled off four straight wins, all by finish, leading into UFC 329 with a potential title shot on the line. Optics shifted after a misstep early in the bout when he dropped his head into Paddy Pimblett’s defense; Pimblett capitalized quickly, delivering a decisive counter that thwarted Saint-Denis’s title aspirations for 2026.
Max Holloway is widely regarded as one of the greatest UFC featherweights, and his legacy continues to shape the division’s narrative. His impact is undeniable, both in terms of achievements and marketability, as he remains a central figure in discussions about the sport’s history and its ongoing evolution.