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UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2, Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis Co-Main

UFC 329 is almost here, with McGregor vs. Holloway 2 headlining and Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis in the co-main event.

UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2, Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis Co-Main

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UFC 329 is just around the corner, and the anticipation for International Fight Week’s main event, McGregor vs. Holloway 2, is absolutely electric. But let’s not forget the co-main event, which is shaping up to be a barn burner between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis.

McGregor vs. Holloway 2: The Rematch

The buzz surrounding Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon against Max Holloway is reaching a fever pitch. Their verbal jabs have been going viral, adding fuel to an already intense build-up. At their first face-off, both fighters had to be restrained, showing just how much is on the line in this rematch. The odds for the fight have even shifted, with McGregor gaining ground against Holloway as fight night approaches.

Pimblett vs. Saint-Denis: Co-Main Event Showdown

The co-main event features Paddy Pimblett taking on Benoit Saint-Denis, a fight that has generated a lot of discussion. Despite the odds tightening, Saint-Denis remains the favorite heading into the bout. Interestingly, at their press conference face-off, both fighters kept things civil, a stark contrast to the main event’s intensity. Many staff predictions for Bloody Elbow are leaning towards Saint-Denis, indicating a tough challenge for Pimblett.

Gaethje’s Bold Prediction for Pimblett

Justin Gaethje recently made a rather strong prediction about Paddy Pimblett’s future, specifically regarding a potential fight with Ilia Topuria. Gaethje stated that Topuria would beat Pimblett “97 times out of 100,” a sentiment echoed by MMA Mania. Pimblett, however, has pointed to a narrative shift after Gaethje’s recent UFC title win, perhaps suggesting that predictions can be overturned. It’s clear that Pimblett has some high-profile doubters, but that often just fuels a fighter even more.

UFC 329: A Stacked Card

Beyond the two main attractions, UFC 329 promises a full card of exciting matchups for International Fight Week. With official scorecards ready to be filled, fans are eagerly awaiting all the action. The press conference face-offs for both the main and co-main events have only heightened the anticipation, setting the stage for what should be a memorable night of fights. It’s going to be a huge event, and we can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.

From the community

Over on r/MMA, fans are talking about this: Benoit Saint Denis has staph…again.

Sources

Every source behind today's roundup (14)

We summarize the day’s news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work:

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Episode transcript

Read the full episode transcript

Welcome to Open Scoring MMA. Your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

This is a massive card, and the main event is a five-round bout that has everyone talking: Conor McGregor versus Max Holloway. The verbal jabs between these two have already gone viral, per Yahoo Sports MMA, as the build-up intensifies. It only took a few minutes into the press conference for McGregor and Holloway to reignite their rivalry, making tall claims for this highly anticipated headliner. MMA Weekly reported that they even had to be restrained at their first face-offs, which just adds to the hype. This is a rematch that fans have been clamoring for, and it’s finally here. McGregor’s return is always a huge event, and facing Holloway, who’s been on an absolute tear, makes this one for the ages. The energy around this fight is palpable, and you can feel the tension building as we get closer to fight night. It’s going to be a barnburner, no doubt about it.

Now, let’s talk about the odds for that main event. Max Holloway remains favored to beat Conor McGregor, according to LowKick MMA, but the betting line has actually shifted a little bit more toward McGregor. So, while Holloway is still the pick, the money coming in is tightening things up, showing that a lot of people are backing the return of The Notorious. It’s a testament to McGregor’s star power and the belief that he can still perform at the highest level, even against someone as dangerous as Holloway. It’s going to be fascinating to see how this plays out in the cage, especially with the odds moving like this. The smart money might be on Holloway, but the public money is definitely making this a closer call.

And speaking of big fights, the co-main event for UFC 329 is another absolute banger: our very own Paddy “The Baddy” Pimblett taking on Benoit Saint-Denis in a pivotal lightweight matchup. LowKick MMA reports that Benoit Saint-Denis remains a narrow favorite over Paddy Pimblett, but that line is tightening as well. Bloody Elbow and MMA Mania have both been covering this fight extensively, with Bloody Elbow even running a staff prediction piece on who they think will win. The stakes couldn’t be higher for The Baddy.

We’re hearing that Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis had a pretty intense face-off at the UFC 329 press conference, according to Bloody Elbow. Yahoo Sports MMA also noted the face-offs, featuring both Pimblett and Saint-Denis. While there wasn’t any major trash talk or fireworks, the intensity was still there. Sometimes, a quiet staredown can be even more intimidating than a loud one. It shows a mutual respect, but also a deep understanding of the challenge ahead. Both fighters looked focused and ready to go, and that’s exactly what you want to see from a co-main event of this magnitude. It’s going to be a technical and explosive fight, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

Now, let’s dive into some interesting takes on Paddy. Justin Gaethje, the current UFC lightweight champion, has weighed in on a hypothetical matchup between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett. Bloody Elbow reported that Gaethje made a rather bold prediction, saying Topuria would beat up “goofy” Paddy Pimblett “ninety-seven times out of one hundred.” That’s a pretty strong statement from the champ! MMA Mania also picked up on Gaethje’s comments. It’s clear that Gaethje has a very specific view on how that fight would go down. However, Paddy Pimblett himself is using his loss to Justin Gaethje as a source of confidence. LowKick MMA reported that Paddy has discussed a narrative shift he’s seen since Gaethje became the undisputed UFC champion. It seems The Baddy is taking inspiration from Gaethje’s journey, believing that a loss doesn’t define a fighter, but rather can be a stepping stone to greater things. That kind of mindset is exactly what you need to bounce back and prove people wrong, especially when a champion is making predictions like that. It just adds more fuel to Paddy’s fire, and I love to see it.

Now, for our pick of the day. The betting line currently has Chokheli at minus three hundred fifty-five and Shahbazyan at plus three hundred ten. The top reasons for this confidence in Chokheli are his superior form and his finishing ability. He’s been looking sharp, and he knows how to close out a fight. So, if you’re looking for a strong pick, Chokheli is one to watch.

That’s all for today’s show, fight fans. Make sure you tune in this weekend for UFC 329. It’s going to be an epic night of fights.

Before you go, two quick things. Check out our free Fight Tracker at tracker dot open scoring m m a dot com, with every upcoming UFC and PFL card, live odds, and where to watch, all in one place. And follow us on YouTube, just search Open Scoring MMA, for breaking news alerts, fight breakdowns, and videos you won’t get here on the feed. That’s it for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Keep your hands up, and we’ll see you next time.