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Paddy Pimblett: The New Face of the UFC?

Paddy Pimblett's dominant submission win at UFC 329 has him declaring himself the new face of the UFC, especially after Conor McGregor's injury.

Paddy Pimblett: The New Face of the UFC?

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UFC 329 was a wild night, with a lot of talk centered around Conor McGregor’s injury. But it was Paddy Pimblett who really stole the show, putting on a performance that has everyone buzzing about his future.

Pimblett’s Dominant Win at UFC 329

Paddy Pimblett delivered a spectacular performance at UFC 329, quickly submitting Benoit Saint Denis in the co-main event. The fight lasted only 52 seconds, with Pimblett securing a D’arce choke that put Saint Denis to sleep. This dominant victory earned Pimblett a performance bonus, with some outlets reporting it as a $100,000 prize, and solidified his status as a rising star in the UFC.

Declaring Himself the New Face of UFC

Following his impressive win, Paddy Pimblett didn’t hold back, declaring himself the new face of the UFC. He made this bold claim after witnessing Conor McGregor’s unfortunate injury during his return fight at UFC 329. Pimblett’s confidence is soaring, and he’s not shy about stating his belief that he’s ready to take the top spot in the promotion.

Jiu-Jitsu Claims and Fan Reactions

Pimblett also boasted about his jiu-jitsu skills after the fight, stating that his jiu-jitsu is the ‘best in the world.’ This claim comes after a submission victory that showcased his grappling prowess. The quick finish sparked a lot of reaction from fellow pros, with many wondering if a fight between Ilia Topuria and Paddy Pimblett could be next, given the excitement surrounding his performance.

McGregor’s Injury and Its Impact

Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon at UFC 329 ended in disaster due to an injury, which Dana White later commented on. This unfortunate event opened the door for other fighters to step into the spotlight. Max Holloway, another fighter who had a win at UFC 329, also reacted to McGregor’s injury, and is now reportedly looking towards a fight with Islam Makhachev. The landscape of the UFC’s top stars is definitely shifting.

Sources

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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. This is episode 23 for July 12, 2026, your daily look at what’s happening now and next across the world of MMA and UFC.

Well, fight fans, if you were watching UFC 329 this past weekend, you know it was a night of absolute highs and devastating lows. And leading the charge on the high side, without a doubt, was our man Paddy Pimblett. The Baddy absolutely stole the show, reportedly putting Benoit Saint Denis to sleep with a submission in just 52 seconds. This was a statement performance, a lightning-quick submission that had everyone talking. We’re hearing that pros were already asking, “Ilia versus Paddy next?” That’s how dominant it was. Saint Denis, reportedly a formidable opponent, came into this bout, so this wasn’t some can he was rolling over. This was a legitimate top-tier opponent, and Paddy just made it look easy. Yahoo Sports MMA even said he strengthened his claim for a lightweight title shot with that 52-second win. And let’s be real, with the way he won, coupled with Conor McGregor’s spectacular collapse in the main event, Paddy Pimblett may very well be the UFC’s new poster boy. He certainly thinks so, as Bloody Elbow reported him crowning himself the new face of the UFC after watching Conor’s failed return. Sherdog and Yahoo Sports MMA both quoted Paddy declaring his jiu-jitsu the “best in the world” after this performance. And you know what? After a submission that fast and that clean against a top-tier guy, it’s hard to argue with him. It was a perfect night for Paddy, and it’s hard not to get excited about what’s next for him.

Now, let’s talk about the other side of that coin, the main event of UFC 329. Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon couldn’t have gone worse. We’re hearing he lost the fight in the first round and suffered another horrific injury against Max Holloway. There’s been talk that it was a disastrous injury and some are asking if it was the biggest buzzkill result in UFC history. It certainly felt that way in the moment. Dana White has already weighed in on what he thinks happened to Conor, per Sherdog, but the details are still a bit murky. Max Holloway, ever the professional, hopes Conor is “all good” after having to limp out of the octagon. Holloway, meanwhile, is already eyeing Islam Makhachev, which tells you a lot about his mindset. It’s a tough break for McGregor, and it leaves a lot of questions about his future in the sport.

Moving on to some other news and notes from around the fight game. We’ve got some interesting callouts and beefs brewing.

Now, for our OSM Pick of the day. Our system has crunched the numbers for the fight between Levan Chokheli and Leon Shahbazyan. The betting line implies about 76 percent for Chokheli, so we’re actually higher than the market on this one. Our confidence is strong. The top reasons are that form heavily favors Chokheli, and his finishing ability is also a significant factor.

That’s all for today’s Open Scoring MMA. Make sure to tune in tomorrow for more breaking news and analysis from the world of mixed martial arts. Catch you then.

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.