Paddy Pimblett vs Benoit Saint-Denis Sparks Disagreement Between Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal

UFC veterans Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal debate the upcoming UFC 329 co-main event between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis.

Paddy Pimblett vs Benoit Saint-Denis Sparks Disagreement Between Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal

Paddy Pimblett vs Benoit Saint-Denis discussed by UFC veterans (via Instagram)

In Short
  • Paddy Pimblett is set to fight Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 329 after losing to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324.
  • Dustin Poirier favors Pimblett due to his durability, while Jorge Masvidal supports Saint Denis based on recent performances.
  • Masvidal believes Pimblett's loss may ultimately benefit his career by exposing technical flaws before a title run.

Paddy Pimblett was positioned as one of the UFC’s biggest future superstars because of his personality and in-cage presence. However, that aura took a major hit following his UFC 324 loss against Justin Gaethje. Pimblett is now preparing to bounce back in a scheduled fight against Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 329. The matchup was recently discussed by UFC veterans Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal.

Before the Gaethje fight, Pimblett was riding a nine-fight winning streak across his professional MMA career. He had earned major UFC victories over Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson while climbing the lightweight rankings. Many expected Pimblett to eventually face lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, given their rivalry. However, the Gaethje loss exposed several holes in the Liverpudlian’s overall game.

Saint-Denis enters UFC 329 in strong form after rebuilding momentum with four consecutive victories. His recent run includes notable wins over Dan Hooker and Beneil Dariush, helping re-establish him as a serious contender. That momentum led Jorge Masvidal to favor ‘BSD’ against Pimblett. However, Poirier used a more technical analysis from UFC 324 and gave Pimblett the edge because of his durability.

Both guys are great fighters. I just compare it to the Gaethje fight. I think if BSD fought Gaethje, Gaethje would stop him on the feet.

Dustin Poirier via UFC on Paramount

Poirier made his assessment from experience after facing both Gaethje and Saint-Denis inside the Octagon. Poirier stopped the Frenchman at UFC 299 with a second-round knockout after surviving early pressure and grappling exchanges. His rivalry with ‘The Highlight’ also included a 2018 victory and a knockout loss at UFC 291. Those experiences likely shaped Poirier’s breakdown, favoring Pimblett.

Masvidal also argued that Pimblett losing at UFC 324 may benefit his long-term career. Masvidal believed Pimblett was not ready to fight Topuria after the technical issues were exposed during UFC 324. He pointed toward defensive flaws in Pimblett’s wrestling, striking, and overall management. ‘Gamebred’ suggested the defeat could help the Liverpool star rebuild before another run toward title contention.

Before securing the bout against BSD, Paddy Pimblett had targeted a BMF title fight against Charles Oliveira. He also viewed a matchup with Mateusz Gamrot following his UFC 327 victory over Esteban Ribovics. However, UFC 329 during International Fight Week will now determine whether ‘The Baddy’ returns to the win column or if the ‘God of War’ extends his current winning streak to five straight wins.

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Paddy Pimblett hilariously backs UFC CEO in promotional rivalry

Dana White and Eddie Hearn have been at odds since the UFC CEO entered boxing through Zuffa Boxing. The rivalry initially involved verbal exchanges and online jabs as both promoters defended their positions. However, the tension has gradually escalated beyond social media arguments and promotional criticism. Their feud has now extended into discussions about a potential boxing match.

Paddy Pimblett is famous in Korea
Paddy Pimblett is famous in Korea ( via SPORTbible)

The two went back-and-forth for weeks over a potential showdown before White ultimately dismissed the idea. White stated that the fight made no sense and urged Hearn to stop behaving childishly during the public exchanges. Paddy Pimblett recently added humor to the situation by interrupting Matchroom CEO Frank Smith during a discussion about the White versus Hearn rivalry.

Eddie and Dana, it’s not gonna happen, but Dana’s my boss, so I am gonna have to back Dana. He has to back Eddie because Eddie is his boss. Dana is my boss, lad. Dana pays my bills. Let’s be honest, I have said this before, it’s not gonna happen. You know what is funny, though. If they both get done with that fight, they will get paid way more than what the fighters will be paid.

Paddy pimblett via IFLTV on YouTube

Paddy Pimblett’s defense of Dana White also reflected the close relationship between the UFC CEO and the English lightweight contender. White has consistently praised the UK star’s personality and popularity inside the UFC lightweight division. He also commended Pimblett’s resilience despite his loss to Justin Gaethje at UFC 324 and publicly continued to back the English star.

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