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Benoit Saint Denis shrugs off fast turnaround after Pimblett shock at UFC 329
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Jul 13, 3:20 PM EDT

Benoit Saint Denis shrugs off fast turnaround after Pimblett shock at UFC 329

In a co-main event that lasted 52 seconds, Paddy Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint Denis with a D’Arce choke, prompting Saint Denis to acknowledge the setback and move the focus back to redemption.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Benoit Saint Denis’s momentum at UFC 329 took a sudden turn when Paddy Pimblett found a finish early in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. According to the fight coverage, Saint Denis was submitted by Pimblett via D’Arce choke in just 52 seconds, a time frame that left little room for the usual adjustments fighters make once the opening exchanges settle.

The loss drops Saint Denis’s UFC record to 9-4, with his overall MMA mark listed at 17-4 in the report. Pimblett, who was also pictured as the underdog in the moment, entered with an 8-1 UFC record and a 24-4 overall ledger, and the submission reinforced his reputation for urgency when fights open up.

Saint Denis’s immediate reaction centered on accountability and respect for the result. The headline quote attributed to him, “Sorry for disappointing you,” frames the response as a direct message to those expecting more from him in a featured spot. It is a terse, fighter-to-fighter kind of acknowledgement, but the sentiment matters in the UFC context where reputations are built as much on response to adversity as on highlight performances.

For Pimblett, the finish was not only quick, it was also a high-percentage grappling outcome. A D’Arce choke typically comes from transitions and tight angles in scrambles, and landing one early suggests the fight reached grappling territory faster than Saint Denis could dictate. The report’s emphasis on the speed is the key detail, because it changes the way fans and matchmakers interpret what happened, not just who won.

UFC co-main events often serve as positioning for the next wave of contenders, and a 52-second submission can reshuffle expectations quickly. Even without discussing rankings beyond the records reported, the practical effect is that attention immediately turns to what Saint Denis will do next: whether he can reassert his usual pace and path to offense, and whether Pimblett’s win accelerates his own climb toward bigger opportunities.

What to watch next is how quickly Saint Denis returns to competition and what style matchups the UFC places in front of him. With the immediate loss being the focal point, his next opponent will likely test whether he can neutralize early grappling threats and regain control before his opponents force quick, decisive finishes.

Why It Matters

  • A fast finish in a co-main event can rapidly change the narrative around title-contender status for both fighters.
  • Saint Denis’s response sets the tone for how he approaches his next matchup after an unusually short fight.
  • The early D’Arce choke outcome highlights the importance of grappling defense and transition control at the elite level.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Paddy Pimblett submitted Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-main event.
  • The submission came by D’Arce choke in 52 seconds.
  • The fight took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
  • Saint Denis is listed as 17-4 in MMA and 9-4 in the UFC after the loss.
  • Pimblett is listed as 24-4 in MMA and 8-1 in the UFC after the win.