Paddy Pimblett all-but confirms next UFC opponent for July return as he explains what went wrong against Justin Gaethje

Paddy Pimblett looks set to face Benoit Saint Denis on his UFC return this summer.

‘The Baddy’ hasn’t fought since a world title defeat in January at UFC 324, when American Justin Gaethje outpointed him after five rounds.

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Gaethje was crowned the interim UFC lightweight champion after handing Pimblett his first promotional defeat and now has the chance to unify the 155lbs division against Ilia Topuria at the White House.

Pimblett, meanwhile, is out to prove he belongs among the UFC lightweight elite, with a title in Dana White‘s promotion still very much his no.1 goal.

The 31-year-old made a quick recovery from injuries sustained during his loss to Gaethje and confirmed at UFC London last month that he wanted to make a comeback in the summer.

Pimblett then made the date official by stating he would return at UFC 329 on July 11, having started a 12-week training camp for the Las Vegas International Fight Week event.

Pimblett all but reveals next opponent

Speaking on his YouTube channel this week, ‘The Baddy’ dropped a major hint about who his next opponent is.

“I’m not going to reveal who my opponent is, the UFC will do that in due course,” Pimblett said, wearing a French beret and garlic around his neck before taking a bite out of a baguette.

“We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?”

France’s Saint Denis is the no.5-ranked UFC lightweight, one spot above Pimblett, and currently on a four-fight win streak, having made light work of Dan Hooker last time out.

Pimblett has already revealed he’s training with southpaw fighters to replicate the style of his next opponent, and that’s exactly how ‘God of War’ fights.

The Frenchman, too, has also teased fighting Pimblett online, referring to roast beef in an Instagram post describing his hit list, as the French often call British people ‘Les Rosbifs’.

Paddy The Baddy - YouTube

Paddy The Baddy - YouTube

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And not to mention that a fight between both lightweights makes perfect sense to see who is next in line for a title shot.

Furthermore, the only other current ranked French lightweight is Fares Ziam, who has been booked to fight Tom Nolan at UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs Bonfim on June 6.

Pimblett: Ego let me down against Gaethje

“My body’s feeling it as it will be for the first few weeks back,” Pimblett added, speaking on the start of his training camp.

“But I had a perfect camp for the last fight and that never went perfect in the cage, did it?

“So I think getting back to having a little bit of a mad, disruptive fight camp.

“I had my best fights: Bobby Green and Michael Chandler, both fight camps weren’t prefect, but everything ended up perfect when I got in the Octagon.

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“So hopefully this is the same. I’ve got to show everyone why I deserve to get that title shot.

“Show everyone that I’m going to be getting another one in the near future.

“With the last fight, I think a little bit of my ego got in the way. I wanted to knock him out.

“I wanted to strike with him and wanted a war. [But now it’s] back to fight IQ. Back to the game plan and not just swinging recklessly.”

Pimblett vs Saint Denis is set to be part of an epic UFC 329 card, with Conor McGregor expected to return for a rematch against Max Holloway.

Newly signed heavyweight star Gable Steveson is also making his debut at the International Fight Week show.

UFC Schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s UFC schedule.