Paddy Pimblett breaks down incredible UFC 329 submission: ‘I’ve never done that before’

Paddy Pimblett stunned the UFC and himself at UFC 329 with a devastating submission of top-10 lightweight Benoit Saint Denis just 52 seconds into their bout. "The Baddy" caught Saint Denis in an unusual D'Arce choke hybrid—a move Pimblett had never executed in competition before—after the French striker's wrestling attempt backfired spectacularly.

Saint Denis, known for his aggressive striking and grappling, attempted to use his wrestling to overwhelm the Liverpool fighter. Instead, Pimblett capitalized on the position with a submission that left his opponent unconscious. At the post-fight scrum, Pimblett revealed the choke was a creation born from specific game-planning. His corner, including head coach Paul, had advised him not to waste energy on his trademark guillotine, given Saint Denis' reputation for defending it. Pimblett and his team instead drilled variations during the preceding five weeks, developing a hybrid that blended a Peruvian necktie with a D'Arce choke—techniques Pimblett claimed to have drilled together only once in the previous decade.

"It wasn't a proper Peruvian necktie," Pimblett explained, "but I literally drilled a Peruvian necktie for the first time in about 10 years about five weeks ago with my coach and it was like a mixture between a D'Arce and Peruvian necktie, but that's just how good my jiu-jitsu is." Saint Denis had never been submitted before, making the finish even more impressive. For Pimblett, the win marked arguably his career-best performance and cemented his rising star power. UFC CEO Dana White acknowledged the Scouser's growing magnetic appeal, noting his social media following exploded even after his January loss to Justin Gaethje. White called Saturday's performance "incredible" and praised the technical excellence of the submission itself.