Benoit St. Denis had one message following Paddy Pimblett’s 52-second shocker

Benoit St. Denis broke his silence after a stunning loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 329 in Las Vegas, where the English fighter put the French lightweight to sleep in just 52 seconds. St. Denis had entered the co-main event as a betting favorite, riding a four-fight finish streak, while Pimblett was rebounding from his first UFC defeat.

In a statement posted on social media, St. Denis apologized to his supporters for the disappointing result. "Thank you all for your support. I'm sorry for letting you down and for not delivering the victory we had hoped for," he wrote. "This defeat is brutal and hard to swallow, but it's part of the journey. I learn through trials, I'll draw every lesson from it, I'll keep working hard, and I'll come back stronger."

St. Denis (17-4) acknowledged Pimblett's superior performance and expressed hope that their paths would cross again someday for a rematch. Pimblett (24-4) had predicted the choke finish beforehand, accurately forecasting what would happen if St. Denis shot for a takedown. Analysts and fans have since criticized St. Denis's game plan, noting that the first round's drier conditions made escaping submissions more difficult compared to later rounds when perspiration aids escape attempts. The loss ended St. Denis's win streak but his vow to return stronger suggests he intends to rebuild and potentially pursue a rematch down the line.