Paddy Pimblett doesn't think Benoit Saint Denis is on his level

Lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett looks to rebound from his first octagon loss when he takes on No. 5 ranked Benoit Saint Denis in the UFC 329 co-main event on Saturday.

The two will clash inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and Pimblett doesn’t think the Frenchman is on his level.

“He’s a killer, you know what I mean, but he’s never fought someone like me. And I’ve fought people like him, so that helps me a lot,” Pimblett told New York Post Sports. “We’ve done a lot of specific stuff obviously for the type of striking he does, the type of grappling he does and we’ll be ready for him. Like, as I say, he’s never fought anyone like me at all and I’ve fought people like him.

“He’s not as good a version of Justin Gaethje on the feet. And, you know, people talk about his grappling skills, but I do think he’s got grappling. Don’t get me wrong, but there’s levels and his jiu-jitsu and his grappling isn’t on my level.”

Pimblett doesn’t expect the fight to go the distance. He predicted a finish will come in the first two rounds.

“I’ll be shocked if this fight gets to the third round,” he said. “But if it does, I’ll be putting a third-round beating on him.”

“I’m definitely going to win, but I either think it’s going to be a fast, early finish and a Performance of the Night, or it’s going to be a little bit of a war and a Fight of the Night.”