Pimblett wants McGregor fight in 2026, open to moving up in weight

Paddy Pimblett has reportedly set his sights on a fight with Conor McGregor in 2026, with the Liverpool-born lightweight saying he is willing to move up in weight to make the bout happen, according to unconfirmed reports.

Pimblett, 31, enters this conversation off the back of a scheduled meeting with Benoit Saint Denis, with a further fight in 2026 apparently already on his mind. Ranked sixth in the lightweight division, "The Baddy" carries a 23-4-0 record and has built a reputation as a high-volume striker, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also adds a submission threat, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Saint Denis, meanwhile, represents a serious obstacle before any McGregor talk becomes relevant. The Frenchman ranked ninth at lightweight, holds a 17-3-0 record and is one of the division's most dangerous grapplers, averaging an imposing 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 58 percent clip — among the sharper accuracy figures in the weight class.

McGregor, the 37-year-old Irishman who carries a 22-6-0 record, has not been linked to any confirmed bout. A move by Pimblett to welterweight would potentially be necessary to accommodate McGregor, who himself has competed at both featherweight and lightweight during his career. McGregor averages 5.32 significant strikes per minute with a 74-inch reach that gives him a length advantage over many opponents.

Why it matters

• A McGregor fight would carry significant commercial weight for Pimblett, already one of the promotion's most marketable figures
• Pimblett moving up in weight would mark his first competition outside the lightweight division
• Saint Denis's elite grappling output makes him a stern test before Pimblett can look any further up the card
• The report is unconfirmed, and no official negotiations or announcements have been made by either party