Paddy Pimblett wants to fight again in 2026 after his bout with Benoit Saint Denis and is willing to move up in weight to make a matchup with Conor McGregor happen. The potential clash between the two Irish and English fan favorites would be a high-profile lightweight-to-welterweight crossover.
Paddy Pimblett has expressed openness to moving up to welterweight in order to make a blockbuster fight with Conor McGregor happen in 2026, though the matchup remains unconfirmed and should be treated as a report at this stage.
Pimblett, 31, currently sits sixth in the UFC lightweight rankings with a professional record of 23-4-0. The Liverpool native, who trains out of Next Generation MMA, is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat. His immediate focus is a fight with ninth-ranked Benoit Saint Denis before any move up in weight is considered.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," carries a 17-3-0 record and represents one of the more dangerous assignments in the lightweight division at 30 years old. The French southpaw is a relentless pressure fighter, averaging an exceptional 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 5.62 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy — figures that place him among the most well-rounded competitors in the 155-pound class.
McGregor, 37, holds a 22-6-0 record and has not competed recently. The Irishman from SBG Ireland remains one of combat sports' most recognizable names despite the inactivity. He carries a 74-inch reach — an inch longer than Pimblett's — and has averaged 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career at 49 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- A Pimblett-McGregor crossover would carry enormous commercial weight given both fighters' massive fan bases in England and Ireland.
- Pimblett moving to welterweight would mean stepping away from a lightweight ranking he has built, adding stakes to the decision.
- McGregor's lack of a confirmed division complicates any official matchmaking, keeping this firmly in the realm of speculation for now.
