Paddy Pimblett is targeting another fight in 2026 following his bout with Renaud Dos Santos St-Denis and has expressed willingness to move up in weight to face Conor McGregor. A potential Pimblett vs. McGregor matchup remains unconfirmed at this stage.
Paddy Pimblett has indicated he would be willing to move up in weight to pursue a fight with Conor McGregor in 2026, though the matchup remains unconfirmed and should be treated as a report at this stage.
Pimblett, 31, holds a 23-4-0 record and is currently ranked sixth in the UFC lightweight division. The Liverpool native trains out of Next Generation MMA and has built a reputation as an aggressive finisher, averaging 5.49 significant strikes landed per minute at 52 percent accuracy, while also threatening regularly on the ground with 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. He is coming off a bout with Renaud Dos Santos St-Denis and has set his sights on further activity later in 2026, with McGregor the name he has publicly floated.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6-0 record and fights out of SBG Ireland. The Notorious competes at welterweight and has not been linked to any confirmed return at this stage. Standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, the southpaw Irishman averaged 5.32 significant strikes landed per minute across his UFC career at 49 percent accuracy, with a submission rate of 0.1 attempts per 15 minutes reflecting his predominantly striking-based approach.
Why it matters
- Pimblett would need to leave his ranked lightweight position to pursue a catchweight or welterweight bout, adding organizational complexity to any potential negotiation.
- McGregor's own return timeline remains unclear, meaning a 2026 date is far from settled.
- A striking matchup between two high-volume, orthodox-versus-southpaw fighters with overlapping fan bases would carry significant commercial weight if it were to be formalized.
