Paddy Pimblett is targeting another fight in 2026 after his bout with Benoit Saint Denis and has expressed willingness to move up in weight to face Conor McGregor.
Reports emerged on June 26 that Paddy Pimblett is open to moving up in weight to pursue a fight with Conor McGregor in 2026, though no official booking is in place and the pairing remains unconfirmed.
Pimblett, 31, holds a 23-4 record and is currently ranked sixth in the UFC lightweight division. The Liverpool native trains out of Next Generation MMA and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. He is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His immediate focus remains a scheduled contest with Benoit Saint Denis before any potential move to welterweight becomes relevant.
Saint Denis, nicknamed "God of War," enters that matchup ranked ninth at lightweight with a 17-3 record. The 30-year-old southpaw is a formidable grappling threat, averaging 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes — among the higher marks in the division — while also landing 5.62 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
McGregor, 37, carries a 22-6 record and holds no current divisional ranking. The Irish southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach and built his reputation as a precision striker, posting 5.32 significant strikes per minute across his career.
Why it matters
- Pimblett would need to vacate his top-ten lightweight standing to campaign at welterweight, complicating his divisional trajectory.
- A win over Saint Denis, ranked ninth, could push Pimblett further up the lightweight ladder and strengthen his leverage in calling for a high-profile crossover fight.
- McGregor's own return timeline remains unclear, adding another layer of uncertainty to any potential matchup.
