Paddy Pimblett is targeting another bout in 2026 after his fight with Benoit Saint-Denis and is willing to move up in weight to face Conor McGregor.
Paddy Pimblett has indicated he would be willing to move up a weight class to fight Conor McGregor in 2026, with the unconfirmed report surfacing after Pimblett's scheduled bout with Benoit Saint-Denis.
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 fights out of an orthodox stance, standing five-foot-ten with a 73-inch reach. He lands 5.49 significant strikes per minute at a 52 percent accuracy rate and averages 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at 155 pounds.
Standing across from him in his next confirmed outing is Benoit Saint-Denis, known as the God of War. The 30-year-old Frenchman is ranked ninth at lightweight and carries a 17-3-0 record. A southpaw at five-foot-eleven, Saint-Denis is a relentless pressure fighter who lands 5.62 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy and averages a dominant 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete wrestlers in the division.
The fighter Pimblett reportedly wants after that is Conor McGregor, the 37-year-old Irish star from SBG Ireland who holds a 22-6-0 professional record. McGregor, a southpaw standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, has competed at both featherweight and lightweight during his UFC career. Any matchup would require Pimblett to move above the 155-pound lightweight limit.
Why it matters
- Pimblett moving up in weight would be a significant career decision given his current top-ten lightweight standing
- A matchup with McGregor carries enormous commercial weight, though it remains unconfirmed at this stage
- Pimblett must first navigate the dangerous Saint-Denis, whose elite wrestling presents a serious stylistic test
