Paddy Pimblett has expressed a desire to fight again in 2026 following his bout with Benoit Saint Denis and is willing to move up in weight for a matchup with 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 the matchup remains unconfirmed and should be treated as a rumour at this stage.
Pimblett, 31, holds a professional record of 23-4-0 and sits sixth in the UFC lightweight rankings. Fighting out of Next Generation MMA Liverpool, the Englishman has built a reputation as one of the division's most entertaining performers, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy while averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His reported desire to return to action later in 2026 follows a booking against Benoit Saint Denis.
Saint Denis, the ninth-ranked lightweight at 30 years old, carries a record of 17-3-0 and presents a formidable stylistic test. The French southpaw is one of the division's most aggressive wrestlers, averaging 4.19 takedown attempts per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts, complemented by a striking accuracy rate of 58 percent.
McGregor, whose divisional status is not listed in current rankings, holds a career record of 22-6-0. The 37-year-old Irishman out of SBG Ireland has a 74-inch reach and a career striking output of 5.32 significant strikes per minute. A potential matchup with Pimblett would require the Liverpudlian to move above the 155-pound lightweight limit, where McGregor has competed at welterweight previously.
Why it matters
- Pimblett is ranked sixth at lightweight, so a weight jump would remove him from divisional title contention in the near term
- McGregor carries enormous commercial appeal, making any rumoured matchup involving him a significant box-office talking point
- The styles present an intriguing contrast: Pimblett's submission game against McGregor's left-hand power and southpaw angles
