Paddy Pimblett open to moving up in weight to fight Conor McGregor in 2026

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 no official negotiations have been reported.

Pimblett, 31, holds a 23-4-0 record and sits sixth in the UFC lightweight rankings. The Liverpool native trains out of Next Generation MMA and has built a reputation as an active, high-volume striker, landing 5.49 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy. He also threatens regularly on the ground, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His stated willingness to move above lightweight underscores just how much he wants this fight to happen.

Standing across from him in his next confirmed outing is Benoit Saint Denis, ranked ninth at lightweight. The 30-year-old Frenchman carries a 17-3-0 record and is one of the more dangerous grapplers in the division, averaging 4.19 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 1.8 submission attempts in the same span. Saint Denis also lands at an impressive 58 percent striking accuracy, making him a complete threat on both feet and on the mat.

McGregor, whose record stands at 22-6-0, has not competed recently and holds no current divisional ranking. The Irishman out of SBG Ireland is 37 years old and fought his career predominantly at featherweight and lightweight. A move-up fight involving Pimblett would presumably take place at welterweight.

Why it matters

• Pimblett is ranked sixth at lightweight, so a weight-class jump would remove him from current divisional contention
• McGregor carries enormous commercial appeal, and any confirmed matchup would be among the most-watched fights of 2026
• The style matchup pits Pimblett's submission hunting against McGregor's counter-striking and southpaw movement
• Nothing is officially confirmed, and the report should be treated as an unverified expression of interest at this stage