Max Holloway vs Paddy Pimblett will take place in early 2026 to determine the next challenger to Ilia Topuria and the UFC Lightweight Title.
This comes after strong rumours that Justin Gaethje has been given the Topuria fight next, meaning Holloway vs Pimblett will go down in a final eliminator for the 155-pound belt.
Max Holloway vs Paddy Pimblett Confirmed For UFC Lightweight Title Eliminator
With Arman Tsarukyan vs Dan Hooker confirmed for UFC Qatar in November, eagled-eyes MMA fans are guessing who will get the next UFC Lightweight Title shot against Ilia Topuria.
It seems that Topuria vs Gaethje is confirmed now for the 155-pound belt, meaning that Max Holloway vs Paddy Pimblett is official for a final eliminator for the lightweight strap.
There were rumours that ‘El Matador’ would defend his title against Pimblett after the Liverpudlian got in the octagon after Topuria’s victory over Charles Oliveira, but it’s Gaethje that has been granted the next shot at the belt instead.
Although unconfirmed by Dana White himself, Holloway vs Pimblett will go down in the early part of 2026. It will feature as a co-main event on a numbered card or perhaps even a main event to strike off the UFC’s new broadcast deal with Paramount+.
With Holloway ranked at #3 at lightweight and Pimblett #7, the fight makes total sense next and will be an official final eliminator for the winner of the Topuria vs Gaethje UFC Lightweight Title contest.
The lightweight division is stacked at the top end right now, with fights finally beginning to happen between the top contenders.
Holloway vs Gaethje is just one of a few mammoth fights at the top end of the 155-pound division in the next six months.
🚨BREAKING: Max Holloway vs Paddy Pimblett is being targeted for early 2026 pic.twitter.com/ymNpjaQ2UH
— Octagon Pulse | UFC MEDIA🚨 (@OctagonPulse) October 2, 2025
Why Was Paddy Pimblett Snubbed Of Ilia Topuria Clash?
It looked for a while that Paddy Pimblett’s next fight was going to be against Ilia Topuria for the UFC Lightweight Title.
However, that plan is no longer with the #5 ranked Justin Gaethje instead getting his shot at ‘El Matador’ and the 155-pound world title belt.
Gaethje revealed on multiple occasions that if he wasn’t given his shot at the belt next that he would retire. He felt he had more than earned his shot at Topuria, and it seems that UFC President Dana White is in agreement.
This means that Pimblett has been snubbed of the Topuria super-fight. However, that fight will continue to build the longer both fighters go on. If both men win their respective next fights, then Topuria vs Pimblett is a truly epic UFC Lightweight Title fight for next summer.
It could even be the headline at the UFC White House card. Pimblett is chasing the Ilia Topuria super-fight at the Santiago Bernabeu as well, so that fight could well happen next summer at Real Madrid’s iconic football stadium.
In the meantime, ‘The Baddy’ will have to get through Max Holloway in their lightweight clash at the beginning of 2026 instead.
Arman Tsarukyan vs. Dan Hooker booked for UFC Qatar 🇶🇦
With that, there are only two more fights that make sense:
🔹Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje to open up the Paramount era. Gaethje, an established name and is demanding a title fight.
🔹Max Holloway vs. Paddy Pimblett at… pic.twitter.com/hm03pNxGqB
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) October 2, 2025
Who Will The Holloway vs Pimblett Favourite Be?
With no official odds released yet, the Max Holloway vs Paddy Pimblett betting favourite is currently unknown.
However, as the former UFC Featherweight Champion and MMA veteran, price-setters will likely list ‘Blessed’ as a marginal favourite against Pimblett for their 155-pound clash.
Holloway of course defeated Dustin Poirier and retained the BMF Title last time out at UFC 318. Pimblett on the other hand was last seen in the UFC 314 co-main event stopping Michael Chandler in three rounds.
With Holloway now ranked #3 at lightweight and ‘The Baddy’ ranked at #7, this fight makes total sense for a UFC Lightweight Title final eliminator.
A year or two ago this fight would have been one Holloway was a comprehensive favourite in. However, Pimblett has really impressed of late and has turned quite a few doubters into believers.
Time will tell who the favourite is for this match-up as Max Holloway’s next fight sees him take on one of the biggest names in UK MMA in Paddy Pimblett.
