Conor McGregor has a new UFC challenger who is claiming it to be "the biggest fight in the sport"

The UFC’s most polarizing star, Conor McGregor, is once again at the center of the combat sports universe—this time as the target of a bold declaration from an unbeaten rising contender. The former two-division champion, sidelined since his gruesome leg break at UFC 264 in 2021, has yet to step back into the Octagon despite relentless callouts.

Now, a fresh challenger—fresh off a career-defining win at UFC 314—has labeled a potential clash with McGregor as “the biggest fight we’ve ever seen,” reigniting debates about legacy, relevance, and the allure of spectacle.

The Next “Notorious”? Rising star stakes claim to Conor McGregor’s throne

Enter Paddy Pimblett, the Liverpudlian firebrand whose charisma and unbeaten UFC streak (6-0) have drawn comparisons to McGregor’s meteoric rise. Fresh off a co-main event victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314, Pimblett is angling for a megafight that could redefine his career—and the sport itself.

“Beat Chandler, take the McGregor fight,” he told Round Eight Boxing earlier this year, framing the matchup as an inevitability. “It’s the biggest fight in the sport, the biggest fight we’ve ever seen.”

Pimblett’s confidence isn’t unfounded. Like Conor McGregor, he’s mastered the art of blending bravado with results, capturing fan fascination while climbing the lightweight ranks. But unlike the Irish icon, Pimblett hasn’t yet claimed UFC gold—a gap he believes a McGregor showdown could bridge. His recent win over Chandler, the same fighter McGregor was slated to face before withdrawing in 2023, adds symbolic weight to the callout.

Why this fight transcends rankings

McGregor’s absence has been a double-edged sword. While his star power remains unmatched, his competitive relevance wanes with each passing year. Since his last victory in 2020 (a 40-second demolition of Donald Cerrone), McGregor has battled injuries, Hollywood ventures, and a stalled comeback. Meanwhile, Paddy Pimblett represents the UFC’s new guard—a generation unburdened by the aura of “Mystic Mac.”

Chandler, who lost to Pimblett at UFC 314, added fuel to the fire by suggesting the Brit might now be “more dangerous than Conor.” His rationale? Conor McGregor’s three-year layoff contrasts sharply with Pimblett’s momentum.

“Name-wise? Yeah, you’re not gonna get a bigger name than Conor,” Chandler conceded, “but from a fight perspective… Paddy’s the threat.”

Dana White’s Tightrope: Nostalgia vs. new blood

UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly assured fans that McGregor will fight before 2025 ends. Yet, with no official date or opponent locked in, skepticism grows. A Pimblett-McGregor bout offers White a golden narrative: the old king versus the heir apparent. For McGregor, it’s a chance to silence doubters; for Pimblett, a platform to eclipse his predecessor.

But risks abound. McGregor’s chin and stamina remain unproven post-injury, while Paddy Pimblett’s defensive gaps (evident in narrow wins over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson) could be exploited by a seasoned sniper like Conor McGregor. Still, the allure of their verbal sparring alone—a clash of wit, accent, and ego—would break pay-per-view records.

This isn’t just about rankings or titles. It’s a battle for the soul of UFC’s promotional machine. McGregor built his legend on defying odds and crafting moments. Pimblett aims to steal that blueprint. Win or lose, the spectacle would cement one truth: in combat sports, the next “biggest fight” is always just a callout away.