Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje And Other Big UFC Fights
The UFC is one of the most exciting sports on the planet, and fans of the combat sport have plenty to look forward to in the early stages of 2026.
At the time of writing, Dana White’s promotion has announced headline events up to the start of March, and the calendar is already stacked with must-watch matchups.
Chief among them is the highly anticipated interim lightweight title clash between Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje, a fight that has put the Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje odds firmly in the spotlight ahead of their showdown at the T-Mobile Arena later this month.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest UFC fights already locked in for the weeks ahead.
Paddy Pimblett vs Justin Gaethje – January 24, Las Vegas
As already mentioned, ‘The Highlight’ and ‘Paddy The Baddy’ will square off in the Octagon at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on January 24. Pimblett’s stock is at an all-time high following his emphatic victory over Michael Chandler last month, and the unbeaten Scouser enters the bout as the favourite to claim the interim lightweight championship.
Gaethje, however, represents the toughest test of Pimblett’s career to date. The former interim champion bounced back from his loss to Max Holloway with a statement win over Rafael Fiziev and will be looking to use his experience, power and pressure to derail Pimblett’s title ambitions.
Volkanovski vs Lopes 2 – February 1, Sydney
The UFC then heads back Down Under at the start of February, with Australian superstar Alexander Volkanovski defending his featherweight title against Diego Lopes in Sydney.
Volkanovski, now 37, lost the belt to Ilia Topuria in February 2024 but reclaimed it after ‘El Matador’ vacated the title. His first meeting with Lopes went the distance, and with the Brazilian pushing him all the way last time, this rematch has all the ingredients to be another razor-close, high-level title fight in front of a passionate home crowd.
Holloway vs Oliveira 2 – March 7, Las Vegas
March brings another blockbuster to the T-Mobile Arena as Holloway defends his coveted “Baddest Motherfucker” (BMF) title against Charles Oliveira.
The pair first met over a decade ago in Canada, when Holloway forced Oliveira to submit, but both fighters have evolved dramatically since then. While there’s no traditional championship belt on the line, this is a legacy fight between two likely future Hall of Famers and fan favourites—one that could easily steal the show.
Other big fights to watch
In between Volkanovski vs Lopes and Holloway vs Oliveira, there are plenty more intriguing bouts on the UFC schedule. Mario Bautista takes on Vinicius Oliveira in a bantamweight contest at the UFC Apex on February 7, before former middleweight champion Sean Strickland faces Anthony Hernandez at the Toyota Center in Houston two weeks later.
Elsewhere, a flyweight clash between Brandon Moreno and Asu Almabayev is set to headline a card at Arena CDMX in Mexico on February 28, adding further depth to an already impressive early-2026 lineup.
With title fights, rematches and divisional shake-ups all on the agenda, the year is shaping up nicely for MMA fans—and with plenty of movement expected across the UFC odds markets, there’s no shortage of intrigue both inside and outside the Octagon.
