Are These Two Brits the Most Under Pressure UFC Fighters in 2026?

The year 2025 was an absolute blockbuster for the UFC. The most prestigious MMA promotion on the planet saw two new two-division champions rise as Ilia Topuria moved up to claim the lightweight title and former 155-pound champ Islam Makhachev secured the welterweight strap. As well as that, Petr Yan managed to complete the ultimate career comeback, rallying from a three-fight losing streak throughout 2022 and 2023 by winning four on the spin, culminating with a stunning upset of Merab Dvalishvili in December to reclaim the Bantamweight title.

2026 promises to be similarly spectacular, with a slew of huge fights already confirmed. The UFC will make its debut on Paramount+ at the end of January, and what better way to kick off the relationship with the new broadcaster than with two monumental title fights in Las Vegas? Firstly, women’s bantamweight queen Kayla Harrison will welcome the greatest female fighter of all time back to the Octagon in the form of Amanda Nunes. Then, Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje will battle it out for the interim lightweight title, with the winner poised for a unification clash with pound-for-pound star Ilia Topuria at some point during the summer.

But with 2026 well underway, some fighters head into the New Year with question marks hanging over their heads. Let’s take a look at two British stars in particular with major points to prove this year.

Paddy Pimblett

We may as well start at the beginning. Paddy Pimblett has a date with destiny at UFC 324 as he faces off against American veteran Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight strap in Las Vegas. The clash will be Paddy the Baddy’s first main event, and online betting sites don’t expect him to be overawed by the occasion. The popular upstart outlet Lucky Rebel lists the Englishman as a -230 favorite to leave Sin City with the gold, and if he wishes to silence his doubters, he will have to live up to the billing.

Pimblett has come in for bucketloads of criticism throughout his Octagon career, with his detractors regularly belittling his level of opposition and performances. Is there some truth to what they say? Perhaps.

For example, one only needs to take a look at the combined recent record of the Liverpool native’s last three opponents. Across each of Michael Chandler, King Green, and Tony Ferguson’s six fights before getting into the Octagon with Pimblett, the three lightweights had lost a mighty 14 of a combined 18, with Chandler losing five of six and Ferguson losing six straight. That’s hardly world-beating opposition. Others point to the razor-thin unanimous decision victory against Jared Gordon’s fight at UFC 282 in December 2022, a clash that many thought Pimblett lost.

But three crucial points ring louder than all others. One: History shows that Pimblett beat Gordon, not the other way around, whether you like it or not. Two: You can only beat what’s in front of you, regardless of their recent record, and the Baddy has done exactly that. Three: It is he who has secured the title shot, not the highly rated Arman Tsarukyan or anyone else.

Still, the haters have their ammunition, and it’s Pimblett’s job to silence them. Luckily, he has the perfect opportunity to do exactly that. Beat Gaethje and the world is his oyster.

Tom Aspinall

Reigning heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is another British fighter who heads into 2026 under huge pressure. The 32-year-old spent the better part of 18 months, firstly waiting and then campaigning for a monster heavyweight unification clash against the GOAT, Jon Jones. Then, just as it appeared that the clash was a done deal, Jonny Bones abruptly retired, relinquishing his UFC heavyweight title and promoting Aspinall from interim to undisputed champion.

The Brit’s first defence was scheduled for October and a clash with Frenchman Cyril Gane in Abu Dhabi. But just as Jones’ career abruptly ended, Aspinall’s maiden defense would also end out of nowhere, with an eye poke from the French challenger rendering the champion unable to continue.

That saw Aspinall come under fire. Critics claimed that as Gane was winning the first round, the champ took the easy way out, leaving Abu Dhabi with his title in tow after a no-contest, and that he could have carried on fighting if he wanted to. The Stoke-on-Trent-born star has done his best to prove the naysayers wrong, posting doctors’ reports on social media that prove he was unable to continue. All that has done, however, is add fuel to the fire.

For Aspinall, there is now only one way to shut the critics up once and for all: convincingly beating Gane. While a rematch between the two heavy hitters is not yet scheduled, the two are expected to face off at some point in 2026, and the champion will be under huge pressure to retain his title when he eventually steps back into the Octagon.