Justin Gaethje’s remarkable resurgence has landed him among the sport’s elite once again. The reigning UFC lightweight champion has been nominated for the 2026 ESPY Award for Best Fighter after putting together a three-fight winning streak, culminating in his championship-winning performance against Ilia Topuria at the historic UFC White House event in Washington, D.C.
Gaethje joins elite field
Gaethje is nominated alongside boxing champions Claressa Shields, Gabriela Fundora, and Terence Crawford.
The Best Fighter award has frequently stayed within the UFC in recent years, with Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley, and Khabib Nurmagomedov all taking home the honor. Gaethje now has the opportunity to add his name to that distinguished list.
The 2026 ESPY Awards will be broadcast live on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, while fans can also catch the ceremony later on ESPN and ESPN+.