TLDR
- Justin Gaethje is the only MMA fighter nominated for a 2026 ESPY award
- Gaethje won the interim UFC title in January 2026 at UFC 324
- He defeated Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 in June to win undisputed UFC gold
- The ESPYs combined the Best MMA Fighter and Best Boxer awards into Best Fighter
- Gaethje competes against three boxers for the award on July 15, 2026
Sources: middleeasy.com | mmafighting.com
Justin Gaethje has been nominated for the 2026 ESPY Best Fighter award following his successful run in the UFC this year. The nomination was announced Thursday, making Gaethje the only mixed martial arts fighter to receive an ESPY nomination this year.
Gaethje’s nomination comes after winning two UFC titles in the first half of 2026. In January, he defeated Paddy Pimblett at UFC 324 to become the first-ever two-time interim UFC champion.
The bigger achievement came earlier this month at UFC Freedom 250, held at the White House. Gaethje defeated Ilia Topuria in a unification bout to win undisputed UFC gold for the first time in his career.
The victory over Topuria was considered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Gaethje dominated the fight against the previously undefeated champion.
Changes to ESPY Award Categories
The 2026 ESPYs made a change to their combat sports awards. The Best MMA Fighter award, which existed as a separate category since 2019, has been combined with the Best Boxer award.
🚨Justin Gaethje has been nominated for the Best Fighter award at the 2026 ESPYs 🚨
The award calendar year is from July 1st 2025 – June 31st 2026. Gaethje in that time period:
– Beat Paddy Pimblett ☑️
– Beat Ilia Topuria ☑️Other nominees: Terence Crawford, Gabriela Fundora,… pic.twitter.com/qTWVcXmzdD
— Ring Sports World (@ringsportsworld) June 25, 2026
The new combined category is called Best Fighter. Past MMA winners of the separate award included Daniel Cormier, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones.
Gaethje will compete against three boxers for the 2026 award. The other nominees are Terence Crawford, Gabriela Fundora, and Claressa Shields.
Award Show Details and Voting
The ESPY awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. The show will air live from the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
The broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Fans can vote for their choices in all categories until July 15.
Gaethje’s career has been marked by exciting fights and fan-favorite performances. The UFC veteran has been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.
His two-fight winning streak in 2026 represents the peak of his professional career. The interim title win over Pimblett showed he still had championship-level skills.
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The victory over Topuria at UFC Freedom 250 was held on June 15, 2026, in Washington, DC. The event marked a historic moment for the UFC and for Gaethje personally.
Photos from the post-fight press conference showed Gaethje holding both championship belts. He appeared alongside UFC President Dana White and other fighters from the card.
The ESPY nomination adds another achievement to what has already been a career-defining year for Gaethje. At 37 years old, he finally achieved his goal of winning an undisputed UFC championship.
Voting for the ESPYs is open to fans through the official ESPY website. The winner will be announced during the live broadcast on July 15.
