Justin Gaethje has won three straight fights and stopped Ilia Topuria to become UFC lightweight champion atop the UFC White House event earlier this month in Washington, DC. That incredible run helped earn “The Highlight” a nomination for “Best Fighter” at the upcoming 2026 ESPY awards.
ESPY = Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly.
The 37 year-old Gaethje (28-5) is up against boxers Claressa Shields, Gabriela Fundora, and Terence Crawford. “Bud” is the most decorated fighter of the bunch; however, he only competed once over the last two years, defeating Canelo Alvarez last fall to win the WBA (Super), WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring super middleweight titles.
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Previous ESPY award winners include Merab Dvalishvili, Sean O’Malley, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. No doubt Topuria would have locked up that nomination for himself considering his recent accomplishments, but the dreaded War Gods had other plans for “El Matador.”
The ESPYS air on July 15 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC with replays to follow on ESPN and ESPN+ digital network.
