Most Anticipated UFC Fights Of 2026

[KO Shotz]

I thought about Shavkhat and ultimately I feel like I need to see him against a contender (Morales maybe?) before I'd be super-hyped to see him against Islam.

After all the injuries/layoffs he just might not be the same level any longer.

Completely agree. Shav might not be the guy he was before the injury. Definitely want to see him vs a top guy before title shot. If he is the same Shav from before, then him vs Islam will be very intriguing.

 

[Deathmask]

Jon Jones is not a UFC fighter.

 

[Fahcough]

None really. Will tune in as events come on but they have no star power to be excited for months away.

 

[Tokoloko]

Jiri vs Khamzat for LHW title
Poatan vs Gane for HW title
Ankalaev vs Rountree
Ulberg vs Murzakhanov
Costa/Whittaker vs MVP

 

[blewgums]

King Kong vs Godzilla. Fight rules: they will both have massive, explosive loud diarrhea during the fight.

 

[Skarsgard]

Nothing really. Probably gonna take a hiatus here soon to try to spark the interest again.

 

[World eater]

My vote is NEVER. Fuck all these champs not defending. Alex has ZERO defenses since winning his title, he is 1-1 with the Ank. Jon literally walked away from a title rather than defend it, in fact he played Keep Away from the UFC like a golden retriever who stole your socks. They had to chase him down and strip him of it.

Stop Rewarding Ducks.

Also Fuck Khamzat moving up.
Fuck Islam running from Shavkat into Usman's loving arms.
Fuck Toppy running from Arman.
Fuck the UFC for booking Paddy vs Gathje for an interim title thereby fucking Arman even further.
Fuck the UFC booking Lopes vs Volk 2
Fuck the UFC if they book O'Malley vs Yan rather than Merab if that were to happen.

Moved me to tears, you big soft-hearted loof. Bravo!

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

Jiri vs Khamzat for LHW title
Poatan vs Gane for HW title
Ankalaev vs Rountree
Ulberg vs Murzakhanov
Costa/Whittaker vs MVP

I enjoy MvP fights in many ways, but there aren’t any “must see” fights for him in my opinion.

He’s at his best as a neutralizer using movement and speed to limit his opponents options, leading to slow-paced low-volume point fighting affairs.

To each his own though.

 

[blunttruth]

In 2026 I want to see the UFC just keep the action going, fot the first half of the year:
I want to see Gane vs. Salsa Boy while Aspinall is out. The winner of that fight needs to go again against the winner of Volkov vs. Almieda.
I want to see Alex Pereira vs Ulberg, the winner then against winner of Jiri vs, Ank.
I want to see Kahmzat vs Imavov, the winner then against winner of Strickland vs Fluffy
I want to see Islam vs Morales and JDM vs Prates
I want to see Paddy vs Gaethje, and the winner face Ilia. I want to see Arman face Gamrot and BSD in quick order, so if successful he can be in line for a shot against the winner of Ilia's next fight.
I want to see Steve Garcia vs Jean Silva, and Diego Lopes vs Yair.
I want to see Yan vs Horiguch, and the winner of O'Mally vs Song face off vs Bryce Mitchell.
I want to see Van vs Pantoja, and Taira vs. Kara-France or Kape.

 

[TheNewGame]

Gable Steveson vs Rico Verhoeven

 

[fortheo]

With whats going on at LW Max/Charles winner isnt in title mix so personally I want to see Max vs BSD for BMF title so bad.

If Max beats Charles and BSD beats Hooker thats the fight imo. BSD is all violence so he's worthy of that fight.

I think if ilia had been more active, the winner of max vs. Charles would be back in the mix since they're huge names and the winner will be on a two fight win streak over top ten opponents. But since illia hasn't been that active, it seems like a waste to throw him back in there with guys he knocked out recently. Illia hasn't fought at all since the Charles fight, whereas Charles is about to have his second fight since then. It's frustrating.

If BSD beats hooker, it's gotta be either Arman, or the winner of max/Charles next for him

 

[CC27]

I think if ilia had been more active, the winner of max vs. Charles would be back in the mix since they're huge names and the winner will be on a two fight win streak over top ten opponents. But since illia hasn't been that active, it seems like a waste to throw him back in there with guys he knocked out recently. Illia hasn't fought at all since the Charles fight, whereas Charles is about to have his second fight since then. It's frustrating.

If BSD beats hooker, it's gotta be either Arman, or the winner of max/Charles next for him

id give BSD the Max/Charles fight to keep that title in rotation in a fun fight rather than sacrificing him to Arman so he can stay active till an end of year title shot. Now maybe ARman gets it in summer if Topuria cant fight/stripped but if things work out TOpuria fights Justin/paddy in summer/White house and then end of year Nov/Dec Arman gets the shot. So Arman needs a fight If its not like Gamort who is on twitter teasing a Sean Brady fight, guess that LW move is real? If its not that maybe Fiziev if he wins his upcoming fight. That wouldnt be bad. Max/Charles vs BSD and Arman/Fiziev.

But yeah Topuria's situation and inactivity killed everything. He should be fighting Paddy in three weeks and then Arman in summer.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Anyone who Khamzat fights is a must see and massively anticipated.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Tony vs Khabib

 

[fortheo]

id give BSD the Max/Charles fight to keep that title in rotation in a fun fight rather than sacrificing him to Arman so he can stay active till an end of year title shot. Now maybe ARman gets it in summer if Topuria cant fight/stripped but if things work out TOpuria fights Justin/paddy in summer/White house and then end of year Nov/Dec Arman gets the shot. So Arman needs a fight If its not like Gamort who is on twitter teasing a Sean Brady fight, guess that LW move is real? If its not that maybe Fiziev if he wins his upcoming fight. That wouldnt be bad. Max/Charles vs BSD and Arman/Fiziev.

But yeah Topuria's situation and inactivity killed everything. He should be fighting Paddy in three weeks and then Arman in summer.

I think bsd could give Arman some problems and I'd like to see two young guys go at it for once instead of the two of them continuously facing the old guard, but I'm fine with any of those match ups as long as they stay active.

I don't see topuria fighting in the summer and then again in the fall. He has averaged one fight every ten months since his ufc debut, so i doubt that will change and improve now that he's having legal issues with his ex. My bet is on Arman having to fight again before he gets a shot

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Moved me to tears, you big soft-hearted loof. Bravo!

Not soft hearted sir. I just want a reason for guys to fight. Makes it more intersting to me. Also WTF is a "loof"?

 

[prime_lobov]

- Gabe Stevenson’s debut. Should be an instant title shot. No need to see him beat 4-5 random fat guys off the street in the HW division.
- Ilia’s return, doesn’t matter who he fights, but would like to see him vs. Islam
- Josh Van moving to 135 to become double champ, then possibly 145 to become triple champ.
- Arman retiring to become a food blogger
- Merab retiring
- Paddy title run

 

[agibmxmma]

Van vs Patoja 2
Horiguchi vs Kape
Umar vs Merab 2
Umar vs Yan
Umar vs Volk
Umar vs Evloev
Sandhagen vs O'Malley
Sterling vs McKee (if he comes from pfl)
Arman vs Illia
Arman vs Usman (if he comes from pfl)
Arman vs Paddy
Arman vs Islam 2
Max vs Hooker
Islam vs Usman
Islam vs Shavkat
Islam vs Amosov
Islam vs Soriano
Khamzat vs Hernandez
Khamzat vs Ankalaev
Khamzat vs Alex
Khamzat vs Olberg
Olberg vs Alex
Gane vs Aspinall 2
Valentina vs Kayla
Dern vs Suarez

 

[agibmxmma]

In 2026 I want to see the UFC just keep the action going, fot the first half of the year:
I want to see Gane vs. Salsa Boy while Aspinall is out. The winner of that fight needs to go again against the winner of Volkov vs. Almieda.
I want to see Alex Pereira vs Ulberg, the winner then against winner of Jiri vs, Ank.
I want to see Kahmzat vs Imavov, the winner then against winner of Strickland vs Fluffy
I want to see Islam vs Morales and JDM vs Prates
I want to see Paddy vs Gaethje, and the winner face Ilia. I want to see Arman face Gamrot and BSD in quick order, so if successful he can be in line for a shot against the winner of Ilia's next fight.
I want to see Steve Garcia vs Jean Silva, and Diego Lopes vs Yair.
I want to see Yan vs Horiguch, and the winner of O'Mally vs Song face off vs Bryce Mitchell.
I want to see Van vs Pantoja, and Taira vs. Kara-France or Kape.

+1

 

[Thy]

left and right hand vs my ding dong before i go to sleep. excited about that. someone gettin choked out and slept ez.