UFC in 2026: A Review of the Year’s Biggest Fights So Far and What’s Still to Come

So far, 2026 has been a busy year for UFC. We have seen title changes, upsets, and record-breaking performances. Justin Gaethje has now gone from interim champion to undisputed lightweight champion, Makhachev has extended his amazing winning run, while other unbeaten fighters have suffered their first defeats.

There’s still plenty to come before the year is finished. With events confirmed into December and important fights already announced, the closing months will give champions opportunities to strengthen their positions and contenders the chance to move closer to title fights.

Gaethje Sets the Tone Against Pimblett

Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett headlined UFC 324 in Las Vegas on 24 January, competing for the interim lightweight championship. Pimblett entered after a long winning run, but Gaethje’s experience and work across five rounds earned him a unanimous decision, with scores of 48-47, 49-46 and 49-46.

The victory gave Gaethje the interim lightweight championship belt for the second time in his UFC career. More importantly for the rest of 2026, it put him in position to fight for the undisputed championship after previously falling short in title fights against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.

Volkanovski Gets Past Lopes Again

Alexander Volkanovski’s second meeting with Diego Lopes followed at UFC 325 in Sydney. Lopes had already lost to Volkanovski in 2025 and again found himself unable to do enough across five rounds, despite dropping the champion with a right hand during the third.

Volkanovski recovered and secured a unanimous decision, with scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45. The result kept him in control of the featherweight division and added another successful title defence to a record that already places him among the most accomplished featherweights in UFC history.

Oliveira Adds the BMF Belt

Charles Oliveira and Max Holloway waited more than a decade for their second meeting after their first contest ended prematurely in 2015. At UFC 326 in March, Holloway’s BMF championship was on the line, and Oliveira made the most of the opportunity, controlling much of the fight through his grappling.

All three judges scored the contest 50-45 for Oliveira, giving the former lightweight champion another belt. Holloway’s year wasn’t finished, though, and he would soon be involved in another rematch against one of the UFC’s biggest names.

Two Divisions Get New Champions

April saw a major result at light heavyweight when Carlos Ulberg faced Jiří Procházka at UFC 327. Ulberg dealt with early pressure before landing a left hook and follow-up strikes, stopping Procházka at 3:45 of the first round to claim the light heavyweight championship.

Another title changed hands at UFC 328 when Sean Strickland challenged Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland earned a split decision after five rounds, with two judges scoring it 48-47 in his favour and the other giving Chimaev the same score. Strickland regained the middleweight championship, while Chimaev suffered his first professional MMA defeat.

Gaethje Beats Topuria at the White House

The lightweight picture changed again at UFC Freedom 250 on 14 June, staged on the South Lawn of the White House. Ilia Topuria entered as undisputed champion, while Gaethje arrived holding the interim belt he’d won against Pimblett in January.

Topuria hurt Gaethje earlier in the fight, but the American recovered and increased his pressure as the contest progressed. Topuria didn’t continue after the fourth round, resulting in a corner-stoppage TKO that made Gaethje undisputed lightweight champion and ended Topuria’s unbeaten professional record.

The unusual setting wasn’t the only reason the event stood out, as all seven fights ended inside the distance. Sean O’Malley knocked out Aiemann Zahabi, Ciryl Gane stopped Alex Pereira, and Mauricio Ruffy earned a first-round TKO against Michael Chandler.

McGregor's Comeback Ends Quickly

Conor McGregor returned against Max Holloway at UFC 329 on 11 July, almost 13 years after beating Holloway by unanimous decision in their first meeting. Considerable attention surrounded McGregor after his lengthy absence, but his return lasted barely a minute.

McGregor injured his knee after attempting a jumping kick and couldn’t continue, giving Holloway a TKO victory after 69 seconds. Instead of answering questions about what McGregor could still achieve inside the Octagon, the result created further uncertainty over whether another comeback will follow.

Makhachev Breaks the UFC Winning Record

Islam Makhachev reached another landmark at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on 15 August. Ian Machado Garry pushed the welterweight champion through five rounds, but Makhachev retained his championship by unanimous decision, earning scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.

It was Makhachev’s 17th consecutive UFC victory, taking him beyond Anderson Silva’s previous record of 16. Results like this are part of what makes UFC betting odds change throughout a season, as form, championship experience and individual match-ups can change expectations even when rankings remain relatively stable.

What’s Still to Come in 2026?

There’s still a huge programme remaining as the UFC enters the final months of the year. However, not every late-season event has a complete line-up yet.

Among the fights and events currently scheduled are:

• Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev in Abu Dhabi on 24 October.
• Renato Moicano vs Tom Nolan in Las Vegas on 31 October.
• Gabriel Bonfim vs Sean Brady in Las Vegas on 7 November.
• A UFC Fight Night in Doha on 21 November.
• Further UFC events scheduled during November and December.

Volkanovski Has Another Major Test

Volkanovski’s meeting with Evloev gives the featherweight champion another challenge after defeating Lopes earlier in the year. Evloev has built his position through an unbeaten professional record, making the Abu Dhabi contest an important fight for the direction of the featherweight division.

Other late-season cards will continue to take shape as additional bouts are announced. Keeping confirmed fights separate from rumours matters when looking ahead, particularly when cards several months away can change because of injuries, withdrawals or altered matchmaking.

Plenty Can Change Before December Ends

Gaethje’s rise to undisputed champion, Makhachev’s record-breaking winning streak and championship changes at light heavyweight and middleweight have already given 2026 plenty to remember. Volkanovski and Oliveira have also added significant victories during a year in which several established fighters have remained difficult for emerging challengers to displace.

The remaining schedule now provides another set of opportunities. Some divisions may finish December looking much as they do now, while others could enter 2027 with different champions or new leading contenders, leaving plenty still to be settled before the UFC closes out 2026.