This year is already setting up to be one of the most memorable in mixed martial arts history. As the most prestigious organization in the sport, the UFC has been attracting all the headlines as usual – and we have already seen some incredible bouts and events in the first few months of 2026.
UFC fans are eagerly awaiting a very special event coming up in June, when the White House itself will be hosting UFC Freedom 250, a night of top fighters going up against each other in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence.
If you are asking the question, “How can I bet on UFC fights and events?”, then you should be doing your research for that one, as well as the rest of the big events coming up in 2026. But, as you get ready for upcoming bouts, here is a quick rundown of the incredible UFC nights we have already enjoyed this year.
UFC Fight Nights
We are not even halfway through the year, and we have already been blessed with some incredible bouts. The biggest events come around on a monthly basis, of course. But many UFC fans are just as interested in the Fight Nights, which take place across the US, many at the spiritual home of the organization in Las Vegas.
Sean Strickland featured in one such event in February, when he defeated Anthony Hernandez in a middleweight bout. Fight fans would get to see more of him as the year went on. There was also the return of former two-time champion Israel Adesanya in March, although “The Last Stylebender” was unable to reclaim his form of years gone by, ultimately losing out to Joe Pyfer.
UFC 324
The first really big event of the year came at the end of January, when the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, hosted a night of bouts headlined by an interim lightweight championship battle between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. Gaethje ended up taking a unanimous decision and will now face Ilia Topuria at the White House in June.
Although there were no other championship bouts that night, UFC fans were treated to a number of exciting matchups, including Waldo Cordes-Acosta beating Derrick Lewis in a heavyweight contest in just two rounds, thanks to a ferocious barrage of punches.
UFC 325
February brought us UFC 325 and a trip down under to Sydney, Australia. As is UFC’s way, the headline bout featured a local hero in the shape of Alexander Volkanovski. He was set to face Diego Lopes in a featherweight championship rematch. The Australian had previously beaten Lopes to claim the title in April of 2025.
This contest went all the way, with Volkanovski retaining his belt thanks to a unanimous decision. It was the only five-round fight on the main card that went the distance, with Benoit Saint Dennis and Mauricio Ruffy both winning their lightweight bouts by way of TKO, punching their opponents into submission.
UFC 326
March saw UFC’s main event return to Las Vegas, and another rematch headlined the night. This time, former featherweight champion Max Holloway faced former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira for the symbolic B.M.F. (you can figure out what those letters stand for) title. Holloway had won the first meeting in 2015 when Oliveira had to withdraw injured in the first round.
Oliveira suffered no such injuries this time around, battling all the way over five rounds before winning by unanimous decision. The Brazilian now finds himself just above Holloway in the lightweight rankings and will be keen to get back into the cage soon to boost his case for another tilt at the title.
UFC 327
Florida called in April, as UFC travelled to Miami to stage its latest big show. Top of the bill was a clash between former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg for the vacant title belt. Prochazka had previously fought – and lost – two times for the title, while Ulberg had been building up an impressive 14-1 record and had not lost since 2021.
Ulberg continued his win streak, knocking out Prochazka in under four minutes of the first round. It was another incredible performance from the New Zealander, but news last month that he had torn his ACL will mean that the new light heavyweight champion will probably be out of action for some time.
UFC 328
There are more Fight Nights coming up in May before that huge Freedom 250 event, but the most recent big UFC night was at the beginning of the month at the Providential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Two belts were on the line, and fight fans witnessed one of the biggest upsets in recent UFC history.
Joshua Tan defended his flyweight championship against Tatsuro Taira, in what was a first-ever title fight to take place between two Asian men in UFC history. Van eventually won by TKO in the fifth round. But that bout served as only an appetizer for the main event that came up next.
After weeks of heated and bitter rivalry in the run-up, Sean Strickland shocked Khamzat Chimaev to claim the middleweight title that he lost back in 2024. He even came back from being knocked down in the first round by the hitherto unbeaten Chechen to claim another surprise title victory. With Chimaev now expected to move to light heavyweight, Strickland is expected to face Nassourdine Imavov in his first defense.
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