2026 is here, and it’s set to be a big year for the UFC. We know that there are three title fights (including an interim title) and four if you include the BMF title bout at UFC 326.
We’re going to be predicting UFC Champions at the end of 2026 in every division. We’re not going to be including the BMF title in this list. We will also give an ambitious pick for each division with no explanation…
Predicting UFC Champions at the End of 2026
Heavyweight – Tom Aspinall
Who knows what’s going to happen in the heavyweight division? Tom Aspinall was upgraded to the undisputed heavyweight champion in June 2025 when Jon Jones retired and attempted to defend his belt in October against Ciryl Gane. Following an eye poke and a subsequent no contest, the heavyweight belt hasn’t been defended since November 2024.
The rematch will happen and Aspinall will defeat Gane, but won’t compete again in 2026.
Ambitious Pick: Alex Pereira
Light Heavyweight – Jiri Prochazka
Predicting UFC champions becomes a lot easier now that we’re out of the heavyweight division. Although Alex Pereira is the current champion and has defeated almost every contender, he’ll leave the division in search of the heavyweight strap.
Jiri Prochazka will face Carlos Ulberg in the second quarter of 2026, winning via decision to win the vacant belt. He’ll round the year out with a knockout win over Azamat Murzakanov.
Ambitious Pick: Khamzat Chimaev
Middleweight – Khamzat Chimaev
Again, predicting UFC champions in a division where the champion is extremely dominant but inactive is straightforward. Khamzat Chimaev is a force to be reckoned with and at 185lbs, it appears that there’s no stopping him. When winning the title, Chimaev didn’t show a single flaw.
Already injured heading into 2026, Chimaev won’t be active in 2026. He’ll defeat Nassourdine Imavov and likely vacate his belt to move up to light heavyweight, but that won’t be until 2027.
Ambitious Pick: Anthony Hernandez
Welterweight – Islam Makhachev
Welterweight is the most competitive division in the UFC today. Whilst the champion, Islam Makhachev, is the best fighter on the planet, he isn’t short of high-level competition. Shavkat Rakhmonov, Michael Morales and Carlos Prates all seem to be viable contenders for Makhachev’s crown.
Although it appears Kamaru Usman may be next, that’s an easy fight for Makhachev. He’ll defeat Usman in May, compete again in October in Abu Dhabi in a very competitive fight against Rakhmonov and be booked to face with Morales or Prates in early 2027.
Ambitious Pick: Yaroslav Amosov
Lightweight – Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria, like Makhachev, is elite. He’s a dominant champion, however, isn’t very active. He’s already ruled himself out of action for the first quarter of 2026, with Paddy Pimblett and Justin Gaethje competing for the interim belt in January.
He’ll meet Pimblett in a grudge match at the White House event (after The Baddy wins at UFC 324) before meeting Arman Tsarukyan in December. Despite a very close fight, Topuria gets the better of Tsarukyan, ending 2026 as the lightweight king.
Ambitious Pick: Benoit Saint Denis
Featherweight – Lerone Murphy
With the featherweight belt already scheduled to be competed for at UFC 325, Alexander Volkanovski does a repeat job on Diego Lopes, retaining his belt. At UFC London, Lerone Murphy defeats Movsar Evloev, cementing him as the next title contender at 145lbs.
Murphy and the champion will meet later in the year, with the Brit’s pace and slick striking will be too much for the ageing champion.
Ambitious Pick: Aljamain Sterling
Bantamweight – Umar Nurmagomedov
Predicting UFC champions in the bantamweight division is exciting. Petr Yan is the new champion and put on arguably the best performance of the year against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323. He’s set himself up for a very exciting 2026.
Yan will rematch Sean O’Malley on the White House card, this time getting the better of the American after their epic 2022 battle. We rescored that controversial decision, which can be seen here:
Yan will then meet Nurmagomedov in an exciting all Russian clash, possibly on the Abu Dhabi card in October. Nurmagomedov will get the better of Yan as the more well-rounded fighter, although Yan will have a lot of success.
Ambitious Pick: Payton Talbott
Flyweight – Kyoji Horiguchi
Joshua Van will enter 2026 as the flyweight champion, however, there’s no denying that he can’t feel like he truly earned it. Defeating Alexandre Pantoja due to a freak injury for the Brazilian, Van now holds the belt. Pantoja will have to sit out and heal for the majority of 2026, opening up the division.
Tatsuro Taira will clash with Joshua Van in the co-main event of UFC 326, defeating Van by third round submission. He’ll then go on to have a huge fight with Kyoji Horiguchi, which he will lose to the veteran via unanimous decision.
Ambitious Pick: Muhammad Mokaev
Women’s Bantamweight – Kayla Harrison
The women’s bantamweight strap is set to be contested for in the co-main event of UFC 324. Although she’s widely considered the GOAT, the time away from the octagon, as well as the size of the champion, Kayla Harrison, will mean that the American will convincingly retain her belt.
She’ll then compete against Valentina Shevchenko on the White House card. Bullet will move up from flyweight to clash with Harrison, something she suggested she’d be interested in earlier this year.
Ambitious Pick: Norma Dumont
Women’s Flyweight – Maycee Barber
Heading into 2026, Valentina Shevchenko is dominant; however, as we are predicting that she’s going to move up in weight, she’ll have to vacate her belt.
Manon Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield will compete for the vacant belt, with Fiorot winning again. She will then take on Maycee Barber (after Barber defeats Rose Namajunas in a title eliminator), with Barber getting the better of the French woman with her extensive pressure and heavy ground and pound.
Ambitious Pick: Dakota Ditcheva…
Strawweight – Zhang Weili
Mackenzie Dern was arguably the biggest loser of UFC 322 when Shevchenko dominated Zhang Weili. The former strawweight champion looked vastly undersized at flyweight and a move back down in weight is inevitable. As she never lost the belt in the octagon, she should get an immediate fight for the strap.
Embed from Getty ImagesShe’ll finish Mackenzie Dern in the second round before battling Loopy Godinez over five rounds to regain her belt towards the end of the year.
Ambitious Pick: Gillian Robertson
