The UFC embarks on an thrilling new period with Paramount+, making blended martial arts extra accessible than ever earlier than. Among the promotion’s high stars have fights introduced coinciding with the brand new deal, whereas followers eagerly anticipate matchups for different champions and large names.
MMA’s main promotion has already introduced a slew of motion fights for 2026 that includes a few of its most beloved stars, together with Max Holloway vs. Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. Then there are world headliners like Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev, arguably one of the best fighters within the sport, awaiting their subsequent strikes.
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Forward of the brand new yr, the primary of seven within the new period, have a look 10 UFC stars that everybody ought to learn about.
Ilia Topuria
Try a few of Topuria’s finest fights
Topuria packs a severe punch in his 5-foot-7 body. The undefeated fighter knocked out all-time greats Alexander Volkanovski, Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira consecutively to turn out to be solely the tenth two-division UFC champion. At the moment ranked No. 2 within the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, the reigning light-weight champion has repeatedly referred to as for a struggle with welterweight champ Islam Makhachev. Sadly, no matter’s subsequent for Topuria — whether or not it is the tremendous struggle or going through the winner of UFC 324’s interim light-weight title struggle between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett — should wait till he attends to non-public issues.
Islam Makhachev
Try a few of Makhachev’s finest fights
Meet the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter within the UFC. Makhachev is a power to be reckoned with because the star pupil of the good Khabib Nurmagomedov. Makhachev has arguably eclipsed his mentor with current accomplishments. In 2025, Makhachev broke the file for many light-weight title defenses — beforehand a five-way tie with Nurmagomedov and others — earlier than turning into the eleventh two-division champion in UFC historical past. He is a mauling wrestler with hanging that surpasses his predecessor. If Makhachev could make an influence as welterweight champion, he may complicate the dialogue for who needs to be on the Mount Rushmore of MMA.
Max Holloway
Try a few of Holloway’s finest fights
There won’t be a extra beloved fighter on the UFC roster right now than Holloway. The previous featherweight champion, an all-time nice in that division, discovered a second life at light-weight because the ceremonial BMF champion. “Blessed” is effortlessly cool in his demeanor with an thrilling type to again it up. He innovated the Octagon level down, a nonverbal settlement between fighters to duke it out within the heart of the cage. Holloway holds a number of hanging data, together with: most knockouts in UFC title fights, most strikes landed in UFC historical past (3,907), and most important strikes landed in a single struggle (445 in opposition to Calvin Kattar). If there’s one clip that epitomizes Holloway’s type, it is the buzzer-beater KO he landed on Justin Gaethje at UFC 300.
Charles Oliveira
Try certainly one of Oliveira’s finest fights — his knockout of Beneil Dariush
If one fighter can provide Holloway a run for sentimental fan-favorite, it is his upcoming BMF title challenger. Oliveira had one of the vital exceptional successful streaks the game has seen. His first seven years with the promotion have been a blended bag. In 2018, every thing clicked. He launched into an 11-fight successful streak — together with finishes of Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler — successful and defending the UFC light-weight title within the course of. Already among the best submission fighters in MMA, Oliveira developed a devastating hanging recreation that made him presumably essentially the most potent offensive menace within the sport. To this point, he holds UFC data for many finishes (21), most post-fight bonuses (21) and most submissions (17). Holloway vs. Oliveira headlines UFC 326 on March 7.
Alex Pereira
Try a few of Pereira’s finest fights
“Chama.” It is a phrase that breaks language boundaries. Pereira, UFC gentle heavyweight champion, is a uncommon non-English-speaking fighter to realize important reputation with the North American viewers. It is his stoic perspective, vicious knockout energy and exercise that endeared him to followers. “Poatan” is the one two-division UFC and two-division Glory Kickboxing champion in historical past. He gained his first UFC title after one yr with the promotion, successful his third consecutive struggle in opposition to Israel Adesanya throughout the 2 sports activities. Pereira, the primary individual to KO Adesanya in MMA and kickboxing, quickly after moved to gentle heavyweight, capturing that title twice.
Khamzat Chimaev
Try a few of Chimaev’s finest fights
Chimaev appears to be an unstoppable menace. Chimaev appeared destined to turn out to be a champion from the primary time he stepped foot within the Octagon. His first 4 opponents landed one mixed important punch on him. His ascent was delayed by long-term well being problems, the aftershock of contracting coronavirus and a horrible weight miss that had matchmakers scrambling to salvage UFC 279. Chimaev made good on lofty expectations as soon as he acquired on observe. His final three wins are in opposition to UFC champions: beating Kamaru Usman, caving in Robert Whittaker’s enamel with a submission and dethroning Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight crown.
Tom Aspinall
Try a few of Aspinall’s finest fights
The UFC heavyweight champion might go down as an all-time nice huge man, however the clock is ticking on his likelihood to show it. Aspinall tore by means of the UFC with eight stoppage wins, and 7 within the first spherical, to start out his profession. It appeared the one issues that might cease Aspinall have been unhealthy timing and unhealthy luck. First, a knee damage suffered 15 seconds right into a Battle Evening principal occasion, his solely UFC loss. Subsequent, successful the interim heavyweight championship. An interim title is commonly a pipeline to the undisputed champion. As a substitute, it grew to become Aspinall’s albatross. Aspinall was benched as Jones fought Stipe Miocic, an getting older former champ whom many believed was much less threatening to Jones. Afterwards, Jones did every thing he might to keep away from and discredit Aspinall, earlier than briefly retiring and vacating the title.
Aspinall subsequently graduated to undisputed champion, keen to place Jones behind him. His first title protection in opposition to Ciryl Gane was meant to usher in his period of dominance. Nevertheless, a first-round eye poke unceremoniously ended the struggle and left Aspinall with extended eye harm. His combating future is now in limbo, and his window to make good on lofty predictions is narrowing.
Kayla Harrison
Try a few of Harrison’s finest fights
American fighters have been struggling on the championship degree. Harrison is likely one of the few champions waving the Pink, White and Blue. A serious get for the UFC, Harrison grew to become the ladies’s bantamweight in her third Octagon look. She’s among the many most adorned fight athletes in historical past: a two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time PFL champion and reigning UFC champ. A world-class judoka with ridiculous energy, she’s overwhelmed all her UFC contemporaries. Her aggressive work ethic mirrors her homelife. She someway juggles being a world-class athlete with elevating two kids, her niece and nephew, whom she adopted, and working her farm. Harrison makes her first title protection in opposition to UFC Corridor of Famer Amanda Nunes at UFC 324.
Amanda Nunes
Try a few of Nunes’ finest fights
Nunes is the best girls’s fighter of all time, little question about it. She is the one girl to carry two separate UFC weight class titles concurrently. Her resume is unparalleled, with wins over most of her fellow feminine greats. Nunes holds wins over Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Valentina Shevchenko (twice), Holly Holm and Miesha Tate, amongst others. Whereas her standing as the ladies’s GOAT is bulletproof, Nunes additionally has a case value discussing for the general MMA Mount Rushmore, no matter gender. “The Lioness” retired from MMA in June 2023, vacating each her titles, however returns to problem girls’s bantamweight champ Harrison at UFC 324.
Valentina Shevchenko
Try a few of Shevchenko’s finest fights
The reigning UFC girls’s flyweight champion is Nunes’ neighbor on the Mount Rushmore of girls’s MMA. Shevchenko’s two losses to Nunes omit her from claiming the highest spot, but it surely does little to mitigate her achievements. That is very true as a result of Shevchenko was the smaller fighter and arguably beat Nunes the second time. “Bullet” holds quite a few data within the promotion, together with most mixed and consecutive girls’s title defenses in any division. It is easy to see why folks examine the Kyrgyz and Peruvian fighter to Marvel’s Black Widow. She has sniper-like accuracy, within the cage and on the firing vary, and a bulletproof type that is among the many most well-rounded within the sport. A aggressive dancer who speaks 4 languages fluently, Shevcheko screams tremendous soldier.
Honorable mentions: Paddy Pimblett, Justin Gaethje, Alexander Volkanovski, Petr Yan
