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Top UFC Fighters of 2026: Power Rankings

The 2026 UFC season is nearing its end, and the competition for Fighter of the Year is heating up. From title wins to breakout performances, this year has seen many fighters make strong cases for the sport's top individual award. Who stands out above all others?

This list ranks the top 15 contenders for the Fighter of the Year honor, judged on their 2026 performances. The criteria include the level of opponents faced, significance of victories, title achievements, consistency, finishing power, and fight activity. Fighters who consistently performed well against elite rivals have the edge over those with only one standout result.

Winning a championship boosts a fighter’s chances but isn’t the sole factor. Dominant displays, upset wins, and triumphs over highly ranked foes also count heavily. This ranking focuses solely on accomplishments in 2026, ignoring overall reputation or pound-for-pound status. The order remains open to changes as more bouts unfold this year.

Rankings: Fighters 15 to 11

  • 15. Aaron Pico: Victories over Patricio Pitbull and Losene Keita.
  • 14. Sean O'Malley: Wins against Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi.
  • 13. Ciryl Gane: Defeated Alex Peirera.
  • 12. Mackenzie Dern: Beat Gillian Robertson.
  • 11. Islam Makhachev: Victory over Ian Machado Garry.

Key Moments from 2026

  • May: Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328.
  • June: Mauricio Ruffy knocked out Michael Chandler in round one.
  • September: Joshua Van defended flyweight title by outpointing Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331.
  • October: Jasmine Jasudavicius defeated Erin Blanchfield at UFC Fight Night Edmonton.
  • October: Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev; Petr Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.

Fighters Ranked 10 to 1

  • 10. Lone’er Kavanagh: Started 2026 by beating Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision. Fell to Brandon Royval by submission in July but rebounded with a first-round knockout over Ramazan Temirov in October. A promising British flyweight showing both skill and power.
  • 9. Josh Hokit: Breakthrough heavyweight season with three wins: first-round KO of Denzel Freeman, unanimous decision over Curtis Blaydes, and second-round TKO of Derrick Lewis. Demonstrates knockout power and stamina.
  • 8. Jasmine Jasudavicius: Claimed wins over Karine Silva and Erin Blanchfield, the latter at UFC Fight Night. Exhibits strong wrestling and control, firmly establishing herself among top women’s flyweights.
  • 7. Carlos Ulberg: Became UFC light heavyweight champion with a stunning first-round KO of former champ Jiri Prochazka at UFC 327. Represents New Zealand’s City Kickboxing gym and looks set to defend his belt vigorously.
  • 6. Mauricio Ruffy: Knocked out Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler early in the year but was stopped by Arman Tsarukyan in September. Known for aggressive striking and finishing ability, poised for a comeback.
  • 5. Sean Strickland: Rebounded with key middleweight wins: TKO over Anthony Hernandez and a split decision upset of Khamzat Chimaev. Known for his jab, defense, and outspoken character.
  • 4. Joshua Van: Flyweight champ who defended his title twice, stopping Tatsuro Taira in May and outpointing ex-champ Alexandre Pantoja in September. A young force from Myanmar with relentless pace and boxing skills.
  • 3. Petr Yan: Retained bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 by unanimous decision in a tough rematch. Showed adaptability and championship grit.
  • 2. Alexander Volkanovski: Featherweight champion who defended his belt twice, including a five-round win over Diego Lopes and a second-round TKO of undefeated Movsar Evloev. At 38, still one of the division’s most skilled and intelligent fighters.
  • 1. Justin Gaethje: Had a landmark year winning interim lightweight title over Paddy Pimblett and then capturing undisputed belt by TKO of Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250. Known for relentless pressure and dynamic striking, Gaethje reached the pinnacle of the lightweight division at age 37.

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