We’re lower than three weeks away from the brand new period of the UFC kicking off as Paramount prepares for some action-packed occasions for 2026.
Not together with the BMF title, three title bouts have already been introduced, which occur on the finish of January.
Justin Gaethje battles Paddy Pimblett for the interim light-weight championship, Kayla Harrison defends her bantamweight title in opposition to Amanda Nunes, and Alexander Volkanovski goes head-to-head with Diego Lopes in a featherweight title rematch.
Nonetheless, followers are questioning which future title challengers will likely be concerned on this 12 months’s UFC championship fights, so listed below are 5 fighters probably to get the chance.
Nassourdine Imavov
The Frenchman has earned his highlight to face UFC Middleweight Champion Khamzat Chimaev in his showstopping, triumphant run.
In 2025, Imavov knocked out former champion Israel Adesanya within the headliner of UFC Saudi Arabia, then went the gap to defeat Caio Borralho at UFC Paris, which was extensively thought-about a middleweight title eliminator.
At present on a five-fight win streak, ‘The Sniper’ has additionally defeated the likes of Jared Cannonier, Brendan Allen and Roman Dolidze.
Whereas it’s unclear when Chimaev will put his belt on the road, Imavov will likely be ready to present the King of the Middleweights probably the most brutal battle of his profession.
Carlos Ulberg
The New Zealander made himself the rightful gentle heavyweight title challenger when he knocked out Dominick Reyes at UFC Perth, retaining an in depth eye on UFC 320’s most important occasion, which noticed Alex Pereira defeat Magomed Ankalaev.
Ulberg has been in championship competition for a while, particularly after holding vital victories in opposition to Jan Blachowicz and Volkan Oezdemir.
‘Black Jag’ sits on a nine-fight win streak and has solely suffered one loss in his MMA profession, exhibiting how a lot of a troublesome check he’s within the 205-pound division.
Whereas it’s unclear whether or not Pereira is transferring as much as heavyweight, the #2 contender will likely be making a robust case for his subsequent title shot, whoever it might be in opposition to.
Ian Machado Garry
There are many 170-pound fighters making their declare for the following title struggle; nonetheless, it’s the Irishman who will probably take the sting after his two current victories.
Final 12 months, Machado Garry defeated hyped prospect Carlos Prates and former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad by unanimous resolution, rising him to the highest three within the rankings.
A championship likelihood got here shut for ‘The Future’ when he stepped up on brief discover to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310, simply shedding by unanimous resolution.
The 28-year-old referred to as out welterweight champion Islam Makhachev after his win in Qatar, as he firmly believes he’s subsequent and has one of the best likelihood of beating the #1 P4P fighter.
Manel kape
Whereas Alexandre Pantoja is assured a title struggle and Tatsuro Taira could make a stable case for a shot at UFC gold, the Portuguese fighter could declare his alternative in 2026.
Within the final occasion of 2025 at UFC Vegas 112, Kape knocked out Brandon Royval within the first spherical to make his title assertion within the flyweight division.
‘Starboy’ has gained seven of his final eight bouts, with 5 of these ending by KO/TKO, with brutal finishes coming in opposition to Asu Almabayev and Bruno Silva.
Joshua Van is well-known for being a really energetic fighter in MMA, and whereas he’s at the moment the 125-pound champion, that provides Kape the fitting to problem him, since he’s within the dialog for the following golden alternative.
Lerone murphy
An Englishman who’s hungry for a featherweight title shot and should probably face the winner of UFC 325’s headliner between Volkanovski and Lopes.
Murphy is unbeaten in his 18-fight profession and arguably earned the best win in his final bout when he knocked out Aaron Pico with a spinning again elbow at UFC 319.
‘The Miracle’ has confronted and conquered skilled contenders equivalent to Josh Emmett, Dan Ige and Edson Barboza, which has allowed him to enter the highest 5 of the 145-pound rankings.
The 34-year-old could have to face rival title contender Movsar Evloev to determine who will get the featherweight championship shot ,as each males have but to lose in MMA and desperately need the chance.
