Hey r/MMA,  
MC here & I am back with a new post covering some potential big time fights I would like to see happen in 2026. I would love to hear the community's thoughts and predictions, so please engage & lets talk about it!

You can find more of my stuff on "@ ThePunchPoint" on IG & TikTok, but here on Reddit is where I load more of my long-form pieces. Hope you guys enjoy!

  
**UFC Fights I Hope We Get in 2026**

2025 was an incredible year for combat sports, but as we all know, MMA still reigns supreme. We witnessed legendary clashes, defining moments, and a perfect collision of established greatness and unstoppable new blood. Ilia Topuria showed the world why he belongs in the pound-for-pound conversation, Islam Makhachev reminded everyone why he owns the top spot, and Khamzat Chimaev proved that his suffocating style can overwhelm even the very best. We saw breakthrough runs, dominant champions, and careers permanently altered inside the cage. 

But MMA is cyclical. Eras rise, windows close, and the next chapter is always waiting to be written. So if things fall into place, these are two fights I hope we get in 2026, a mix of high-stakes championship clashes and under-the-radar matchups that could quietly shape the future of the sport. Just a note, these are *plausible* matchups I think make plenty of sense to make in 2026 based on the fighters performances the last couple of months/years.

**Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya vs. Michael “Venom/MVP” Page** 

A dream matchup for striking purists, this is the kind of fight that feels like box office the moment it’s announced. No gimmicks, no elite grappling negating elite grappling, just elite striking minds trying to outthink and out-hurt each other at the highest level.

We can all acknowledge that this isn’t the same Adesanya who once lapped the middleweight division, but it would be foolish to underestimate one of the greatest strikers the Octagon has ever seen. Adesanya’s recent losses have come only to champions and elite contenders, including Nassourdine Imavov, who could very well be fighting for undisputed gold in early 2026. For nearly a decade, “The Last Stylebender” has been the face of the 185 division, sharpening his craft against the very best including one of the most iconic knockouts in UFC history over his rival Alex Perreira. 

Izzy is a master tactician. He wins fights methodically, using patience, feints and distance to draw reactions before detonating precise counters. Sharp jabs, vicious check hooks and thudding calf kicks slowly force opponents to overcommit, and when they do they end up paying. As Adesanya has said himself, he doesn’t “throw and hope,” he *aims and fires*. Even now, that remains the truth. 

On the other side stands Michael “Venom” Page, who somehow seems to be getting better with time. Despite being two years older than Adesanya, MVP looks to be trending upward at this stage of his career. After years of dominance in Bellator, Page arrived in the UFC with a clear message: he’s here for big fights or a title run, but preferably both.

MVP’s unorthodox, karate-based style is a nightmare to solve. His explosive movements, wide stance, and deceptive timing frustrate opponents and lure them into mistakes. Much like Adesanya, Page thrives when fighters freeze or hesitate, exploiting defensive gaps with sudden bursts of violence. His style isn’t just flashy, it’s calculated chaos. 

Aside from a razor-close decision loss to a highly skilled Ian Machado Garry, MVP has taken care of business against established names and earned his place among the division’s elite. This fight makes sense from every angle: a marquee matchup for Adesanya as his legendary career enters its later chapters, and a chance for Page to test himself against a former champion while climbing the rankings.

This would be a high-level striking chess match between two men who don’t want to wrestle, they want to *create moments*. If there’s one fight I hope materializes in 2026, this might be at the very top of the list.

**Ciryl “Bon Gamin” Gane vs. Alexander “Drago” Volkov** 

With Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall likely sidelined into early 2026 due to an eye injury and potential surgery sustained in his title defense against Ciryl Gane, the heavyweight division may need an interim solution. If that’s the case, there may not be a more fitting fight than a long-awaited rematch between Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov, this time with gold on the line. 

We’ve seen this matchup before, but three rounds never felt like enough. Their first meeting ended in a razor-thin split decision win for Gane, a result that remains controversial to this day. Even UFC President Dana White made his displeasure clear Octagon-side, telling Volkov he believed he’d done enough to win. When a fight is that close, and that disputed, there’s only one way to settle it properly: run it back, five rounds, with the belt at stake. 

Gane showed flashes of brilliance in his brief fight with Aspinall. Early on he looked sharp and composed, snapping clean jabs, bloodying the champion and gliding around the cage with his trademark fluidity. At his best, Gane is a mobile kickboxing technician, and arguably one of the best pure athletes the heavyweight division has ever seen. Light on his feet and comfortable at range, he overwhelms opponents with precision, rhythm and timing, touching them repeatedly before detonating unexpected strikes. To my eye, the version of Gane we saw against Aspinall looked more refined than the one who narrowly edged Volkov.

Volkov, however, remains a problem few heavyweights can solve. Beyond the intimidating presence and the iconic back tattoo, “Drago” is a long, methodical pressure striker who thrives on volume and control. Comfortable both standing and grappling, Volkov uses his reach masterfully, pumping jabs, stabbing crosses and front kicks that force opponents backward. He owns the center of the cage, steadily walking fighters down and dragging them into his pace, a classic heavyweight grind that breaks rhythm and resolve. 

In my opinion, Volkov did enough to win their first fight in late 2024 and should have been the man facing Aspinall for the title. That said, Gane’s performance against the champion suggested real growth. So what better way to answer the lingering questions than to put them back across from one another for five rounds and the interim heavyweight gold on the line?

If Aspinall needs time to heal, this fight doesn’t just make sense, it feels necessary. A disputed result, two elite heavyweights and a division that demands clarity. Let them settle it the right way, 1 vs 1 in the octagon. 

If 2026 can deliver even close to what fans are hoping for, we’re in for another year to remember. If my potential matchups come into fruition, strike-crazy fireworks await in Adesanya vs. MVP where precision meets unorthodox flair, while Gane vs. Volkov II promises to settle unfinished business in the heavyweight division with everything on the line between two worthy challengers. Two fights, two very different styles, one thing in common: pure, unmissable MMA action between some of the world’s best.