7 UFC Fighters Who Could Become Champions in 2026
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This year, The Scrap celebrates its 7-year anniversary, and what better way to mark the occasion than by looking ahead to the future of the UFC? 2025 has set the stage for some of the sport’s most exciting fighters. But as we enter 2026, several athletes are positioned to make a serious push for championship gold.
In honor of our milestone, we’ve put together a list of seven fighters who could become champions in 2026. From rising stars hungry for their first title to established names ready to reclaim glory, each of these athletes brings skill, charisma, and momentum that could define the next chapter of the UFC.
Here are the seven fighters to watch:
Payton Talbott
Payton Talbott sits just outside the bantamweight top 15, likely due to stumbling at the start of 2025. Still, every fight he’s had since 2024 has taken place on PPV, and he’s closing out the year with a massive opportunity against former double champ and current #10 contender Henry Cejudo.
Competing on the final PPV of the year, and on ESPN, could give him major momentum heading into 2026. Cracking the top 10 to start the year would put him in an excellent position. Talbott likely needs two wins to enter the title conversation.
Merab Dvalishvili is an active champion who has already beaten most of the ranked contenders, which keeps the path to a title shot wide open. And even though they squashed the beef, Merab hasn’t forgotten Talbott calling him “dumb as bricks”. So I’m sure that lingering tension will only add to the storyline.
Ian Machado Garry
Ian Machado Garry is currently ranked number two at welterweight in a very crowded division. He closed out 2025 with a win over former champion Belal Muhammad on November 22.
Garry remains polarizing for several reasons, including taking his wife’s last name and moving from Ireland to Brazil, where he has fully immersed himself in the culture. His extreme confidence, which is backed up by his performances, combined with his charisma, allows him to win over crowds and sell fights.
Comparisons to Conor McGregor have followed him for years, and at this point he is already a borderline superstar. Becoming champion in 2026 could solidify that status. With the UFC since 2021, Machado Garry is now very much a veteran of the organization and has earned his climb up the rankings.
Anthony Hernandez
Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez was on a strong run before suffering an injury. Brendan Allen stepped in for him and went on to break down Reinier de Ridder on short notice. Earlier in the year, Fluffy had already beaten Allen, and he now sits at number four in the division.
Middleweight is wide open with Khamzat Chimaev as the new champion. Hernandez’s pressure-heavy style overwhelms opponents, and he has the skill set to make a legitimate title push. The only concern is how infrequently Chimaev competes. However, Hernandez could fight the rest of the top five to secure his spot as the next challenger.
The one obstacle might be the recent back-and-forth that suggests Chimaev is interested in fighting Nassourdine Imavov after Ramadan.
Kyoji Horiguchi
Kyoji Horiguchi is back in the UFC after many years away, and he returned in a big way by earning a finish, proving he can dominate wherever the fight goes. At 35 years old and with a veteran résumé, he would likely be fast-tracked toward a title shot. His body of work speaks for itself, so he will not need to justify his place in the conversation.
After his win, Horiguchi called for a fight with current champion Alexandre Pantoja. The two share a friendly relationship as teammates, and Pantoja responded with respect, praising Horiguchi as a training partner and saying he would entertain the matchup. That opportunity would only come if Pantoja gets past the surging Joshua Van in December.
Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor has not fought since 2021 after suffering a brutal leg injury against Dustin Poirier. He is pushing to compete on the White House card in June, and it was recently announced that he is in the middle of a suspension that ends in March. The presence and star power McGregor brings is undeniable.
If he returns and wins, he will not be far from a title fight at lightweight, welterweight, or even for the BMF title. You might think it would be difficult to book a title fight in either traditional division because both are crowded with worthy contenders. But the draw of a McGregor fight changes everything. His return would have anyone and everyone calling for a chance to face the sport’s biggest star.
Iasmin Lucindo
Iasmin Lucindo is quickly emerging as one of the top young prospects entering true contender territory. With a new champion at strawweight, the division is essentially reset and full of fresh opportunities.
Lucindo was forced to withdraw from her December bout due to an undisclosed injury. Assuming it is minor, her usual activity level suggests she could return early in 2026. To put herself in position for a potential title shot later in the year, getting back on track quickly will be crucial.
Charles Oliveira
After winning his most recent fight, Charles Oliveira remains one of the top contenders in the lightweight division. But a traditional title shot in 2026 seems unlikely — especially if Ilia Topuria stays champion and with the current interim title booking delaying the queue.
What is realistic, however, is a run at the BMF belt. Interest in that title is high within the UFC, and Oliveira fits the criteria perfectly. He’s a fan-friendly fighter who consistently delivers excitement, holding multiple UFC records for finishes and submissions. That’s practically an unspoken requirement for the BMF championship… Someone willing to entertain, take risks, and accept any challenge.
Oliveira even called for a BMF fight with Max Holloway after his win, and Max responded to the callout. With both men showing interest, and Oliveira’s style aligning with what the BMF belt represents, the matchup makes a lot of sense heading into 2026.
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