UFC Fighter of the Year Rankings for 2026

The 2026 UFC season has been packed with thrilling moments, standout victories, and breakthrough performances. As the year draws to a close, the battle for Fighter of the Year is heating up. Many fighters have impressed with championship wins, major upsets, and consistent displays inside the Octagon. But who truly stands out?

This list ranks the top 15 UFC fighters of 2026 based on their results and impact throughout the year. Factors considered include quality of opponents, significance of wins, championship achievements, finishing ability, and consistency. Activity level also matters; fighters who faced top competition multiple times hold an edge over those with just one big win.

While winning UFC titles certainly boosts a fighter’s case, dominant wins and victories against top contenders weigh heavily too. Reputation and past rankings are less important here than what was achieved in 2026. The order may shift as more fights take place, but these 15 athletes have made strong cases for this year’s top honor.

Rankings from 15 to 11

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

Significant 2026 Moments

• May: Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev via 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 strong by beating former champ Brandon Moreno in February via unanimous decision. Lost to Brandon Royval by submission in July but bounced back with a first-round KO over Ramazan Temirov in October, showing promise as a rising British flyweight.
• 9. Josh Hokit: Made waves with three big wins: a first-round KO over Denzel Freeman in January, unanimous decision over Curtis Blaydes in April, and a second-round TKO against Derrick Lewis in June. Demonstrated both power and endurance at heavyweight.
• 8. Jasmine Jasudavicius: Solidified her standing in women’s flyweight with a unanimous decision over Karine Silva in April and a key win against Erin Blanchfield in October. Her control and pace have earned her respect as a title contender.
• 7. Carlos Ulberg: Claimed the light heavyweight title in April by knocking out former champ Jiri Prochazka in round one at UFC 327. This victory marked a career milestone and began his reign as champion representing New Zealand and City Kickboxing.
• 6. Mauricio Ruffy: Showed striking dominance by stopping Rafael Fiziev in round two (January) and knocking out Michael Chandler early in June. Suffered a setback in September with a first-round knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan but remains an exciting fighter capable of a comeback.
• 5. Sean Strickland: Returned to form with wins over Anthony Hernandez (TKO in round three) in February and a tight split decision against Khamzat Chimaev in May. Known for his jab, defense, and bold personality, he’s a middleweight to watch.
• 4. Joshua Van: Dominant flyweight champion who defended his belt twice: a fifth-round TKO over Tatsuro Taira in May and a unanimous decision against former champ Alexandre Pantoja in September. At 25, he’s a rising star with relentless pace and boxing skill.
• 3. Petr Yan: Successfully defended his bantamweight title in October, edging former champ Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision in a tough rematch. His sharp boxing and resilience keep him among the division’s elite.
• 2. Alexander Volkanovski: Continued his featherweight dominance with a five-round decision over Diego Lopes in January and a stunning second-round TKO of undefeated Movsar Evloev in October. At 38, his fight IQ and striking remain top-tier.
• 1. Justin Gaethje: Had a defining year capturing the interim lightweight title by beating Paddy Pimblett in January and then becoming undisputed champion after stopping Ilia Topuria in June. Known for his aggressive style and pressure, Gaethje reached the pinnacle of the lightweight division at 37.