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UFC Fighter of the Year Rankings for 2026
Amir Azimi
Power Ranking

UFC Fighter of the Year Rankings for 2026

The 2026 UFC season is nearing its conclusion, and the battle for Fighter of the Year is heating up. This year has featured championship wins, surprise upsets, breakout stars, and unforgettable moments, all vying for the sport’s top individual honor. Who has truly stood out above the rest?

These rankings list the top 15 contenders for UFC Fighter of the Year in 2026, judged on their performances and achievements throughout the year.

The evaluation considers multiple factors such as the level of opponents faced, importance of victories, title success, performance quality, finishing skills, and consistency. Fighters who have repeatedly defeated elite competition hold an edge over those with just one notable win. Securing UFC gold boosts a fighter’s chances but doesn’t guarantee the award—dominant showings and major upsets also weigh heavily. Reputation or pound-for-pound status alone isn’t enough; these rankings focus strictly on what happened in 2026.

The list remains flexible as more fights and title bouts are scheduled. For now, these 15 fighters have made the strongest case based on their impact inside the Octagon.

Fighters Ranked 15 to 11

  • Aaron Pico: Defeated Patricio Pitbull and Losene Keita.
  • Sean O'Malley: Triumphed over Song Yadong and Aiemann Zahabi.
  • Ciryl Gane: Claimed victory against Alex Peirera.
  • Mackenzie Dern: Won against Gillian Robertson.
  • Islam Makhachev: Beat Ian Machado Garry.

Notable Events Timeline

  • May 2026: Sean Strickland upset Khamzat Chimaev by split decision at UFC 328.
  • June 2026: Mauricio Ruffy knocked out Michael Chandler in the first round.
  • September 2026: Joshua Van defended flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331.
  • October 2026: Jasmine Jasudavicius outpointed Erin Blanchfield at UFC Fight Night Edmonton.
  • October 2026: Alexander Volkanovski stopped Movsar Evloev; Petr Yan beat Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333.

Rankings 10 to 1

  • 10. Lone’er Kavanagh: Established himself as a rising flyweight by beating Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision and later knocking out Ramazan Temirov. Suffered a loss to Brandon Royval but bounced back strongly.
  • 9. Josh Hokit: Breakout heavyweight with first-round knockout over Denzel Freeman, unanimous decision win vs Curtis Blaydes, and TKO of Derrick Lewis, showing both power and endurance.
  • 8. Jasmine Jasudavicius: Strengthened her place among top women’s flyweights with wins over Karine Silva and Erin Blanchfield, showcasing control and pace.
  • 7. Carlos Ulberg: Captured the UFC light heavyweight title by knocking out former champ Jiri Prochazka in the first round at UFC 327, marking a career milestone.
  • 6. Mauricio Ruffy: Impressive stoppages of Rafael Fiziev and Michael Chandler highlighted his aggressive style, though he was knocked out by Arman Tsarukyan later in the year.
  • 5. Sean Strickland: Returned to form with TKO of Anthony Hernandez and a split decision win over Khamzat Chimaev, reinforcing his middleweight credentials.
  • 4. Joshua Van: Dominant flyweight champion who defended his belt twice, including a fifth-round TKO of Tatsuro Taira and unanimous decision over Alexandre Pantoja.
  • 3. Petr Yan: Solidified his bantamweight legacy by defeating Merab Dvalishvili in a close unanimous decision rematch at UFC 333, demonstrating tactical skill and resilience.
  • 2. Alexander Volkanovski: Delivered a stellar year with title defenses over Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev, including a second-round TKO of Evloev that handed him his first loss, cementing his featherweight dominance.
  • 1. Justin Gaethje: Had a defining 2026 by winning the interim lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Paddy Pimblett and then capturing the undisputed belt by stopping Ilia Topuria via TKO at UFC Freedom 250, showcasing his relentless pressure and striking.

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