Copy of MMA divisional grades: Lightweight, men's flyweigh...
Key takeaways
- It's hard to believe we're midway through 2026, a year that is shaping up to be one of the best for MMA in recent memory.
- Two previously undefeated champions, Ilia Topuria and Khamzat Chimaev, suffered their first professional defeats in massive upsets.
- The year's storylines have featured everything from high-profile upsets to prefight animus and never-before-seen in-cage action.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
It's hard to believe we're midway through 2026, a year that is shaping up to be one of the best for MMA in recent memory.
Former middleweight and light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira became the first UFC athlete to fight for titles in three weight classes, though he fell short in his attempt at claiming the interim heavyweight championship. Two previously undefeated champions, Ilia Topuria and Khamzat Chimaev, suffered their first professional defeats in massive upsets. And first-time title challenger Carlos Ulberg claimed the UFC light heavyweight belt on one good leg.
The year's storylines have featured everything from high-profile upsets to prefight animus and never-before-seen in-cage action. As the UFC's calendar hits its halfway point, ESPN grades each weight class on fight quality and fighter activity and looks ahead to the best possible matchup of the second half at each weight.