MMA midyear awards: Which event bested UFC Freedom...
Key takeaways
- The fight card in Washington, D.C., concluded with a massive title bout upset, but it was not the only belt-winning surprise in the first half of 2026.
- So many big moments, and we're only halfway through the year.
- Percentage of the vote: 50% Others receiving votes: UFC Freedom 250, UFC 324
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
ESPNESPN staff Jun 29, 2026, 09:00 AM ETMultiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions. It has been a high-profile year so far for mixed martial arts. In May, two pioneers of the sport, Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano, came out of long retirements to headline the inaugural foray into MMA by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions. That event drew nearly 17 million viewers, according to Netflix. Earlier this month, the UFC put on an historic event at the White House in front of an invitation-only audience of politicians, celebrities and military personnel, and reached another 17 million.
The fight card in Washington, D.C., concluded with a massive title bout upset, but it was not the only belt-winning surprise in the first half of 2026. In addition to Justin Gaethje taking the lightweight belt from previously unbeaten Ilia Topuria in the main event at UFC Freedom 250, middleweight Sean Strickland also handed reigning champion Khamzat Chimaev his first defeat at UFC 328 in May. Carlos Ulberg shockingly overcame a first-round leg injury to knock out Jiří Procházka for the light heavyweight title at UFC 327 in April -- and it wasn't even the best fight on that card.
So many big moments, and we're only halfway through the year. An ESPN panel voted on superlatives for the first six months of 2026. Here are the results.