We’re only halfway through 2026, and there’s already been more than a few thrilling moments inside the octagon, and some incredible battles that took place that left UFC fans wanting more.
While there’s a plethora of great fights to remember from the past six months, the drama that unfolded in the cage included the more traditional slugfests that always get remembered but there were also some technical juggernauts, and two all time fights that will certainly find their way onto the year-end list, and beyond.
So with that said, here’s our selections for the best fights in 2026 thus far.
No. 1: TIE – Justin Gaethje vs. Ilia Topuria (UFC White House)
In a rarity, the MMA Fighting voting panel could not come to a majority in the Fight of the Midyear category, so two fights share the top spot — including Justin Gaethje’s moment of all moments against Ilia Topuria in the main event of UFC White House.
Gaethje is, obviously, used to being in this position, but this time he did the one thing that alluded him, and the one thing 95 percent of the MMA community deemed impossible: He defeated Topuria to become the undisputed lightweight champion of the world, and may have changed Topuria’s career forever in the process. Gaethje said it best when calling it his “Miracle on Ice” moment, and it was. What “The Highlight” accomplished is one of the greatest moments in UFC history.
But as we’re all aware, it takes two to tango, and Topuria held up his side of the bargain. “El Matador” had Gaethje on the ropes in Round 2, and made a mental blunder that allowed Gaethje to stay in the fight. Additionally, Topuria went through the fire like never before and he fought through it until he simply no longer could.
These two men put it all on the line, and it was the American who celebrated one of the biggest upset victories in UFC history on the White House South Lawn.
No. 1: TIE – Josh Hokit vs. Curtis Blaydes (UFC 327)
The Josh Hokit story took a big turn in his biggest test to date at UFC 327 (am I right, Miami?).
After defeating some of the lower-level talent in the not-very-deep UFC heavyweight division, and delivering some questionable material on the microphone, Hokit was given an opportunity by the UFC brass for a huge step up in competition against perennial contender and recent interim title challenger Curtis Blaydes. Throughout fight week, Hokit was not getting the kind of heat one would want from the fan base. It wasn’t that ‘We don’t like this guy’ heel heat, but more of, ‘Get this guy off of my TV screen’ heat.
And then, that damn bell rang, and all hell broke loose in ways nobody could have ever expected.
Hokit got right in Blaydes’ face and the two fighters teed off on the other for 15 minutes, both getting hurt multiple times throughout the insane bout. The Miami crowd couldn’t believe it, and heck, neither could we watching it live.
In the end, Hokit got the nod in one of—if not the—greatest fights in UFC heavyweight history, and one that got him on the UFC White House card less than an hour later. Plus, he did what very few have been able to do: He turned UFC CEO Dana White into a fan.
No. 3 – Joshua Van vs. Tatsuro Taira (UFC 328)
Forgotten among the chaos of the top fights was an instant flyweight championship classic between two of the youngest and most talented fighters on the UFC roster.
Joshua Van put his newly won flyweight title on the line—a championship he certainly earned, but not in the way anyone would have liked—for the first time against Tatsuro Taira. Of course, the fight that needed to be made was the rematch with Alexandre Pantoja, but with the former champ on the sidelines rehabbing the injury he suffered in his loss to Van, Taira got the call in an intriguing piece of matchmaking.
The fight started off with Taira using his incredible grappling prowess, but Van doing a fantastic job defending and making it to the second round.
And then Taira said, “Let’s just throw heaters.” Van was happy to oblige.
It was a slugfest and the longer the fight went on, the more momentum went in Van’s direction, with the champion nearly getting the finish in Round 3. Taira battled back in the fourth, but Van put a stamp on it with a fifth-round TKO win.
What a fight, what a performance, and the Van vs. Pantoja rematch, when it happens, could make the year-end list as well.
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