{"id":778977,"date":"2026-07-04T17:54:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T17:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/778977\/"},"modified":"2026-07-04T17:54:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T17:54:32","slug":"ufc-fantasy-draft-season-5-which-72-ufc-fighters-will-close-out-2026-in-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/778977\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Fantasy Draft, Season 5: Which 72 UFC fighters will close out 2026 in style?"},"content":{"rendered":"

MMA Fighting\u2019s UFC Fantasy League is back for Season 5!<\/p>\n

2026 is halfway over, which means it\u2019s time to get drafting. If you\u2019re new here, for the past couple of years, every six months, we do a UFC fantasy league, drafting 12 fighters across the 11 UFC weight classes in the hopes of claiming victory over our fellow MMA Fighting staffers.<\/p>\n

Season 4 of this experiment wrapped up with UFC Baku, leaving a perfect off week for all six competitors to reset and refocus before drafting our Season 5 teams. Well, five of them anyway. Alexander K. Lee doesn\u2019t need to reset anything, as he ran roughshod over the rest of the MMA Fighting staff<\/a> en route to scoring the most points ever amassed in a season, largely thanks to Season 4 MVP Josh Hokit. Meanwhile, the race to the bottom was hotly contested in Season 4, but ultimately, Guilherme Cruz takes the Cone of Shame from Jed Meshew, meaning he gets first dibs in this season\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Congratulations to AK, Canada reigns supreme. Brazil, meanwhile, is looking to rebuild.<\/p>\n

But now, on to new business! UFC 329 is right around the corner, and with it, the next season of the MMA Fighting UFC Fantasy Draft. The rules are the same as last time: this is not a daily fantasy league, but one that will play out over the next six months. Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Guilherme Cruz, Jed Meshew, Mike Heck, and Jos\u00e9 Youngs draft teams of 12 fighters \u2014 one in each of the major weight classes and one wild card \u2014 with each fighter earning points for their team based on the scoring criteria below, with the season ending at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

+100 points for a win+50 points for a finish+50 points for a Performance of the Night or Fight of the Night bonus+50 points for beating an opponent in the UFC rankings+25 points for being in a title fight+25 points for being in a main event fight<\/p>\n

Easy enough? We sure hope so.<\/p>\n

Like last season, we\u2019re doing a snake draft with draft positions decided by reverse finishing order from Season 4, and each player may designate two keepers from their previous team.<\/p>\n

So without further ado, let\u2019s get drafting!<\/p>\n

Guilherme Cruz \u2014 Valter Walker, Paddy Pimblett<\/p>\n

Heavyweight is a thin class this year, so Gui keeps a top-scoring heavyweight with a fight already on the books, and supplements that by boldly selecting \u201cThe Baddy,\u201d who is an underdog to Benoit Saint Denis next weekend.<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 Youngs \u2014 Umar Nurmagomedov, Carlos Prates<\/p>\n

Jos\u00e9 keeps Nurmagomedov, who has a tough fight scheduled against David Martinez at UFC Abu Dhabi later this month, and could get a second fight in this season. He also retains Prates, who has been a reliable scorer, but has also suggested he might hold out for a title shot, which probably won\u2019t happen this year.<\/p>\n

Damon Martin \u2014 Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski<\/p>\n

Damon retains two champions on his roster, locking him in for at least some points when they fight. Makhachev is currently set to face Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, while Volkanovski is not booked, but is expected to fight Movsar Evloev sometime in the next few months.<\/p>\n

Mike Heck \u2014 Gable Steveson, Iwo Baraniewski<\/p>\n

Mike made a heads-up pick of Steveson last season under the belief that the Olympic gold medalist would fight at UFC White House. That didn\u2019t happen, but he is booked for UFC 329 and will probably get another fight in this year. Baraniewski, meanwhile, got two quick finishes and two POTN bonuses in Season 4, and though he\u2019s not booked now, should get at least one more fight this year.<\/p>\n

Jed Meshew \u2014 Carli Judice, Fatima Kline<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve kept the same energy as last season, retaining the same two women as in Season 4, because they continue to deliver results. Well, Kline didn\u2019t, but she\u2019s booked against Tabatha Ricci this month and is a proven scorer, much like Judice, who is booked for August.<\/p>\n

Alexander K. Lee \u2014 Kevin Vallejos, Gillian Robertson<\/p>\n

Vallejos is one of the brightest prospects in all of MMA, and should be poised for a big opportunity over the next few months, while Robertson has a big opportunity already \u2014 a title shot against Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330.<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 06: Max Holloway poses on the scale during the UFC 326 ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 06, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Cruz \u2014 Max Holloway (wild card)<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Mackenzie Dern<\/p>\n

Heck \u2014 Dricus du Plessis<\/p>\n

Meshew \u2014 Benoit Saint Denis<\/p>\n

A lot of expected names off the board in the first round, with perhaps a few surprises. Gui immediately uses his wild card spot to take Holloway, who is heavily favored against Conor McGregor next weekend, and could fight again, too. Jos\u00e9 fills out heavyweight with the possible future undisputed champ. Damon backs Dern to beat Robertson \u2014 the first head-to-head pairing of the draft, going against AK. Mike believes DDP will beat Kamaru Usman in their main event fight. I feel like I was gifted BSD, who I expect will demolish Paddy Pimblett and then main event UFC Paris in September. And AK takes one of the few good women\u2019s bantamweight options.<\/p>\n

\"Arman<\/a><\/p>\n

Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia reacts after a victory against Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena (ABHA Arena) in Doha, Qatar, on November 22, 2025. (Photo by Noushad Thekkayil\/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Erin Blanchfield<\/p>\n

If wrestling matches counted, Tsarukyan would be the most valuable player in the league. Sadly, they don\u2019t, so AK is hoping Tsarukyan gets his lightweight title shot this season. I believe Ya\u00f1ez is going to demolish Cody Garbrandt, and then maybe get another fight this year. Heck makes a crafty selection, picking highly-touted prospect Milosevic, who should demolish Hailey Cowan in August. Damon continues consolidating his women\u2019s divisions with Blanchfield, the first non-champion he\u2019s selected. Jos\u00e9 adds Vicente Luque at middleweight, as the finisher is booked against Tresean Gore. And Gui fills out his 205 spot with Nikita Krylov, who is booked against Robert Whittaker in his light heavyweight debut.<\/p>\n

\"Khamzat<\/a><\/p>\n

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – MAY 09: Khamzat Chimaev of Russia prepares to face Sean Strickland in the UFC middleweight championship fight during the UFC 328 event at Prudential Center on May 09, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Khazmat Chimaev<\/p>\n

Heck \u2014Valentina Shevchenko<\/p>\n

Gui takes Medic, who is currently booked for a main event against Daniel Rodriguez in a few weeks. Jos\u00e9 takes Silva, who is not yet booked, but like Prates, tends to deliver results. Damon believes Chimaev is going to get another crack at Sean Strickland and reclaim his middleweight title. Mike takes the women\u2019s flyweight GOAT to keep on keeping on whenever she is booked against Natalia Silva. I finish the drill, bringing back Mesquita to run back the same women\u2019s lineup as last season. And AK believes Aspinall will fend off Gane this time around,<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 06: Petr Yan of Russia reacts to the end of the round in the UFC bantamweight championship fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Lee \u2014 Movsar Evloev (wild card)<\/p>\n

Meshew \u2014 Lone\u2019er Kavanagh<\/p>\n

Youngs \u2014 Tatiana Suarez<\/p>\n

Cruz \u2014 Christian Leroy Duncan<\/p>\n

AK becomes the second to use his wild card spot, taking the possible future featherweight champion. I retain Kavangh\u2019s services as he\u2019s poised to bash Brandon Royval next weekend. Heck finishes out his women\u2019s divisions with Thainara, an outright fade of Amanda Lemos. Damon picks Yan to retain his bantamweight title whenever he fights, adding to his team of champions. Jos\u00e9 keeps Tatiana Suarez on his team as good women\u2019s selections are starting to dry up. And Gui picks CLD to beat up Jared Cannonier when they face off this month.<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 06: Alexandre Pantoja of Brazil enters the Octagon in the UFC flyweight championship fight during the UFC 323 event at T-Mobile Arena on December 06, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Cruz \u2014 Alessandro Costa<\/p>\n

Youngs \u2014 Alexandre Pantoja<\/p>\n

Gui takes Costa, who is a favorite against Cody Durden at UFC 329. Jos\u00e9 picks Pantoja to reclaim his flyweight title. Martin again adds to his team of champions and keeps the run on flyweights going. Mike picks Turner, who is booked against Kau\u00ea Fernandes at UFC 330. I take Luke Riley, who should throttle Kai Kamaka III next weekend. And AK rounds out the halfway mark with Sandhagen, who is booked in a tough fight with Mario Bautista this weekend.<\/p>\n

\"WASHINGTON,<\/a><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 14: Diego Lopes of Brazil celebrates a win against Steve Garcia in a featherweight fight during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn at the White House on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Lee \u2014 Mansur Abdul-Malik<\/p>\n

Abdul-Malik is booked against Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC 330 and should win emphatically. Smith is in a similar position against Kevin Holland in a couple of weeks. Lopes isn\u2019t booked, but the man likes to fight as often as possible. Guskov is set to run things back with Jan Blachowicz. Grasso is also unbooked, but is a virtual certainty to compete at Noche UFC in September. Barbosa should run through Veronica Hardy in a couple of weeks.<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 04: Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic reacts to his knockout of Khalil Rountree Jr. in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC 320 event at T-Mobile Arena on October 04, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Youngs \u2014 Magomed Ankalaev<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Brando Pericic<\/p>\n

Heck \u2014 Merab Dvalishvili<\/p>\n

Meshew \u2014 Jiri Prochazka<\/p>\n

Lee \u2014 Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev<\/p>\n

Some contention here as Shi Ming has been fighting on Road to UFC cards, but if that happens again, we\u2019ll allow it, I guess. Ankalaev is booked against Khalil Rountree at UFC Abu Dhabi. Pericic is unbooked but had a pair of good finishes in Season 4. Dvalishvili seems like he\u2019ll be fighting Yan in a trilogy bout next. Prochazka is unbooked, but he\u2019s always gas, plus, every team needs a crazy guy on it. Yakhyaev is coming off an easy mauling and probably gets another setup fight this year.<\/p>\n

\"LAS<\/a><\/p>\n

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 10: Conor McGregor of Ireland prepares to fight Dustin Poirier during the UFC 264 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 10, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Heck \u2014 Conor McGregor (wild card)<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Magomed Zaynukov<\/p>\n

A lot more shots in the dark once we get this far into the draft. Coria is set to face Stewart Nicoll in a couple of weeks. Pinas should destroy Cesar Almeida this weekend. Zaynukov, AKA John Pork, is finally getting his UFC debut. Jos\u00e9 was running out of options, so he was kind of priced into taking Pereira on spec. Amanda Nunes will, theoretically, fight Kayla Harrison this year. But the big shocker is McGregor, who hasn\u2019t fought in 5 years, and is a big underdog to Holloway.<\/p>\n

\"PERTH,<\/a><\/p>\n

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 02: Quillan Salkilld of Australia reacts after a knockout victory against Beneil Dariush of Iran in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at RAC Arena on May 02, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ed Mulholland\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Cruz \u2014 Charles Jourdain<\/p>\n

Youngs \u2014 Quillan Salkilld<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Michelle Montague<\/p>\n

Heck \u2014 Myktybek Orolbai<\/p>\n

Jourdain is not officially booked, but is rumored to be fighting Chito Vera in a few weeks. Salkilld was just booked to fight Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120. Montague isn\u2019t booked currently. Orolbai should continue to add to his win total against Jeremiah Wells. Kuniev fights Tyrell Fortune in a few weeks, in what is sure to be an awful thing to watch. Wang Cong is taking on Tracy Cortez next weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Ian<\/a><\/p>\n

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 22: Ian Machado Garry of Ireland reacts after a victory against Belal Muhammad in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n

Lee \u2014 Ian Machado Garry<\/p>\n

Meshew \u2014 Anthony Hernandez (wild card)<\/p>\n

Martin \u2014 Islam Dulatov (wild card)<\/p>\n

Youngs \u2014 Ateba Gautier (wild card)<\/p>\n

Cruz \u2014 Vinicius Oliveira<\/p>\n

AK rounds out his roster by believing Garry will upset Makhachev at UFC 330. I believe \u201cFluffy\u201d is going to survive early against Gregory Rodrigues and then overwhelm him late when they fight in August. Mike was so impressed by Almabayev\u2019s win over Charles Johnson that he\u2019s backing him to keep moving up the rankings. Damon picks Dulatov to bash Wellington Turman at the end of this month. Jos\u00e9 gets a steal in Gautier, who isn\u2019t booked, but has been a guaranteed earner when he does fight. And Gui wraps up the draft by taking Lok Dog in his featherweight spot.<\/p>\n

And there you have it! The fifth MMA Fighting UFC Fantasy Draft is in the books! A couple of surprises this season as nobody drafted Season 4 MVP Josh Hokit, nor runner-up Justin Gaethje. Also, middleweight champion Sean Strickland was left on the sidelines, too.<\/p>\n

Who got snubbed, and which picks were reaches? Let us know in the comments, and vote on who you think takes the trophy this season below.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"MMA Fighting\u2019s UFC Fantasy League is back for Season 5! 2026 is halfway over, which means it\u2019s time…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":778978,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[570],"tags":[64,63,786,1347,785,45518,1591,85,787,1396,14855],"class_list":["post-778977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mma","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-fighting","tag-latest-news","tag-mma","tag-mmaf-podcast-network","tag-podcasts","tag-sports","tag-ufc","tag-ufc-news","tag-videos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=778977"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/778977\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/778978"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=778977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=778977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=778977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}