Without further ado, let\u2019s look at 10 outlandish MMA predictions for 2026!<\/p>\n
Outlandish MMA Predictions 2026
\n1 \u2013 Dakota Ditcheva will debut in the UFC in October<\/p>\n
Dakota Ditcheva<\/a> is, without a doubt, the hottest prospect outside of the UFC today. She\u2019s\u00a0dangerous by name and by nature. At 15-0 with 13 finishes, Ditcheva is a force to be reckoned with at flyweight and the UFC\u2019s 125lvs division could do with a little freshness. The PFL simply aren\u2019t pushing Ditcheva enough and, like many before her, we\u2019re at risk of her career stalling.<\/a><\/p>\n This MMA prediction will see Ditcheva sign for the UFC and debut on their annual PPV in Abu Dhabi. She\u2019s fought all around the world and on a card that often features British talent<\/a>, she\u2019ll clash with either Casey O\u2019Neill<\/a> or, depending on future results, Rose Namajunas<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2 \u2013 Arman Tsarukyan will fight for the undisputed lightweight title twice in 2026<\/p>\n As we know, the interim lightweight title<\/a> is up for grabs in the main event of the first show of the year<\/a>. The prediction will see Paddy Pimblett defeat Justin Gaethje and then meet Arman Tsarukyan in May for the title. This will be for the undisputed belt after the current champion, Ilia Topuria<\/a>, relinquishes his belt due to outside-the-octagon issues.<\/p>\n Tsarukyan will defeat Pimblett and go on to defend his belt against Max Holloway, after the latter retains his BMF title against Charles Oliveira at UFC 326. In a close affair, Tsarukyan will get the better of\u00a0Blessed and set up an outing with Topuria in 2027.<\/p>\n 3 \u2013 The White House card will have a negative effect on future cards throughout the year<\/p>\n We\u2019re all excited for the scheduled White House card<\/a>, why wouldn\u2019t we be? It\u2019s set to be the biggest UFC card in history, with President Trump noting<\/a> that there will be eight or nine title fights on the card.<\/p>\n It sounds amazing. With that being said, it will have a negative effect on future UFC cards. If Trump is telling the truth and there are nine title fights on the White House card, that only leaves two titles to be defended at other events. We assume the numbered events in May and July will have titles attached, meaning events following this may not have titles attached.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be great to have a mega event in June, however, it\u2019ll have a negative impact on future events.<\/p>\n 4 \u2013 Tom Aspinall will defend his belt three times in 2026<\/p>\n Tom Aspinall\u2019s career has stalled as of late, through no real fault of his own. He became the interim heavyweight champion in November 2023, defended that belt in July 2024 and made just a single appearance in 2025. The eye poke<\/a> felt around the world of MMA will keep Aspinall out until at least April, but more likely May or June.<\/p>\n In June, Aspinall will rematch Ciryl Gane and despite not looking his usual dominant self in their original fight, Aspinall will get the victory.<\/p>\n He\u2019ll meet Waldo Cortes-Acosta in October in Abu Dhabi, utilising his superior boxing skills and slicker movement to knock his opponent out in the first round.<\/p>\n The heavyweight king will then look to make a quick turn around to compete on the final numbered card on the year in December. His opponent will be Sergei Pavlovich, who will pick up his third straight win in a row at some point during 2026. An ambitious MMA prediction for sure.<\/p>\n 5 \u2013 Sean Strickland Retires<\/p>\n Former middleweight champion, Sean Strickland, had a 2025 to forget. Losing his rematch in a dominant fashion to Dricus du Plessis, followed by a six-month ban<\/a>, Strickland will be hoping for a better 2026. It won\u2019t be.<\/p>\n He\u2019s scheduled to meet Anthony Hernandez in February, where\u00a0Fluffy\u00a0will get the better of Strickland with ease. Staring down the barrel of three straight losses, Strickland will try and get back to form with a Michael Page match-up.<\/p>\n In a close affair, the Brit will get the better of Strickland, leading to the American calling time on his career. It won\u2019t be big, it won\u2019t be special and will likely go unnoticed.<\/p>\n 6 \u2013 Kayla Harrison Also Retires<\/p>\n The bantamweight queen, Kayla Harrison, will be the first champion to defend her belt in 2026 when she meets the returning GOAT, Amanda Nunes. It\u2019s a tall order, as Nunes is 14-1 in her last 15 fights and has beaten each and every former women\u2019s bantamweight champion.<\/p>\n This prediction sees Harrison defeat Nunes, possibly even within the distance, go on to fight Valentina Shevchenko at the White House, winning due to her size and then possibly return in December. She\u2019ll then leave her belt and gloves in the middle of the octagon, with nothing left to prove and with her name firmly in the hat for the greatest of all time.<\/p>\n 7 \u2013 Usman Nurmagomedov Signs for the UFC and Debuts on the same card as Dakota Ditcheva in October<\/p>\n PFL\u2019s\u00a0inaugural lightweight world championship, Usman Nurmagomedov, is, on paper, far too good for anyone in the PFL. He\u2019s undefeated at 20-0-0-1 and has been dominant in a high majority of those fights. A member of the Nurmagomedov family, Usman is destined for the UFC at some point to follow in the footsteps of his brother Umar Nurmagomedov and his cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov.<\/p>\n He stated<\/a> that he has two more fights on his PFL contract and intends to fight once at the beginning and once at the end of the year. With that being said, he\u2019s set to headline the PFL\u2019s return to Dubai on February 7th. If his manager, Ali Abdelaziz can secure a contract in principle for Usman, expect him to be out again in the summer, rather than the end of the year.<\/p>\n This would free him from his PFL contract and allow him to sign for the UFC. His debut will come on October\u2019s Abu Dhabi card, a place that he\u2019s familiar with. This signing would have fans on the edge of their seats for sure.<\/p>\n 8 \u2013 Conor McGregor Beats Michael Chandler at the White House and calls out Khabib<\/p>\n This is one of the more anticipated MMA predictions of 2026. It sees the UFC\u2019s biggest ever star, Conor McGregor, make his highly anticipated return to action to finally face Michael Chandler.<\/p>\n The White House card<\/a> is set to be huge and having the PPV megastar, McGregor return would top off a huge card. McGregor has been out since his leg break against Dustin Poirier in 2021 but was scheduled to face Chandler at UFC 303<\/a>, however, McGregor had to withdraw due to injury.<\/p>\n Taking place at 170lbs, McGregor finishes Chandler on the White House lawn, takes to the mic and calls out his former foe, Khabib. Of course, it won\u2019t come to fruition; however, it\u2019ll certainly grab headlines.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/imago1069476761-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>UFC Fight Night in Doha : Dan Hooker v Arman Tsarukyan Arman Tsarukyan of Georgia reacts after a victory against Dan Hooker of New Zealand in a lightweight bout fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar. on November 22, 2025. DOHA Qatar Copyright: xNOUSHADxTHEKKAYILx<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/imago1062840878-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a>UFC 316 NEWARK, NEW JERSEY \u2013 JUNE 07: Julianna Pena fights Kayla Harrison during the UFC 316 at Prudential Center on June 07, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey, United State. Photo by Matt Davies\/PxImages Newark Prudential Center New Jersey United State Copyright: xMattxDaviesx<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Oct 6, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Khabib Nurmagomedov (red gloves) fights Conor McGregor (blue gloves) during UFC 229 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports