Top 10 Most Anticipated Fights of 2026
Combat sports rarely line up a calendar this loaded. From a returning legend in the Octagon to a farewell at Croke Park, 2026 has handed fans a run of marquee nights. In this SvitUA guide, we take a closer look at the UFC, PFL and top boxing matchups expected to shape 2026. Some have already happened, while fans look forward to others in the coming weeks and months.
Why These 10 Fights Matter
This year blends nostalgia with genuine title stakes. Several former world champions return after long layoffs, while a wave of younger talent pushes for recognition. The mix of UFC fights in 2026 and elite boxing cards means casual viewers and hardcore fans both get something. What makes the slate special is variety. Some bouts settle old scores. Others crown new kings.
Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway II (UFC 329)
McGregor returns for the first time since July 2021, headlining UFC 329 on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Irishman last fought five years ago, when a broken leg ended his trilogy with Dustin Poirier. This rematch revisits a 2013 featherweight bout that McGregor won by decision. Holloway, debuting at welterweight, wants revenge. As one of the headline UFC dream fights, it carries enormous commercial weight despite McGregor’s long absence.
Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Archie Colgan: PFL Title (PFL New York)
The PFL lightweight crown anchors this clash. Nurmagomedov enters as the favored champion, while Colgan represents the promotion’s rising American contingent. I expect a technical, grinding contest rather than a highlight-reel finish. The bout matters because the PFL keeps pushing into territory once owned by larger promotions. A clean title defense here would cement Nurmagomedov among the sport’s most reliable champions.
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven (Boxing Heavyweight)
This has already delivered one of the strangest spectacles of the year. On May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza, Usyk stopped the former kickboxing king Verhoeven in the 11th round to retain his WBC heavyweight title. Usyk improved to 25-0. The crossover storyline drew massive attention, and it sits among the most discussed boxing dream fights of the decade. Even completed, it set a tone for the bold matchmaking defining 2026, even after Usyk’s announcement to vacate all of his belts in June.
Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga (Boxing Heavyweight)
Joshua warms up before bigger plans, facing Prenga in Saudi Arabia around July 25. The former two-time champion treats this as a stay-busy assignment ahead of a long-rumored showdown with Tyson Fury. I view Prenga as a measured test rather than a true threat. Still, every Joshua appearance draws scrutiny, and a sharp performance would rebuild momentum after recent setbacks against elite opposition.
Katie Taylor’s Final Fight (Boxing)
Taylor closes a historic career at the 80,000-seat Croke Park in Dublin on September 5. The Irish icon, holder of the IBF, WBA and WBO junior welterweight belts, meets France’s Flora Pili, with the vacant WBC strap also at stake. After a long negotiation, she finally secured her dream venue. This emotional homecoming ranks among the year’s most meaningful nights, a fitting send-off roughly ten miles from her hometown of Bray.
Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (UFC Fight Night, Macau)
Two bantamweight standouts collide in Asia. Song fights on home soil, while former flyweight champion Figueiredo brings finishing power. This is a classic crossroads bout between a hometown favorite and a proven veteran. The winner stays in the divisional title conversation. I rate this as one of the most competitive non-pay-per-view cards of the season.
Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano (MVP MMA)
A long-imagined women’s MMA matchup finally materializes under the MVP banner. Both names defined an earlier era of the sport. Expectations should stay realistic given the layoffs involved, yet the nostalgia factor is undeniable. For fans who followed the early growth of women’s mixed martial arts, this reunion carries real sentimental value.
Potential Dream Match: Artur Beterbiev vs. David Benavidez
This proposed light heavyweight superfight has fans buzzing. Beterbiev’s relentless pressure against Benavidez’s volume would produce fireworks. Nothing is signed yet, but the demand keeps building. Should promoters finalize terms, it instantly becomes a fight-of-the-year candidate. It would also join the long list of premier boxing dream fights fans crave.
Junto Nakatani vs. Naoya Inoue (Boxing Dream Match)
Japan dreams of an all-domestic megafight between two pound-for-pound stars. Inoue remains the gold standard, while Nakatani’s rise makes him a credible challenger. The bout symbolizes the talent pipeline among rising stars boxing keeps producing in Asia. Even as a projection, it captures imaginations and would shatter regional viewership records if it lands.
Rising Stars to Watch in 2026
Beyond the headliners, several young fighters demand attention this season. The next wave already pressures established names. Here are the prospects I am watching most closely.
- Lightweight grinders breaking into UFC main cards.
- Teenage knockout artists from the European amateur system.
- Female prospects following Taylor’s trailblazing path.
- Asian talents fueling the rising stars boxing movement.
- Crossover athletes are testing combat sports for the first time.
These names may not headline yet, but several will within a year or two. Tracking them early rewards the patient fan.
How to Follow These Fights Live
Access varies by promotion and region. In the United States, you can watch UFC fights through Paramount+, which carries numbered events and Fight Nights. Major boxing cards land on DAZN or regional broadcasters. If you are wondering where to watch UFC fights abroad, subscription platforms and licensed local partners remain the safest route. I always recommend confirming the official broadcaster before fight night to avoid unreliable streams.
Fan Predictions and Community Buzz
Online forums are already split on nearly every matchup. McGregor’s comeback divides opinion sharply, while the Inoue projection unites fans in anticipation. The conversation around dream matchups drives engagement all year. From my view, 2026 succeeds because it balances spectacle with substance. Whether you crave nostalgia, title drama, or fresh talent, this calendar delivers a reason to tune in nearly every month.
