UFC President Dana White announced the promotion's schedule through mid-June 2026, locking in 10 events between April and June. Major announcements include Khamzat Chimaev defending his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark, and Ilia Topuria facing interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in a title unification bout at the Freedom 250 event on June 14 in Washington D.C. Additional main events feature Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title on April 11 in Miami, and Belal Muhammad vs. Gabriel Bonfim on June 6 in Las Vegas. The announcements solidify the UFC's calendar for the first half of 2026.
UFC President Dana White unveiled the promotion's event schedule through mid-June 2026 on Tuesday, confirming ten cards between April and June that include multiple title fights and high-stakes matchups across several divisions.
The most prominent announcement is a middleweight title defense at UFC 328 on May 9 in Newark, where champion Sean Strickland will meet Khamzat Chimaev. Strickland, a 35-year-old American out of Xtreme Couture, holds a 31-7 record and brings relentless forward pressure to the cage, averaging 6.04 significant strikes landed per minute with a 76-inch reach. He is currently recognized as the middleweight champion heading into the bout.
Also confirmed is a lightweight title unification fight at the Freedom 250 event on June 14 in Washington D.C., pitting Ilia Topuria against interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Separate from those marquee bouts, welterweight contender Belal Muhammad squares off with Gabriel Bonfim on June 6 in Las Vegas. Bonfim, ranked tenth at welterweight, is a 28-year-old Brazilian with a 19-1 record who combines active grappling — 3.6 takedowns per 15 minutes — with 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a multidimensional threat.
Opening the run of events is a vacant light heavyweight title fight on April 11 in Miami between Jiri Prochazka and Carlos Ulberg. Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight, is a 33-year-old Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno carrying a 32-6-1 record. He stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate, numbers that reflect his explosive, high-output style.
Why it matters
- The Chimaev-Strickland fight places the middleweight title on the line at a numbered event, raising the division's profile heading into summer.
- Prochazka and Ulberg competing for a vacant light heavyweight belt signals a reshuffling at the top of that division.
- Topuria versus Gaethje serves as a unification bout, meaning the lightweight division will have one undisputed champion by mid-June.
- Bonfim's appearance in a Las Vegas main event represents a significant step up for the tenth-ranked welterweight contender.
