UFC announced its first-quarter schedule for 2026, starting with UFC 324 on Paramount+ featuring multiple title bouts. This outlines key events amid new directions like broadcasting changes. The release addresses burning questions on stars like Tom Aspinall, Ilia Topuria, and Alex Pereira's paths. It matters for planning fan attendance and broadcast access in a pivotal year. Subsequent fights, including Fight Nights in various cities, will shape divisions further.
The UFC has unveiled its first-quarter 2026 schedule, headlined by UFC 324 on Paramount+, with multiple championship bouts anchoring the calendar and Fight Nights spread across various cities set to fill out the early portion of the year.
Among the fighters whose paths the schedule addresses is UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall. The 33-year-old Englishman out of Team Kaobon carries a 15-3-0 record and currently sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. Aspinall is one of the most statistically dominant heavyweights in the promotion's history, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Ilia Topuria, ranked number one pound-for-pound and second in the lightweight division, is another star whose 2026 direction the schedule helps clarify. The 29-year-old Spaniard holds a 17-1-0 record and fights out of Climent Club. Known as "El Matador," Topuria lands 4.81 significant strikes per minute and mixes in nearly two takedown attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat in a stacked 155-pound division.
Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira also features among the names whose near-future opponents the Q1 slate begins to define. "Poatan" is 38 years old, fights out of Brazil under Teixeira MMA and Fitness, and owns a 13-4-0 record. The six-foot-four champion boasts a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, cementing his reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport.
Why it matters
- UFC 324 on Paramount+ signals continued broadcasting shifts fans will need to navigate for access
- Aspinall, Topuria, and Pereira's scheduled paths bring clarity to three of the UFC's most high-profile championship pictures
- Fight Nights in multiple cities offer divisional development outside the pay-per-view calendar, shaping rankings well into mid-2026
