The Independent published the full UFC schedule for late February and March 2026, announcing multiple Fight Nights and numbered events. Key bouts include Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez on Feb 21 in Houston, Brandon Moreno vs. Lone’er Kavanagh on Feb 28 in Mexico City, and Movsar Evloev vs. Lerone Murphy on Mar 21 in London. UFC 326 hits Vegas on Mar 7 with prelims like Cody Garbrandt vs. Long Xiao. These bookings reshape divisions like middleweight and flyweight with fresh matchups. Changes possible, but solidifies early-year roadmap amid Paramount era.
The UFC has unveiled its full event calendar for late February and March 2026, with The Independent reporting a packed stretch of Fight Nights and numbered cards that carries significant divisional weight across several weight classes.
The most consequential booking on the slate is a middleweight title fight on February 21 in Houston, where champion Sean Strickland defends against ranked contender Anthony Hernandez. Strickland, 35, carries a 31-7-0 record and holds the middleweight gold for Xtreme Couture. The six-foot-one Californian owns a 76-inch reach and generates an aggressive 6.04 significant strikes per minute, though his accuracy sits at 42 percent. Hernandez, nicknamed Fluffy, enters ranked third in the division at 15-3-0. The 32-year-old MMA Gold Fight Team product is a well-rounded threat, averaging 5.88 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside 4.57 significant strikes landed per minute at an impressive 60 percent accuracy.
Also confirmed is a flyweight matchup on February 28 in Mexico City between Brandon Moreno and Lone'er Kavanagh, while UFC 326 lands in Las Vegas on March 7, featuring Cody Garbrandt against Long Xiao on the preliminary card.
Rounding out the announced stretch, featherweight contenders Movsar Evloev and Lerone Murphy are set to collide on March 21 in London. Murphy, ranked second at featherweight with a 17-1-1 record, is one of the division's most consistent performers. The 34-year-old Manchester Top Team product lands 4.34 significant strikes per minute at 51 percent accuracy and has shown capable grappling with 1.2 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Why it matters
- Strickland vs. Hernandez puts the middleweight title on the line against a high-volume, high-accuracy grappler
- Murphy vs. Evloev in London could determine the next featherweight title challenger
- The condensed February-March window reshapes flyweight and featherweight picture simultaneously
- UFC 326 in Las Vegas adds a numbered-event anchor to an unusually loaded eight-week run
