UFC president Dana White announced the full schedule through mid-June 2026, including 10 events starting April 25 with Sterling vs Zalal. Highlights feature title fights like Chimaev-Strickland at UFC 328 and Topuria-Gaethje at Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington D.C. This transparency aids fan planning and boosts event hype across divisions. It matters for global expansion with venues in China and Azerbaijan. Expect more main events to be filled soon.[3]
Reports indicate that UFC president Dana White has revealed a full promotional schedule stretching through mid-June 2026, though the announcement has not been officially confirmed. The slate opens on April 25 with Aljamain Sterling facing Youssef Zalal and runs through at least ten events, culminating in headline bouts such as Khamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland at UFC 328 and Ilia Topuria versus Justin Gaethje at Freedom 250 on June 14 in Washington D.C.
Aljamain Sterling, known as "Funk Master," carries a 26-5 record and sits fourth in the featherweight rankings at 36 years old. The New York-born fighter trains out of Serra-Longo Fight Team and has demonstrated consistent offensive output, averaging 4.45 significant strikes per minute at 52 percent accuracy alongside 2.45 takedowns per 15 minutes.
His reported opponent, Youssef Zalal, is ranked twelfth in featherweight at 29 years old and holds an 18-6-1 record. Fighting out of Factory X, the Moroccan Devil is a switch-stance fighter standing five-foot-ten with a 72-inch reach who averages 3.03 significant strikes per minute and 2.17 takedowns per 15 minutes, with a notable 1.4 submission attempts per 15 minutes adding a dangerous grappling dimension.
Elsewhere on the schedule, number-one middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev headlines UFC 328. The 32-year-old UAE-based fighter holds a 15-1 record and trains out of Allstars Training Center. Standing six-foot-two with a 75-inch reach, Chimaev averages a striking accuracy of 60 percent and a dominant 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the division's most complete threats.
Why it matters
- Sterling versus Zalal opens a packed stretch with featherweight ranking implications for both fighters
- Chimaev's middleweight title shot at UFC 328 represents a long-anticipated booking for the division's top contender
- Events scheduled in China and Azerbaijan signal continued global expansion efforts by the promotion
- Several main events across the schedule are still expected to be filled, leaving room for additional major announcements
