The UFC announced several major early-2026 bookings, led by Justin Gaethje vs. Paddy Pimblett for an interim lightweight title. The card also includes Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, plus Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes in a rematch that adds clarity to the featherweight title picture. Additional matchups featured on the slate include Sean O'Malley vs. Song Yadong, Alexa Grasso vs. Rose Namajunas, Arnold Allen vs. Jean Silva, Derrick Lewis vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta, and Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Deiveson Figueiredo. The bookings matter because they shape multiple title and contender races at once, and the UFC is clearly using them to anchor its 2026 schedule.
The UFC has officially announced a sweeping collection of early-2026 bookings headlined by Justin Gaethje taking on Paddy Pimblett for an interim lightweight title, adding significant shape to one of the promotion's most competitive divisions.
Gaethje and Pimblett will compete for interim lightweight gold in what figures to be one of the most anticipated bouts on the 2026 calendar. Elsewhere on the slate, former bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison will meet Amanda Nunes, and Alexander Volkanovski gets a rematch with Diego Lopes that carries real consequences for the featherweight title picture.
Among the supporting matchups, Sean O'Malley meets Song Yadong, and Derrick Lewis takes on Waldo Cortes-Acosta in the heavyweight division.
Arnold Allen, ranked fifth at featherweight and carrying a 21-4 record, faces Jean Silva. The 32-year-old Englishman out of Tristar Gym lands 3.52 significant strikes per minute and adds 1.24 takedowns per fifteen minutes, making him a well-rounded threat in a featherweight division already in flux with the Volkanovski-Lopes rematch on the same slate.
Umar Nurmagomedov, the second-ranked bantamweight at 20-1, squares off with former champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The 30-year-old Russian is one of the more complete fighters in the division, averaging 4.03 takedowns per fifteen minutes alongside a striking accuracy of 56 percent, the kind of combination that makes him a serious threat to anyone in the weight class.
Rose Namajunas, ranked sixth at women's flyweight and holding a 15-8 record, meets Alexa Grasso. The 34-year-old American from 303 Training Center brings 3.5 significant strikes per minute and a reliable takedown game at 1.47 per fifteen minutes.
Why it matters
- The interim lightweight title fight between Gaethje and Pimblett anchors the 2026 schedule and will determine who holds leverage in that division.
- Volkanovski versus Lopes II directly clarifies the featherweight championship picture.
- Nurmagomedov versus Figueiredo is a legitimate bantamweight title eliminator given both men's rankings and pedigree.
- The depth of the slate signals the UFC is front-loading 2026 with marquee matchups across multiple divisions simultaneously.
Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong
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