MMA fans have been treated to another epic year filled with wild knockouts and slick submissions.
2026 promises to be one of the biggest years in the history of the sport. The UFC will hold an event at the White House, Conor McGregor is set to make his long-awaited comeback, and pay-per-view will be all but dead when the $7.7 billion Paramount deal kicks in.
Plenty more things that we don’t have a clue about yet are bound to happen. But what could they be?
Here are some bold MMA predictions from each of the Bloody Elbow staff writers ahead of 2026.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jordan Ellis: “I think Ronda Rousey will make a comeback in 2026. It’s been rumored and teased for much of 2025, but it’s definitely going to happen in the next 12 months. ‘Rowdy’ may not return to the UFC, and she might not even compete in MMA, but she will have some form of fight in the near future.”
PREDICTION: RONDA ROUSEY FIGHTS AGAIN
Donagh Corby: “If Islam Makhachev maintains the activity he has claimed will be possible with minimal weight cuts, Ian Machado Garry doesn’t even have to get the next title shot, he just has to wait his turn. As far as I’m concerned, he beat Shavkat Rakhmonov and, as such, has taken out a huge chunk of the top five, and deserves the chance at the belt. And with his length, elite striking, and ability to stop the takedown, Ian Machado Garry has everything it takes to build on what Dustin Poirier did in his effort against Makhachev that almost yielded results.
PREDICTION: IAN MACHADO GARRY WINS UFC GOLD
Jamie Theodosi: “In 2025, we saw Joe Rogan take what seemed to be a big step back from the UFC after years of work in the commentary booth. My bold prediction for 2026 is that Rogan will eventually leave behind his duties and retire from the UFC for good.”
PREDICTION: JOE ROGAN RETIRES
Kyle Dimond: “Kayla Harrison will retire in 2026 as the Fighter of the Year. Kayla Harrison only fought once in 2025, so predicting her to fight and win three times in 2026 seems like a long shot, but here’s how she does it. It’s been recently reported that her clash with Amanda Nunes is being targeted for January. I believe she wins that and is then a guarantee on the White House card, where she’ll welcome Valentina Shevchenko back to the bantamweight division. After beating the two fighters in the GOAT conversation, the former PFL star will cap off the year by fighting in November or December…
2025-12-25 13:00:00
