UFC Midyear Awards
- Sportz Nation Staff
- 8 minutes ago
- 21 min read
by Zak Drapeau and Matt Hylen
Sportz Nation - 7/7/2026
UFC Male Fighter
of the Year
Current:
Justin Gaethje
Honorable Mention:
Sean Strickland
Zak Drapeau -
Fighter of the Year is awarded for a number of reasons that are subjective to every voter and usually have to do with the number of wins, number of title wins, and the way you win. Justin Gaethje has checked all of those boxes.
In his first fight of the year, Gaethje had arguably the Fight of the Year when he beat Paddy Pimblett in a brutal 5-round decision. With that win, he showed his precision and toughness and won the interim title for a 2nd time to set up the fight that really put him at the top of this list.
His Lightweight title win over Ilia Topuria was not only the reason he has the biggest underdog win of the year so far but also gave him the most feel-good and memorable moment possibly in UFC history. His tenacity, toughness, game plan, and heart brought him to peaks we all knew he deserved to be at, and as the symbol of patriotism, it will be hard for anyone to beat him for this award even if he doesn't fight again in 2026.
Matt Hylen -
It was a close call for me between Justin Gaethje and Sean Strickland, but Gaethje's performance, I think, will go down as one of the biggest upsets in UFC history. Gaethje was put under an insane amount of pressure against a guy most thought was unstoppable in Ilia Topuria, and he completely broke him down.
Not only that, but he was also given only a small chance of victory against Paddy Pimblett. Yet, he silenced the doubters and produced a brilliant game plan that, once again, broke his opponent down.
We have never seen Pimblett or Topuria come out of a fight looking the way they did after fighting Justin Gaethje. His fight IQ, heavy hands, and complex movement have brought him to the pinnacle of the sport, and he should be recognized as such to this point.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Josh Hokit
Alright, this is going to be my hottest take of the entire awards list, but hear me out. Josh Hokit is already a meteor in the Heavyweight division that sorely needed an injection of youth and talent, and as much as I'm not fond of it, his big mouth may be the biggest reason he wins this award.
My prediction for Hokit winning this award is definitely contingent on the hypothetical win I see him having toward the end of the year over either Alexander Volkov or Sergei Pavlovich in what would be a title fight eliminator. If Hokit wins that fight and beats his third Top-7 Heavyweight, while going 4-0 in 2026 alone, while making a HUGE name for himself not only by talking s**t but by backing it up in the cage, I don't care who else makes a push... It will be hard not to begrudgingly give him his flowers.
Matt Hylen -
Ian Machado Garry
In a year of upsets, I am going to have perhaps the biggest upset of them all and predict that Ian Machado Garry will defeat Islam Makhachev. We thought Gaethje and Strickland stood no chance against their respective opponents, and look what happened. There is no one in this sport that is unstoppable, which is what I am banking on when it comes to Ian Machado Garry.
If he is able to somehow defeat the pound-for-pound king of the UFC, I don't think there will be any question as to who is the fighter of the year on the men's side. If anyone can do it, in my eyes, it is Garry.
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UFC Female Fighter
of the Year
Current:
Joselyne Edwards
Honorable Mention:
Bia Mesquita
Matt Hylen -
If you have read our previous articles, you know that I truly believe Bia Mesquita is going to become a UFC champion, but as of today, Joselyne Edwards has been the best fighter among active women MMA fighters.
Edwards started the year at the bottom of the rankings, and in just a few months, she is already the number one contender in the Bantamweight division. She has the finishes on her resume and meteoric rise to warrant the top spot among the women in the UFC.
Even though Edwards and Mesquita are at different career points, they both have done exactly what has been needed in each fight they have. They have stuck to their roots, broken down opponents, and have become notable names as the year has progressed.
Zak Drapeau -
I'm not going to fabricate the fact that Bia Mesquita is only getting this award because all UFC's women's divisions have been stalling and she hasn't had much competition. I'm also not going to downplay the fact that Mesquita debuted in the UFC less than 4 months ago and already has 2 incredibly impressive submission wins on her resume.
Mesquita came to the UFC as a veteran jiu-jitsu artist and a member of the IBJJF Hall of Fame and wasted no time in proving her skills in the cage. Mesquita might not have a ranked win under her belt yet, but having 2 wins in 5:23 while only taking 3 significant strikes is absolutely deserving of being toward the top of this list whether the division had been dormant or not.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Kayla Harrison
There is a reason we call this section "predictions," and that's because, just like our Male Fighter predictions, we are predicting a fight later in the year will be a huge part of the award race. The Kayla Harrison-Amanda Nunes fight was postponed after Kayla Harrison underwent neck surgery, but everything is pointing to two of the greatest women fighters of all time sharing the Octagon by year's end in what will be the biggest MMA fight between two women in history.
That billing in itself should guarantee that the winner takes home this award unless something in that fight goes horribly wrong. And even though Amanda Nunes is the unrivaled GOAT in her class, Kayla Harrison is my pick to win their upcoming match. Harrison is younger and the same size as Nunes, who was out of action for two years before the lead-up to their first scheduled fight in January. Harrison's wrestling should be enough to dominate the GOAT as long as she is fully healed from her injury. If she can do that, I have no doubt Harrison will be a shoo-in for this award.
Matt Hylen -
Natalia Silva
Going along the same lines as my Ian Machado Garry prediction, I think Natalia Silva is going to become the Women's Flyweight Champion of the world by the end of 2026.
Natalia Silva is an absolute beast. Her kickboxing is among the best we have ever seen in Women's MMA, but it is more the fact that she has been untouchable against strong opponents that makes me believe she can dethrone Valentina Shevchenko. She is extremely balanced in style, but has a way of controlling the pace and distance of fights that is going to take her even farther than what her #1 contender status has her.
Again, I am banking on the fact that this fight gets announced and happens in 2026, but if it does happen, I really believe Silva has what it takes to solidify herself as the women's fighter of the year.
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UFC Fight
of the Year
Current:
Blaydes vs Hokit
(UFC 327)
Honorable Mention:
Topuria vs Gaethje
(UFC Freedom 250)
Zak Drapeau -
I really have to give credit to the runner-up on this list and also Gaethje vs. Pimblett from UFC 324 as worthy backups and insanely good fights this year, but for me, Blaydes vs. Hokit stands alone.
No fight had the back and forth that this fight did, and adding to that, it was two heavyweights swinging bombs for 3 straight rounds. We also had the added kick to this fight of realizing Josh Hokit was for real in a shocking way. No, Curtis Blaydes isn't known as a striker, but both men went to war and landed bomb after bomb on one another and kept coming for more.
I will say that Joe Rogan and Daniel Cormier's jubilation while calling this fight definitely took it to another level, but the fighters made it. The 1st round of the fight is also probably the best round of the year as Hokit stormed in and hurt Blaydes badly, just for Blaydes to secure a takedown and land almost 40 punches in a row.
Hokit won, and the crowd gave them a standing ovation to show their appreciation. Both fighters ended the fight completely gassed and showed that they left everything in the cage, just like the historic fights in the UFC's past had as well.
Matt Hylen -
Both of these fights were absolutely fantastic. Whether it be Topuria and Gaethje capping off the White House card in style or an absolute barnburner at heavyweight, both have a very strong argument as to why they should be fight of the year.
With that said, I do think it may be hard to top what we saw between Josh Hokit and Curtis Blaydes. Both fighters threw caution to the absolute wind, and despite being gassed, kept throwing haymaker after haymaker. I mean, Hokit and Blaydes both had to have gotten rocked at least three times each in this fight.
When you think about the heavyweight division at its peak, this fight will constantly be brought up. These two guys put absolutely everything they had into this fight, which is exactly what we hope for as a fan.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Blaydes vs Hokit
(UFC 327)
I said everything I needed to in my recap of the fight above this, so I'll just point you to that.
What I will add is that several fights we expect to see this year, such as Harrison-Nunes, Yan-Dvalishvili 3, and Matt's pick you'll read next, are definitely contenders for this award. Gaethje-Topuria at UFC White House and Gaethje-Pimblett are right there too, but that just goes to show how much of a spectacle Blaydes-Hokit was.
Matt Hylen -
Islam Makhachev vs
Ian Machado Garry
(UFC 330)
Am I throwing all my eggs into one basket? Yes, and I will stand on the hill until I get proven wrong. If Ian Machado Garry wins this fight, which I am predicting he will, it is going to be very similar to what we saw in the Topuria/Gaethje fight. It may not be as bloody and boxing-crazy, but it will go back and forth until one fighter takes control. Garry will have to survive multiple rounds before having his chance in my mind, which will make it all the more surprising if he gets the job done.
This fight will be a war, one that Makhachev will not be expecting. I think Garry is his biggest test yet. Garry has the level of takedown defense and reach to give Islam a load of issues, which is why I am banking on him pulling off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
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UFC Card
of the Year
Current:
UFC Freedom 250
Honorable Mention:
UFC 325
Zak Drapeau -
Volk-Lopes 2, Hooker-Saint Denis, and Fiziev-Ruffy were spectacular fights, as well as Quillan Salkilld and Jonathan Micallef making statement submission wins. A total of 7 finishes on the card made this a slightly better card than the next best event of the year, UFC 324. The first two events of the year were a tight race, but UFC 325 was consistently a very good card, which is what puts it slightly higher in my book than 324, which had greater highs but also greater lows.
Matt Hylen -
If you take away the politics or controversy that UFC Freedom 250 had, the fact we saw a card where every fight ended in a finish has to warrant card of the year. All seven fights were absolutely electric from start to finish; I know personally as a fan I hadn't been on the edge of my seat for that long in a while. This event, regardless of location or politics involved, was extremely fun to watch and one I personally will remember for a while.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
UFC 329
I think Matt and I are going to be on the same page here, so I won't go all the way into the card next week, but it's going to be spectacular. The event centers around Conor McGregor's return to the Octagon to face Max Holloway at Welterweight and frankly has at least 9 main event card-worthy fights on it, to the point that a meteoric Bantamweight-ranked eliminator between undefeated #15 Farid Basharat and Ethyn Ewing is the 3rd fight down on the EARLY PRELIMS.
A Flyweight-ranked fight between #12 Wang Cong and #8 Tracy Cortez is also on the early prelims and should land one of them in the title picture. Three ranked eliminators are also on the prelims when Robert Whittaker makes his 205-debut against #12 Nikita Krylov, Cody Garbrandt faces Adrian Yanez, and Luke Riley continues his ascent at Featherweight against Kai Kamaka. Oh yeah... Gable Steveson is making his long-awaited UFC debut too and should put on a show against Elisha Ellison.
And that's not even mentioning the STAAAAAACKED Main Card...
Matt Hylen -
UFC 329
As Zak said, this UFC 329 card is absolutely loaded with fights. The UFC really did not waste the opportunity they were given with Conor McGregor's return.
Picking up where Zak left off, this card is starting out with one that should end extremely quickly. Both King Green and Terrence McKinney love to get finishes fast, which makes for an extremely interesting opener to the main card. We then have a flyweight contender fight between Brandon Royval and Lone'er Kavanaugh. Royval has fought just about every top contender in this division, while Kavanaugh is coming off a huge upset win and is one of the biggest up-and-comers the division has to offer. This goes right into a fight I am extremely excited for between Cory Sandhagen and Mario Bautista. Sandhagen has been on a tear recently, but faces a tough test in Bautista, who is arguably one of the most underrated fighters in the entire UFC.
Now, the two main events. Starting with the co-main, this fight could be extremely technical on the ground. Both Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis can stand and bang, but their bread and butter lies within their ability on the ground. It is truly a toss-up as to who holds the grappling advantage, which makes things all the more exciting come Saturday.
Lastly, this main event could absolutely be in the running for fight of the year. The biggest question mark will be whether or not the layoff for McGregor was too long, but you can never count out the former double champ. With that said, Max Holloway will be coming back into the octagon with a vengeance after losing the BMF belt. I think this fight will be back and forth for four and a half rounds until someone gets the finish in round 5.
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UFC Knockout
of the Year
Current:
Alexa Grasso Def.
Maycee Barber
(UFC FN Seattle)
Honorable Mention:
Melquizael Costa Def.
Dan Ige
(UFC FN Houston)
Zak Drapeau -
There aren't any elite knockouts this year, but there are a few in the "very good" tier, and Alexa Grasso's straight cross knockout that ended in a swift rear-naked choke sweep was as close to a thing of perfection as we've seen this year.
Barely two and a half minutes into the fight, the former champion Alexa Grasso hit the young up-and-comer with a beautiful 1-2 jab, straight that not only put her lights out but spun her around and made her land on her butt. Grasso immediately cranked her neck and put her in a rear-naked choke, but it was of no use as referee Mike Beltran caught it immediately and gracefully saved Maycee Barber in an almost picture-perfect knockout sequence.
Matt Hylen -
As a fan of Maycee Barber, it pains me to agree that her loss to Alexa Grasso should be considered the KO of the year to this point. Grasso landed such a clean straight on Barber; the rear-naked choke wasn't even needed, considering Barber was out cold.
What made this KO even more surprising was how fast it happened. Barber was putting on the pressure and was out cold just like that. Of course, the aftermath was brutal to see, but regardless, Grasso looked just about as good as she ever has and was able to get the job done against a very worthy opponent.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Terrence McKinney vs
Bobby Green
(UFC 329)
A war to start the Main Card next weekend of the much-anticipated UFC 329. Bobby Green is an all-time fan favorite and a signal to everyone that a savage fight is about to happen. His opponent next week is T-Wrecks, who has seemingly found a second life for his career and has had his last seven fights finished in the first round, winning five of them with four knockouts.
At this point in both of their careers, this will be the last shot either man gets at a ranked eliminator. It is also the perfect circumstance to steal the show during the McGregor-centered card. If these two gladiators don't swing for the fences, I'll be shocked, and knowing Terrence McKinney, he'll either land an out-of-nowhere uppercut or some flying knee, and the crowd will be losing it.
Matt Hylen -
Khalil Rountree vs
Magomed Ankalaev
(FN Abu Dhabi 6)
This might seem a little random, but I think Khalil Rountree is going to knock out Magomed Ankalaev in stunning fashion when they match up at Fight Night Abu Dhabi. Rountree and Ankalaev are both coming off losses, but I think it'll be Rountree who is going to come off his loss and become a new and improved fighter.
Despite the fact that Ankalaev will likely be favored in this fight, Rountree has knocked out fighters with much better chins than Ankalaev. No one is really giving Rountree a chance in this fight, which plays into my prediction perfectly. I see a round 2 moment where Rountree clips Ankalaev and ground-and-pounds him to sleep.
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UFC Submission
of the Year
Current:
Jakub Wiklacz Def.
Muin Gafurov
(FN Vegas 113)
Honorable Mention:
7Asu Almabayev Def.
Charles Johnson
(FN Baku 2)
Matt Hylen -
Though I think Asu Almabayev's submission was incredible, it was the situation in the Wiklacz/Gafurov fight that gives it the slight edge. The fight itself was dead even through the first two rounds, so the fact Wiklacz got the submission at the buzzer was extremely impressive and worthy of the submission of the year award to this point.
Zak Drapeau -
Put your hands up if you know what a Suloev Stretch is... Because Asu Almabayev definitely does. Anything I write in this entry won't do the submission justice, so just go back and watch. Charles Johnson didn't stand a chance, and Almabayev didn't even need to sink it in after taking both rounds on points.
Almabayev gets extra brownie points for finishing only the 4th Suloev Stretch in UFC history and the first in 8 years. If it wasn't for Wiklacz's buzzer-beater, it would have easily made 1st place for this list.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Tom Aspinall Def.
Ciryl Gane
This is a wild take, I understand, but I truly believe Tom Aspinall will make Ciryl Gane tap out sometime around November of this year. The fact that Aspinall was in a very even stand-up match with him before the eye poke from hell happened, and Gane's seemingly only weakness being against wrestlers, I completely expect Aspinall to switch up his game plan the second time around.
The undisputed champion hasn't taken a fight to the ground in four years when he submitted Volkov, but when facing a guy like Gane, who was dominated by Jon Jones and even controlled by Ngannou, why wouldn't he bring him to the ground? I will even predict that Aspinall gets four minutes of control in the first two rounds, then finishes the fight in the third with a RNC.
Matt Hylen -
Kamaru Usman Def.
Dricus Du Plessis
I am truly going off the rails in this article, but I also think we see another huge upset that ends in Kamaru Usman submitting Dricus Du Plessis. We all saw in his title fight against Khamzat Chimaev what DDP looked like when he was taken down. Furthermore, we saw what Usman can still do when he takes his opponent down (i.e. the fight against Joaquin Buckley). Thus, I think Usman turns back the clock, creates a game plan for the takedown, and gets the job done against DDP.
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UFC Breakout Fighter
of the Year
Current:
Josh Hokit
Honorable Mention:
Quilan Salkilld
Zak Drapeau -
I mean, there are some other good candidates for this accolade, but the fact that no one even comes close is just a testament to Hokit's first half of 2026. From unheard of to superstar in 6 months, Hokit's three wins over Lewis, Blaydes, and Freeman were not only spectacular but highly promotable, even if they are for the wrong reasons.
The heavyweight division has always been the pinnacle of fighting promotions, but in the UFC for the past decade now, it's been often seen as one of its weakest divisions. 2026 has seemingly brought the hallowed weight class back with several key contributors, Josh Hokit being a key player. Starting the year unranked and being in position for his next fight to genuinely put him in line for a title shot in 2027 is remarkable and worthy of Breakout Fighter of the Year.
Matt Hylen -
Though Quilan Salkilld has been phenomenal this year and has broken out to a borderline star, Josh Hokit is the only answer here. Yes, he is a nutcase, but he went from unknown to all everyone is talking about when it comes to the Heavyweight division. He backs up all the pre-fight talk in the octagon and is becoming quite the balanced fighter. Again, I may not agree in the slightest with the way he goes about his interviews and his choice of words, but you cannot deny what he has accomplished inside the octagon to this point.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Josh Hokit
Again, my prediction for this award is the same as how we currently see it, only I believe Hokit adds to this claim by year's end. With more than four months to go and the Heavyweight division in a state where the title scene is made with Gane and Aspinall fighting either in Q4 or 2027 Q1, I see a title eliminator being held right around the same time.
Alexander Volkov has earned a title shot but just doesn't have the name that Hokit does, so making the fight between them for the next title shot just makes too much sense to me. Not only that, but even as well-rounded as the Russian is with a HUGE size and experience advantage on Hokit, I'm going with the Incredible Hok.
Matt Hylen -
Kevin Vallejos
Kevin Vallejos is having an Ilia Topuria-type rise right now, which excites me greatly. The sheer power and accuracy Vallejos has shown in every single one of his fights in the UFC has convinced me that big things are in store for him this year. He is extremely fast, powerful, precise in his striking, and has yet to meet his match on the feet. The scary part? We have yet to see his ground game, which is allegedly elite. I firmly believe that, should he fight again this year, Kevin Vallejos will be a top contender very soon and break out as the next potential star of the UFC.
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UFC Debut
of the Year
Current:
Murtazali Magomedov Def.
Melsik Baghdasaryan
(FN Vegas 119)
Honorable Mention:
Lerryan Douglas Def.
Julian Erosa
(FN Seattle 271)
Zak Drapeau -
Twister alert, Twister alert! The Kyrgyzstani newcomer was very quick to leave an impression on the UFC with his 1st round submission win over Melsik Baghdasaryan, which marked only the fourth successful time the hold has been executed in the UFC.
Matt Hylen -
Though I am very excited to see what Lerryan Douglas' UFC career has in store after knocking Julian Erosa out cold, Murtazali Magomedov's submission win over Melsik Baghdasaryan was insane. The fact that he came into his first fight in the UFC and pulled off a twister submission??? Yeah, that takes the cake as the best debut thus far in 2026.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Magomed "John Pork" Zaynukov
"John Pork" is coming to the UFC on July 25th to fight Damian Rzepecki. Zaynukov has a HUGE billing to his name from a viral meme that gave him the legendary "John Pork" nickname. He was only in the spotlight to make because he also comes from the legendary Nurmagomedov camp in Dagestan.
That's right, the 10-0 teammate of Islam Makhachev and pupil of Khabib is heading for the UFC in less than 3 weeks' time and has already performed and dominated in the DCWS, where he set the record for strikes landed in a fight with 235. This guy is going to be special, and something tells me he'll be making his impression emphatically in his debut.
Author's Note: This accolade was originally planned for Usman Nurmagomedov, who is expected to make his UFC debut either late 2026 or early 2027. In my eyes, a future Lightweight Champion as early as 2028, I just can't be sure he will make his debut this year or if it will be in 2027.
Matt Hylen -
Gable Steveson
I feel like everyone who follows the UFC has been excited for the UFC debut of Gable Steveson. He is, of course, an Olympic gold medalist, but it is the fact that he has been trained by Jon Jones that is making me so excited for his debut. I think Steveson is going to come onto the scene and exceed expectations against Elisha Ellison, showcasing his elite quickness and strength on the ground. Do not be shocked when Steveson solidifies his name among the top prospects in the UFC.
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UFC Comeback
of the Year
Current:
Carlos Ulberg
(UFC 327)
Honorable Mention:
Justin Gaethje
(UFC Freedom 250)
Matt Hylen -
Justin Gaethje's win over Ilia Topuria could be considered a comeback if you consider the odds he was facing as well as the fact he nearly got finished from a body shot, you simply cannot argue Carlos Ulberg's comeback win over Jiří Procházka.
To think Ulberg found a way to muster up enough power in that left hook, on a torn ACL, to knock out Procházka is unlike anything we have ever seen before. Ulberg's obituary was basically being written by the commentators until he got the finish! To do that in any fight is incredible, but Ulberg did this to win the Light Heavyweight belt. If the kind of heart and grit Ulberg showed doesn't represent what a comeback is all about, I am not sure what will.
Zak Drapeau -
I mean the Main Event of UFC White House was as close to cinema as you'll ever get in the UFC, and if I had just described what happened in this fight, you wouldn't believe me. After entering the fight as a MASSIVE underdog and putting up a very competitive 1st round, Gaethje got smoked in the 2nd and almost went down by TKO more than once.
Gaethje stuck it out and even started the 3rd round in VERY rough shape but never gave up. After being seconds away from being knocked out for about 4 minutes in the 2nd round and the first minute and a half in the 3rd, Gaethje made the comeback of the ages and just mollywhopped Topuria. The former champ even started the 4th round in fantastic fashion, but Gaethje persevered again and landed the final blow in the form of a knee to Topuria's body.
At one point in live betting, Topuria was a -2300 favorite to win when entering the 3rd round. THAT is what I call a comeback.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Justin Gaethje
(UFC Freedom 250)
I agree with Matt that Ulberg's comeback was slightly more impressive due to the fact that he knocked out a savage like Jiri with a completely obliterated leg, but this is about what the UFC will see. On paper, Ulberg's accomplishment may be more unprecedented, but Gaethje's win and moment will go down in the annals of UFC history and should be looked back on fondly when it's time to give these awards out.
Matt Hylen -
Carlos Ulberg
(UFC 327)
For the reasons I said above, I am going to have to disagree with Zak on this one. Ulberg was the underdog heading into this fight. He was on the back foot the entire first round, until he tore his ACL trying to regain the center of the octagon. Yet, instead of going down, giving up, or folding, he kept moving across the octagon and within distance of Procházka. No one would have blamed him for conceding that fight, yet Ulberg knew that a chance like what was presented to him may never come again. So he fought back, and landed a hook that will be remembered throughout history. He literally knocked one of the best Light Heavyweight fighters of all time out on one leg. That, to me, is what a comeback is truly about. I do not see a world where this gets topped, at least in 2026.
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UFC Most Improved
of the Year
Current:
Joselyne Edwards
Honorable Mention:
Paulo Costa
Matt Hylen -
This award is truly a toss-up for me. On one hand, you have a guy in Paulo Costa, who went from being called "washed" and told to retire to a championship contender. He completely changed the way in which he fights, and it has quite literally saved his career.
On the other hand, you have Joselyne Edwards, who has had a very similar trajectory as Costa. She started 2026 near the bottom of the rankings and was considered to be a decision merchant. However, she put that to bed in 2025, putting together a string of finishes, and carried that momentum over into 2026 where she beat a top contender in Norma Dumont.
What Costa and Edwards have both accomplished this year is remarkable, but what Edwards has done to make herself a top contender and switch her style from "decision merchant" to "knockout machine" is what gives her the edge in my eyes.
Zak Drapeau -
Paulo Costa started the year on my "why is he even still ranked" list at Middleweight and is now on my "he might actually do something" list at Light Heavyweight, and I don't know what other qualifications could put someone on this list.
Costa had his first fight at 205 against undefeated Azamat Murzakanov in April and destroyed him. There's an old thought process that says for these guys that cut massive weight before fights, if they move up, they'll be 10% better, and frankly, it looked like Costa was at least 20% better. With a rumored fight with Jiri Prochazka in the works as a title eliminator, Costa may make a push to top this list.
End of Year
Predictions:
Zak Drapeau -
Paulo Costa
I stand by everything I said in the runner-up section, and I'll add the fact that I can actually see Paulo Costa knocking out Jiri. This fight really seems like it will happen, probably by the end of the summer, and if Costa looks as good against him as he did against Murzakanov, I think Costa's ascent to #1 contender would make him easily top this list.
(I have to make a quick shoutout to Kevin Vallejos, who I originally had in this slot, but under the ranking of "improved," Vallejos never had to climb back up the ranks like Costa did, so I made the switch.)
Matt Hylen -
Bo Nickal
Bo Nickal would have been my second honorable mention. Nickal came into the UFC solely known for his grappling. What he has shown in 2023 is a steady improvement in his overall striking, which has made him extremely dangerous to anyone in the middleweight division. I think he fights a top-10 contender at some point this year and shows once again how much he has improved as a striker.
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