Poatan celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC
The UFC will return to Brazilian soil in 2026. After the success of UFC 301 in 2024, when Alexandre Pantoja defended his title in front of the Rio de Janeiro crowd, and the intense emotions of Charles do Bronx 's victory in 2025, the world's largest MMA organization will return to the country twice that season.
According to journalist Higor Ciconello of ESPN, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) plans to hold a numbered event, traditionally featuring a title fight as the main event, and a UFC Fight Night, a card focused on rising stars or less prominent figures in the rankings.
(Related)
According to Ciconello, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Brasília, and Fortaleza are the cities being considered to host the octagon.
Alex Poatan and Charles do Bronx may headline a UFC event in Brazil.
Alex Poatan and Charles do Bronx are the main highlights of April in MMA (Photo: Montage/SUPER LUTAS)
Following the announcement of the events in Brazil, fans and experts have already begun speculating about the potential headliners. Since there are still no confirmed dates for the cards, few clues indicate which athletes will be on the card. Even so, names like Charles do Bronx , Alex Poatan , Alexandre Pantoja , and Mackenzie Dern stand out as natural candidates, at least for the numbered event.
Historically, numbered UFC cards usually feature a title fight as the main attraction. In this scenario, Mackenzie Dern and Alex Poatan appear as favorites to headline the event, as they are the current strawweight (up to 52,3 kg) and light heavyweight (up to 93 kg) champions, respectively.
Charles Oliveira and Alexandre Pantoja are outside contenders. "The Lion of the Storm" could arrive in good form if he wins the BMF belt at UFC 326, scheduled for March 7th. Meanwhile, the former flyweight champion (up to 56,7 kg) is expected to return to title contention after losing the throne due to injury.
Exclusive: Michael PQD talks about his brutal UFC debut victory.
You need to log in to comment.