The inaugural UFC event of 2026 reintroduced the thrilling action we missed during a six-week hiatus. The interim lightweight clash between two of MMA’s toughest contenders astonishingly went the distance after five grueling rounds. Justin Gaethje secured his unanimous decision triumph over Paddy Pimblett, earning a second interim belt for his efforts. This victory sets the stage for a likely unification match against champion Ilia Topuria in the spring.
Sean O’Malley returned to victory against Song Yadong after a nearly two-year absence from winning in the Octagon. The relief on O’Malley’s face was palpable as his arm was raised, and with a familiar rival regaining control of the men’s bantamweight division, “Suga” might find a path back to the title picture.
Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, and Jeff Wagenheim share their insights on these bouts, along with the performances from Natalia Silva and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, who may also be eyeing championship opportunities in their future.
Gaethje isn’t done yet
Speculations about Gaethje’s decline have been greatly overstated. While Gaethje has openly hinted at nearing the end of his illustrious fighting career, “The Highlight” demonstrated against Pimblett that he still has plenty left in the tank. Following a brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway, it was assumed that his high-impact fighting style had finally caught up with him, costing him precious years in the sport.
While this may hold some truth, Gaethje is far from finished, as he now gears up for a unification bout with Topuria, who is currently taking a break from MMA.
In his latest fight, Gaethje delivered a ferocious offensive display that refuted Pimblett’s claim that “scousers don’t get knocked out.” Gaethje nearly finished Pimblett in the first two rounds, weathered a surge from the Liverpool fighter in the third, and ultimately left his opponent with a swollen, bloodied visage. This is what MMA fans have always appreciated about Gaethje: he never has a dull fight, and once he retires, he’ll likely make a memorable backflip off the cage into the Hall of Fame. Throughout the fight, he tested Pimblett’s chin with overhand rights. While Pimblett deserves credit for staying conscious, it was undoubtedly Gaethje’s night.
He might enter the fight against Topuria as a significant underdog, but that doesn’t diminish the excitement of Gaethje’s performance on a night where gold once again adorned his waist. — Hale
O’Malley’s win over Yadong marks his second victory in a month
For those following along, O’Malley entered his unanimous decision win over Yadong at UFC 324 after two consecutive losses, including his only fight of 2025. but, the “Suga Sean” victory I refer to is from December, which he viewed from the sidelines — when Merab Dvalishvili lost the men’s bantamweight championship to Petr Yan at UFC 323. Dvalishvili was responsible for handing O’Malley those two losses, and another shot against him and the belt could have been challenging. Now that Yan is champion, O’Malley has re-entered title contention, especially given his prior win over Yan.
but, O’Malley didn’t deliver the most convincing championship statement. likewise, Umar Nurmagomedov, who defeated former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo earlier on the card, also fell short of a strong title claim. Considering Dvalishvili’s loss ended a 14-fight winning streak and was his fourth fight of 2025, it would be wise for the UFC to allow him a rematch with Yan while O’Malley and Nurmagomedov refine their candidacies. — Wagenheim
Cortes-Acosta deserves our attention, but not yet our confidence
The title of this section may come off as a backhanded compliment, but that’s not my intention. Cortes-Acosta has now secured victory in eight of his last nine fights, an impressive feat in the UFC. He has scored knockouts in his last three matches against credible opponents, including a performance on Saturday where he skillfully evaded Derrick Lewis and landed a shot that appeared effortless.
Cortes-Acosta’s impressive streak deserves recognition, and his fighting style contains subtle nuances that make him a threat in the heavyweight category. but, his previous fight against Ante Delija ended controversially due to an eye-poke, almost leading to a loss for Cortes-Acosta. also, he is still less than six months removed from a loss to Serghei Pavlovich.
Cortes-Acosta certainly has potential, being one of few genuine heavyweight title contenders, and his willingness to fight frequently is commendable. but, against top competitors like Tom Aspinall, Ciryl Gane, Curtis Blaydes, and Alexander Volkov, he will likely be viewed as the underdog until he proves he can prevail at the highest level. — Okamoto
Silva should leapfrog Fiorot for a shot at Shevchenko
Natalia Silva wasn’t entirely satisfied with her performance at UFC 324, and the judges’ decision was met with boos from the T-Mobile Arena crowd, but defeating Rose Namajunas marks a significant advancement for the 28-year-old fighter.
This victory extended Silva’s winning streak to 14 fights and improved her UFC record to 8-0. especially, Namajunas became the third consecutive former UFC champion Silva has overcome, following Jessica Andrade in 2024 and Alexa Grasso last year. This remarkable streak could potentially earn Silva a shot at current women’s flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko.
Timing plays a crucial role, and since the only flyweight ranked above Silva, Manon Fiorot, lost to Shevchenko in May, Silva appears to have a straightforward path ahead. If granted a title shot, her hit-and-move fighting style could result in a matchup reminiscent of Shevchenko’s dominant win over Fiorot. Should Silva have truly earned the opportunity, she should receive her chance. — Wagenheim
