Most Noteworthy Match of the Year:
Max Holloway TKO(3) Jose Aldo II
The “most noteworthy” match of the year isn’t about box office or the popular scene, instead it is a pretty basic calculation — a sum of quality if you will. You can decide between the first or the rematch, they were basically the same fight.
As a refresher, our “Comeback” award is about coming back from inactivity or major injury (that we know about) and in doing so, really impressing. You can see more details at the bottom of the post about specific qualifiers.
Comeback Fighter of the Year: Georges St. Pierre (2-time winner)
Talk about a no-brainer. GSP comes off a massive layoff and stops the Middleweight champion, capturing UFC gold in a second division. He’s the best ever.
Honorable Mentions: Al Iaquinta, Chan Sung Jung
| Friday, October 16th 2026: PFL Chicago: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 | |||
 [#6 W125] Liz Carmouche | [#14 W125] Jena Bishop | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#16 W125] Viviane Araujo Last 5: L W W W W | Last Fight Date: 6/27/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#36 W125] Ariane Lipski da Silva Last 5: W W L W W | ||
| Thursday, December 31st 2026: Rizin FF New Years Eve Event | |||
 [#5 FW] Rajabali Shaidullaev |  [#17 FW] Kyoma Akimoto | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 9/10/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#7 FW] A.J. McKee Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 8/11/2026 [Rizin Fighting Federation] Last Opponent: [#26 FW] Kleber Koike Erbst Last 5: W W W W W | ||
| Saturday, November 14th 2026: Professional Fighters League PFL Returns to Dubai: Nemkov vs. Bilostenniy | |||
 [#6 HW] Vadim Nemkov | [#16 HW] Sergey Bilostenniy | ||
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| Last Fight Date: 12/13/2025 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#20 HW] Renan Ferreira Last 5: W W W W W | Last Fight Date: 5/02/2026 [PFL] Last Opponent: [#20 HW] Renan Ferreira Last 5: W W L W W | ||
| [#43 WW] |  Roberto Soldic | [#1 WW] | Islam Makhachev | |
| [#8 BW] | Payton Talbott | [#26 MW] | Roman Kopylov | |
| [#3 W125] |  Natalia Silva | [#63 MW] |  Damian Pinas | |
| [#28 FLW] |  Imanol Rodriguez | [#29 LW] |  Esteban Ribovics | |
| [#81 MW] |  Ateba Abega Gautier | [#12 BW] | Deiveson Figueiredo |
Women Featherweight Championship (145)
[#1/#3DD/#3P4P] Cristiane Justino (18-1-0, -363) vs. [#5] Holly Holm (11-3-0, +285)
Cristiane Justino is the All-Time #2 ranked Women’s fighter.
Holly Holm is the All-Time #16 ranked Women’s fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Cristiane Justino (3-0-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#6BW] Tonya Evinger (19-6-0) via TKO in 1:56 of round 3
2016-09-24: W vs. [#25BW] Lina Lansberg (7-3-0) via TKO in 2:29 of round 2
2016-05-14: W vs. [#8BW] Leslie Smith (10-7-1) via TKO (Punches) in 1:21 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Holly Holm (1-2-0)
2017-06-17: W vs. [#12BW] Bethe Correia (10-3-1) via KO (Head Kick and Punch) in 1:09 of round 3
2017-02-11: L vs. [#2FW/#8DD/#10P4P] Germaine de Randamie (7-3-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
2016-07-23: L vs. [#2BW/#4DD/#8P4P] Valentina Shevchenko (14-3-0) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Cristiane Justino 154, Holly Holm 196
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Even: Both have 1 win(s) against common opposition.
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Lightweight (155)
[#4] Edson Barboza (19-4-0, +235) vs. [#6] Khabib Nurmagomedov (24-0-0, -294)
Edson Barboza is the All-Time #27 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is the All-Time #28 ranked Lightweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Edson Barboza (3-0-0)
2017-03-11: W vs. [#14LW] Beneil Dariush (14-3-1) via TKO in 4:35 of round 2
2016-07-23: W vs. [#38FW] Gilbert Melendez (22-7-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#11LW] Anthony Pettis (20-7-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Khabib Nurmagomedov (3-0-0)
2016-11-12: W vs. [#21LW] Michael Johnson (17-12-0) via Submission (Kimura) in 2:31 of round 3
2016-04-16: W vs. [#161LW] Darrell Horcher (13-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 3:38 of round 2
2014-04-19: W vs. [#3WW] Rafael dos Anjos (28-9-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Edson Barboza 294, Khabib Nurmagomedov 413
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Khabib Nurmagomedov leads 1-0
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Women Strawweight (115)
[#8] Carla Esparza (12-4-0, +220) vs. [#13] Cynthia Calvillo (6-0-0, -277)
Last 3 Fights: Carla Esparza (2-1-0)
2017-06-25: W vs. [#20SW] Maryna Moroz (8-2-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-02-19: L vs. [#19SW] Randa Markos (7-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
2016-04-23: W vs. [#34SW] Juliana Lima (9-4-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Cynthia Calvillo (3-0-0)
2017-07-16: W vs. [#26SW] Joanne Calderwood (11-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2017-04-08: W vs. [#101SW] Pearl Gonzalez (6-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:45 of round 3
2017-03-04: W vs. [#48SW] Amanda Bobby Cooper (3-3-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 3:19 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Carla Esparza 188, Cynthia Calvillo 167
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Source: Wikimedia
It’s the news we all wanted to hear: everyone’s favorite (or least favorite) Irishman is hoping for a third bout with Nate Diaz. We all know what happened in the previous two fights, so suffice to say, that a third meeting between the pair would bring closure to a lot of people. The news comes after McGregor’s assertion just a few days ago that he was uninterested in a second consecutive boxing match after losing to Mayweather last Summer. It’s no real surprise to fans of the Irishman who understand that while the big money is in the boxing ring, McGregor’s heart is in the octagon. He does love that cash money, though.
Despite BetStars offering odds on McGregor to fight both Manny Pacquiao and Paulie Malignaggi in March of next year, we’re still unsure as to whether The Notorious will ever step back inside the boxing ring. With McGregor, you just can’t tell, and according to Khabib Nurmagomedov, McGregor will be in no rush to jump back into the octagon.
Welterweight (170)
[#3] Robbie Lawler (28-11-0, -110) vs. [#4] Rafael dos Anjos (27-9-0, -115)
Robbie Lawler is the All-Time #3 ranked Welterweight and #18 ranked Absolute fighter.
Rafael dos Anjos is the All-Time #32 ranked Absolute fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Robbie Lawler (2-1-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#15WW] Donald Cerrone (32-10-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-07-30: L vs. [#1WW/#5DD/#7P4P] Tyron Woodley (18-3-1) via KO (Punches) in 2:12 of round 1
2016-01-02: W vs. [*] Carlos Condit (30-10-0) via SD (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Last 3 Fights: Rafael dos Anjos (2-1-0)
2017-09-09: W vs. [#12WW] Neil Magny (19-6-0) via Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) in 3:43 of round 1
2017-06-17: W vs. [#29WW] Tarec Saffiedine (16-7-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2016-11-05: L vs. [#3LW/#8DD] Tony Ferguson (23-3-0) via UD (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Robbie Lawler 140, Rafael dos Anjos 98
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: Rafael dos Anjos leads 2-1
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Featherweight (145)
[#4] Ricardo Lamas (18-5-0, -274) vs. [#39] Josh Emmett (12-1-0, +220)
Ricardo Lamas is the All-Time #12 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Ricardo Lamas (2-1-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#26FW] Jason Knight (20-4-0) via TKO in 4:34 of round 1
2016-11-05: W vs. [#20LW] Charles Oliveira (22-8-0) via Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 2:13 of round 2
2016-06-04: L vs. [#1FW/#1DD/#2P4P] Max Holloway (19-3-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Last 3 Fights: Josh Emmett (2-1-0)
2017-10-21: W vs. [#159FW] Felipe Arantes (18-9-1) via UD (30-26, 30-26, 30-25)
2017-04-08: L vs. [#68LW] Desmond Green (20-6-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2016-12-17: W vs. [#84LW] Scott Holtzman (11-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Ricardo Lamas 140, Josh Emmett 56
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Welterweight (170)
[#14] Santiago Ponzinibbio (25-3-0, -194) vs. [#23] Mike Perry (11-1-0, +161)
Last 3 Fights: Santiago Ponzinibbio (3-0-0)
2017-07-16: W vs. [#22WW] Gunnar Nelson (16-3-1) via KO (Punches) in 1:22 of round 1
2017-02-19: W vs. [#66WW] Nordine Taleb (13-4-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-08-06: W vs. [#31WW] Zak Cummings (21-5-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Last 3 Fights: Mike Perry (2-1-0)
2017-09-16: W vs. [#373WW] Alex Reyes (13-3-0) via KO (Knee) in 1:19 of round 1
2017-04-22: W vs. [#34WW] Jake Ellenberger (31-13-0) via KO (Elbow) in 1:05 of round 2
2016-12-17: L vs. [#53WW] Alan Jouban (15-6-0) via UD (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Santiago Ponzinibbio 153, Mike Perry 91
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Featherweight (145)
[#6] Brian Ortega (12-0-0, -116) vs. [#7] Cub Swanson (25-7-0, -109)
Brian Ortega is the All-Time #45 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Cub Swanson is the All-Time #14 ranked Featherweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Brian Ortega (3-0-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#15FW] Renato Carneiro (11-1-1) via SUB in 2:59 of round 3
2016-06-04: W vs. [#28LW] Clay Guida (34-17-0) via TKO in 4:40 of round 3
2016-01-02: W vs. [#73LW] Diego Brandao (22-12-0) via Submission (Triangle Choke) in 1:37 of round 3
Last 3 Fights: Cub Swanson (3-0-0)
2017-04-22: W vs. [#85FW] Artem Lobov (13-14-1) via UD (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
2016-12-10: W vs. [#23FW] Doo Ho Choi (14-2-0) via UD (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
2016-08-06: W vs. [#53FW] Tatsuya Kawajiri (36-12-2) via UD (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Brian Ortega 133, Cub Swanson 231
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Featherweight (145)
[#14] Jason Knight (20-3-0, -305) vs. [#112] Gabriel Benitez (19-6-0, +242)
Last 3 Fights: Jason Knight (2-1-0)
2017-07-29: L vs. [#4FW] Ricardo Lamas (18-5-0) via TKO in 4:34 of round 1
2017-05-13: W vs. [#29FW] Chas Skelly (17-3-0) via TKO (Punches) in 0:39 of round 3
2017-01-28: W vs. [#99FW] Alex Caceres (13-11-0) via Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in 4:21 of round 2
Last 3 Fights: Gabriel Benitez (1-2-0)
2017-05-13: L vs. [#92FW] Enrique Barzola (13-3-1) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2016-09-17: W vs. [#73FW] Sam Sicilia (16-8-0) via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke) in 1:20 of round 2
2015-11-21: L vs. [#39FW] Andre Fili (17-5-0) via KO (Head Kick and Punches) in 3:13 of round 1
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Jason Knight 133, Gabriel Benitez 210
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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Bantamweight (135)
[#8] Marlon Moraes (19-5-1, -150) vs. [#9] Aljamain Sterling (14-2-0, +124)
Marlon Moraes is the All-Time #19 ranked Bantamweight fighter.
Aljamain Sterling is the All-Time #40 ranked Bantamweight fighter.
Last 3 Fights: Marlon Moraes (2-1-0)
2017-11-11: W vs. [#10BW] John Dodson (19-9-0) via SD (30-27, 30-27, 27-30)
2017-06-03: L vs. [#7BW] Raphael Assuncao (26-5-0) via SD (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
2016-12-31: W vs. [#87BW] Josenaldo Silva (25-6-0) via TKO (Knee Injury) in 2:30 of round 1
Last 3 Fights: Aljamain Sterling (2-1-0)
2017-07-29: W vs. [#25FW] Renan Barao (34-5-0) via UD (29-27, 30-26, 29-28)
2017-04-15: W vs. [#52BW] Augusto Mendes (6-2-0) via UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
2017-01-28: L vs. [#7BW] Raphael Assuncao (26-5-0) via SD (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Days Since Last Pro Fight: Marlon Moraes 28, Aljamain Sterling 133
Previous Match-up Record: No previous match-ups.
Wins Against Common Opposition: No common opposition or both are winless against common opposition.
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