Lightweight and flyweight divisions delivered A+ grades in the first half of 2026, driven by explosive performances and high-stakes drama. Justin Gaethje’s TKO victory over Ilia Topuria and Josh Van’s dominant TKO against Tatsuro Taira set the tone, showcasing the divisions’ depth and unpredictability. These classes have thrived on rivalries, with Topuria’s loss to Gaethje and Van’s aggressive style keeping fans engaged. The UFC’s focus on activity and competitive matchups has paid dividends, making these weight classes standouts.

Heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions earned mixed reviews, with Carlos Ulberg’s TKO win over Jiří Procházka being a bright spot. Ulberg’s championship bid, though short-lived due to injury, highlighted the light heavyweight’s potential. Heavyweight struggles persist, but Alex Pereira’s attempt at three weight classes and Tom Aspinall’s return from injury offer hope. However, the lack of title fights and underwhelming performances from top contenders like Jamahal Hill dimmed expectations. The middleweight and welterweight divisions showed promise but lacked consistency, with Sean Strickland’s upsets and Islam Makhachev’s upcoming defense as key catalysts.

The men’s bantamweight and flyweight classes rounded out the first half with mid-tier performances. Sean O’Malley’s unanimous decision over Song Yadong and Joshua Van’s TKO against Taira underscored resilience, but injuries and inactivity held back broader excitement. While flyweight remains a fan favorite due to Van’s charisma, bantamweight needs breakthroughs to elevate. The second half could reshape these rankings, but the first half’s A+ lightweight and A+ flyweight grades reflect the UFC’s ability to deliver compelling, high-quality action.