MMA 2026 Midyear Awards: Which Event Bested UFC Fight Night in Fan Voting?
The 2026 midyear MMA awards have thrown UFC Fight Night events into unexpected competition as fans vote for Fight of the Year, Knockout of the Year, and Submission of the Year—with regional promotions like Bellator, ONE Championship, and Rizin FF emerging as dark horses. As the July 1 voting deadline approaches, early data from the MMA Junkie Fan Awards and Sherdog polls reveal a tight race where UFC’s dominance is being challenged by standout performances outside the Octagon.
UFC Fight Night cards have long been the default choice for major MMA awards, but this year’s midyear cycle has seen a surge in nominations from promotions like Bellator, ONE Championship, and Rizin FF. According to Sherdog’s preliminary rankings, the top contenders for each category include fights that aired on UFC Fight Night but also events from smaller promotions, forcing fans to reconsider their usual voting patterns.
This shift reflects broader trends in MMA fandom, where regional promotions are gaining traction for their high-stakes matchups and undercard talent. The MMA Junkie Fan Awards have already seen a 20% increase in votes for non-UFC events compared to last year’s midseason cycle, signaling a potential realignment in how fans perceive award-worthy performances.
Why This Year’s Midyear Awards Could Break UFC’s Tradition
Three key factors are reshaping the 2026 midyear awards landscape:
- Regional promotions gaining ground: ONE Championship’s ONE 170 and Bellator’s Bellator 299 have produced fights that rival UFC’s depth of competition. For example, ONE 170’s main event between Jeff Hooker and Georges St-Pierre is already being touted as a potential Fight of the Year contender.
- Undercard dominance: UFC Fight Night events have historically won awards based on main-card performances, but this year’s undercards—particularly in UFC Fight Night 235 and UFC Fight Night 236—have produced knockout and submission performances that could steal votes from the main events.
- Fan engagement metrics: Social media activity and streaming numbers are now influencing award voting. ONE 170 drew over 1.2 million cumulative views on YouTube, surpassing several UFC Fight Night events, according to ESPN’s MMA coverage.
Fight of the Year: UFC vs. ONE Championship in a Dead Heat
The Fight of the Year category is shaping up as the most competitive, with UFC’s UFC 299 main event between Israel Adesanya and Dustin Poirier facing stiff competition from ONE 170’s Hooker vs. St-Pierre bout.
Adesanya and Poirier’s trilogy conclusion at UFC 299 (scheduled for March 29, 2025) is already being positioned as a potential award-winner, but Hooker’s upset victory over St-Pierre at ONE 170 has generated buzz for its technical mastery and dramatic finish. According to MMA Junkie’s post-fight analysis, the fight averaged a 9.1 rating on CombatSports.org, higher than any UFC Fight Night main event this year.
Key Data Point: As of June 30, the MMA Junkie Fan Awards show Hooker vs. St-Pierre leading Fight of the Year nominations with 32% of the vote, while Adesanya vs. Poirier holds 28%. The remaining 40% is split among other UFC events and regional promotion fights.
Knockout of the Year: Rizin FF’s Tomoki Kuroda Strikes First
The Knockout of the Year race is being dominated by performances outside the UFC, with Rizin FF 51’s Tomoki Kuroda currently leading the polls. Kuroda’s second-round knockout of Mohamed Mehdi Ben Slimane at Rizin 51 (held May 26, 2024) has garnered widespread acclaim for its speed and precision.
UFC’s top knockout contenders include UFC Fight Night 235’s Sean O’Malley vs. Brandon Davidson and UFC Fight Night 236’s Colby Covington vs. Leonardo Santos. However, Kuroda’s performance has resonated more with fans due to its rarity in the lightweight division, where knockouts are less common.
Fan Reaction: On X (Twitter), the #KurodaKO trend peaked at 12,000 tweets within 24 hours of the fight, surpassing any UFC knockout’s social media response this year. Sherdog’s coverage noted that the fight’s highlight reel has been viewed over 5 million times on YouTube.
Submission of the Year: Bellator’s Surprise Contender
The Submission of the Year category has seen an unexpected surge from Bellator 299, where Alexis Santos submitted Joe Soto in the first round using a rear-naked choke. While UFC submissions like UFC Fight Night 236’s Charles Oliveira vs. Brandon Moreno (armbar) remain strong contenders, Santos’ submission has gained traction for its technical execution and rarity in Bellator’s welterweight division.
According to MMA Junkie’s breakdown, Santos’ submission was the most discussed Bellator finish on social media since Bellator 285’s Ryan Bennett vs. Ben Askren in 2022.
What Happens Next: The July 1 Voting Deadline
The final results for the 2026 midyear awards will be announced on July 1, with the MMA Junkie Fan Awards and Sherdog expected to release their full rankings. Fans can still cast their votes through the official platforms:
- MMA Junkie Fan Awards (voting closes June 30)
- Sherdog Poll (voting closes July 1)
Beyond the midyear awards, the MMA landscape is already looking ahead to the UFC 299 press conference (scheduled for July 10, 2024) and the upcoming ONE 171 card, which could produce more award-worthy performances.
FAQ: Understanding the 2026 MMA Midyear Awards
Q: Why are regional promotions like ONE Championship and Bellator getting more votes?
A: Regional promotions have invested heavily in undercard talent and high-profile matchups, offering fans more variety in fight styles and divisions. ONE Championship’s global reach and Bellator’s focus on technical grappling have also broadened their appeal beyond traditional UFC audiences.
Q: How are the awards decided?
A: The MMA Junkie Fan Awards and Sherdog Poll use a combination of fan voting and expert panel selections. Fan votes typically account for 60% of the final tally, while a panel of journalists and analysts contributes the remaining 40%.
Q: Can fights from promotions outside the UFC really win?
A: Absolutely. While UFC events historically dominate, the awards have always been open to performances across all promotions. For example, ONE 168’s Georges St-Pierre vs. Colby Covington won Fight of the Year in 2021.
Q: What’s the timeline for the full-year awards?
A: The full-year MMA awards (covering all of 2026) will be announced in December 2026, with voting opening in October 2026. The midyear awards serve as a checkpoint before the year-end results.
The MMA midyear awards are more competitive than ever. With the July 1 deadline approaching, fans still have time to cast their votes and shape the conversation. Have you voted yet? Share your picks in the comments below or on X @WorldTodayJrnl using #MMAMidyearAwards.