We’re midway by way of 2026, and MMA hasn’t stopped producing some memorable mangling.
Granted, I’ve but to see a serious title combat determined by submission, however the beauty of combined martial arts is that probably the most stunning finishes can generally occur while you least anticipate it, and that is doubly true for fighters who drive their opponents to faucet out.
Six months into the 12 months, we have seen all types of submissions, from hermetic chokes to physique bending holds to traditional armbars. So we had quite a lot of decisions when it got here to deciding what can be finest for our mid-year award. Ultimately, we landed someplace. Dana White Contender Collection Signed for a tough-to-top debut, the proficient flyweight contender places an exclamation level on a powerful efficiency in opposition to one of the vital harmful spoilers in his division, with a leglock by no means seen earlier than within the UFC, proving that the strawweight strongman is greater than only a meme machine.
So let’s check out MMA Preventing’s prime 3 posts of 2026 to date.
1st place: Murtazari Magomedov vs. Mershik Baghdasaryan (UFC Vegas 119)
You might be forgiven for mistaking Murtazari Magomedov for a striker.
For a lot of followers, their first introduction to Magomedov was on Contender Collection, the place he confirmed deft talent to defeat Brahyam Tsurcher and earn a UFC contract. Even his final Octagon League featherweight title protection was attributable to a horrific knockout knee within the center. Magomedov could also be a wrestler, however he is by no means been afraid to throw a hammer to the leg.
Nonetheless, his UFC debut reminded everybody that he has a harmful submission sport. Magomedov put Mershik Bagdasaryan on the mat and did not accept a pedestrian rear-naked choke or joint lock. No, that would not be sufficient. As a substitute, he waited for Bagdasarian to show right into a bodylock, catching him halfway by way of and twisting him in such a approach that his higher physique threatened to separate from his decrease physique.
The official name was Scottish Tornado, and the official consequence was Magomedov telling the 145-pound weight class to remain away on the subject of grappling.
2nd Place: As Almabaev vs. Charles Johnson (UFC Baku)
As Almabaev is So He’s on the point of breaking into the flyweight division’s elite, and his newest win brings him one step nearer to solidifying his standing.
Kazakhstan’s Almabaev has been a wholesome title favourite over the previous few fights, however wanting good on paper is one factor and looking out good contained in the Octagon is one other. Within the second spherical in opposition to flyweight kingmaker Charles Johnson, Almabaev produced a whole sport with significantly good wrestling.
Heading into the third spherical, Almabaev might have superior to a choice win. Contemplating Johnson’s historical past of upsets (UFC champions Joshua Bunn and Roar Kavanaugh know all too effectively how harmful he might be) when he is answerable for the cardboard, ought to he threat giving him even the slightest probability of a comeback? With lower than two minutes left within the sport, Almabaev took benefit of Johnson’s try to stand up from again management, grabbed Johnson’s leg, knocked him off base, and used a traditional Suloev stretch to tug his leg over his head. Faucet or say goodbye to your hamstrings.
With only one loss in eight UFC appearances, it would not be stunning if this was the efficiency that propelled Almabaev in direction of an eventual title shot.
third Place: Alice Aderen vs. Poliana Viana (UFC Vegas 117)
Alice Ardelen…is that okay?
Even probably the most positive-minded combat fan (me!) had a tough time accepting that Adelen would signal with the UFC in 2024. Two of her claims to fame are her sizable following on social media (tens of millions of individuals subscribe to Arderen’s social media due to her viral response faces) and her earlier loss to Zhang Weili. Her skilled file was 9 wins and 5 losses. And she or he misplaced to Shauna Bannon and Melissa Martinez. For instance, what are we doing?
Then one thing unusual occurred. Alderen was specific about it. She might have used her brief stint within the UFC to additional enhance her profile, however she really began profitable matches. Battle of the Evening efficiency in opposition to Rayanne dos Santos. One other determination concerning Montserrat Conejo nods. And a match in opposition to Poliana Viana. Though she is a struggling veteran, she is aware of a factor or two about web notoriety.
Aldelene made positive they had been each talked about once more. As soon as Alderen was in prime place, Viana countered with a physique lock from the decrease place, aiming to manage Alderen’s place. However what she did not know was that Ardelean had lastly come on-line. It is a fairly harmful basis for MMA in 2026.
With Viana’s foot between her legs, Aderen turned her bodylock protection right into a leglock offense, and shortly Viana was pressured to sign submission.
I do not know if Alderen can be a critical contender. I do not know if she’s near breaking into the highest 15 or not. However she’s already made a reputation for herself, changing into the primary fighter to assert a profitable capsule lock submission in a UFC bout.
