The UFC Fantasy League of MMA Preventing is again for Season 5!
Half of 2026 is over, which implies it is draft time. For the uninitiated, for the previous few years we have been working a semi-annual UFC Fantasy League the place we draft 12 fighters from 11 UFC weight lessons with the purpose of beating different MMA fight staffs.
Season 4 of this experiment concluded with UFC Baku, leaving all six rivals with the right week off to reset and refocus earlier than drafting their Season 5 groups. Properly, there are 5 of us anyway. Alexander Okay. Lee would not must reset something, as he trolled the remainder of MMA Preventing’s workers en path to scoring probably the most factors he is ever gathered in a season, thanks largely to Season 4 MVP Josh Hokit. In the meantime, in Season 4, the race to the underside was fierce, however in the long run, Guilherme Cruz took the Cone of Disgrace from Jed Messieur and have become the primary decide on this season’s draft.
Congratulations, AK. Canada reigns supreme. In the meantime, Brazil is aiming to rebuild.
However now it is time for a brand new enterprise! UFC 329 is simply across the nook, and with it comes the following season of MMA fight sports activities UFC Fantasy Draft. The foundations are the identical as final time. This isn’t a day by day fantasy league, however a league that will probably be performed over the following six months. Alexander Okay. Lee, Damon Martin, Guilherme Cruz, Jed Methu, Mike Heck, and Jose Youngs will draft a crew of 12 fighters, one in every main division and one wild card, with every fighter incomes factors for the crew based mostly on the next scoring standards, with the season ending on the finish of the yr.
- +100 factors for victory
- +50 factors on the end
- +50 factors on Efficiency of the Night time or Struggle of the Night time bonus
- +50 factors for defeating an opponent within the UFC rankings
- +25 factors for taking part within the title match
- +25 factors for taking part in major occasion battles
Is it straightforward sufficient? We hope so.
Just like final season, we’re working a snake draft the place the draft place is decided by the ending order reversed from Season 4, with every participant with the ability to draft two keepers from their earlier crew.
Now let’s begin drafting!
Guilherme Cruz — Balter Walker, Paddy Pimblett
This yr’s heavyweight division is skinny, so Gui will make up for it by sustaining his high rating within the heavyweight division with fights already scheduled and boldly naming Benoît Saint-Denis underdog “The Buddy” subsequent weekend.
Jose Youngs — Umar Nurmagomedov, Carlos Prates
Jose has retained Nurmagomedov, who’s scheduled for a troublesome struggle towards David Martinez at UFC Abu Dhabi later this month, which might be his second struggle of the season. He may even preserve Prates, a dependable scorer, however has hinted that he may have a shot at a title, which most likely will not occur this yr.
Damon Martin — Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovsky
Damon retains two champions on the roster, locking him in for at the very least a while. some The purpose after they struggle. Makhachev is at present scheduled to face Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, whereas Volkanovskiy isn’t booked however is anticipated to face Movsar Evloev within the coming months.
Mike Heck — Gable Stevenson, Iwo Baraniowski
Mike drafted Stevenson heads-up final season, believing the Olympic gold medalist would struggle on the UFC White Home. That did not occur, however he was booked for UFC 329 and can possible struggle yet one more time later this yr. Baraniowski, alternatively, earned two fast finishes and two POTN bonuses in Season 4, and though he’s at present unbooked, he needs to be out there for at the very least yet one more recreation this yr.
Jed Messieur — Kari Giudice, Fatima Klein
I saved the identical power as final season and saved the identical two girls as season 4. As a result of they proceed to supply outcomes. Klein didn’t, however she is scheduled to face Tabitha Wealthy this month, a confirmed scorer just like Giudice, who’s scheduled for August.
Alexander Okay. Lee — Kevin Vallejos, Gillian Robertson
Vallejos is without doubt one of the most promising fighters in combined martial arts and needs to be poised for a giant alternative within the coming months, however Robertson already has a giant alternative forward of him – a title shot towards Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330.
Cruise — Max Holloway (wildcard)
Martin – Mackenzie Dern
Heck — Doricus du Plessis
Mechoux — Benoît Saint-Denis
Quite a lot of anticipated names got here off the board within the first spherical, however there have been most likely some surprises as effectively. Gi instantly used the wild card slot to amass Holloway. Holloway is closely favored to struggle Conor McGregor subsequent weekend and a rematch might be on the playing cards. Jose has develop into a heavyweight contender and has the potential to develop into a future undisputed champion. Damon helps Dern and defeats Robertson. He’ll face AK within the draft’s first head-to-head matchup. Mike believes DDP will beat Kamaru Usman in a major occasion struggle. I really feel like I’ve a pure expertise for BSD. BSD defeated Paddy Pimblett and expects to major occasion UFC Paris in September. And AK selects one of many few good girls’s bantamweight choices.
Martin — Erin Blanchfield
If wrestling matches matter, Tsarukyan could be probably the most useful participant within the league. Sadly, they did not, so AK expects Tsarukyan to win the light-weight title this season. I consider Yañez crushed Cody Garbrandt and can most likely struggle once more this yr. Heck makes a crafty selection and drafts Milosevic, a extremely touted prospect who ought to beat Hayley Cowan in August. Damon continues to strengthen the ladies’s division with Blanchfield, the primary non-champion participant chosen. Jose will add Vicente Luque at middleweight as he’s scheduled to face Trecean Gore. Gi then crammed the 205th spot with Nikita Krylov, who’s scheduled to face Robert Whittaker in his mild heavyweight debut.
Martin — Kazmato Chimaev
Heck — Valentina Shevchenko
Man introduced Medic with him, and Medic is at present scheduled to face Daniel Rodriguez in the primary occasion in a couple of weeks. Jose isn’t but booked, however he’ll take Silva, who, like Prates, tends to supply outcomes. Damon believes Chimaev will put one other crack at Sean Strickland and regain the middleweight title. Mike continues to struggle, profitable the ladies’s flyweight GOAT every time she is booked to struggle Natalia Silva. I completed coaching and had Mesquita again working the identical women lineup as final season. And AK believes Aspinall will struggle off Gehn this time.
Lee — Mokhsar Evloev (wildcard)
Meshu — lonely cabana
Youth — Tatiana Suarez
Cruise — christian leroy duncan
AK turns into the second individual to reap the benefits of the wild card slot, securing a possible future featherweight champion. Caban is able to tackle Brandon Roybal subsequent weekend, so I am going to preserve his providers. Heck closed out the ladies’s division with Taynara, a whole fade from Amanda Lemos. Damon retains the bantamweight title each time Yan fights and picks him as much as increase his championship crew. Jose will preserve Tatiana Suarez on the crew because the pool of gifted girls’s gamers is beginning to dry up. And Man has chosen CLD to defeat Jared Cannonier on this month’s matchup.
Cruise — Alessandro Costa
Youth — alexandre pantoja
Gi acquires Costa, who’s a candidate to face Cody Durden at UFC 329. Jose chooses Pantoja to regain the flyweight title. Martin will rejoin the champion crew and proceed his run at flyweight. Mike picks Turner, who’s scheduled to face Kahue Fernandez at UFC 330. I am going with Luke Riley, who will possible shut out Kai Kamaka III subsequent weekend. AK then closes out the midway level in Sandhagen, the place he’s scheduled for a troublesome struggle with Mario Bautista this weekend.
Lee — Mansoor Abdul Malik
Abdul-Malik is scheduled to face Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC 330, and he ought to positively win. Smith will probably be in an analogous place towards Kevin Holland in a couple of weeks. Lopez isn’t booked, however this man likes to struggle as typically as potential. Guskov will work with Jan Blachowicz to show issues round. Grasso has additionally not been booked, however is just about sure to compete within the Noce UFC in September. Barboza ought to get a run on Veronica Hardy within the coming weeks.
Youth — Magomed Ankalaev
Martin — model pericic
Hey — Merab Dvalishvili
Meshu — Jiri is approaching
Lee — Abdul Rakhman Yakyaev
Shi Ming is combating on the Street to UFC card, so there’s some dialogue right here, but when it occurs once more, we’ll let it occur. Ankalaev is booked to struggle Khalil Rountree at UFC Abu Dhabi. Though Pericic was not booked, he did effectively in season 4. Dvalishvili will possible struggle Yan subsequent in a trilogy bout. Prochaska hasn’t been drafted, however each crew wants a participant who’s all the time wholesome and likewise loopy. Yakyaev has moved on from straightforward placing and can possible get one other setup struggle this yr.
Hey — conor mcgregor (wildcard)
Martin — Magomed Zainukov
Because the draft progresses this far, there will probably be extra photographs at the hours of darkness. Corea is scheduled to face Stewart Nichol in a couple of weeks. Pinas ought to beat Cesar Almeida this weekend. John Polk aka Zainukov is lastly making his UFC debut. Jose was working out of choices and was considerably ready to signal Pereira on spec. In principle, Amanda Nunes will struggle Kayla Harrison this yr. However the massive shocker is McGregor, who hasn’t fought in 5 years and is Holloway’s massive underdog.
Cruise — Charles Jourdan
Youth — Quilan Sarkild
Martin — Michelle Montagu
Teka — Miktibek Olorubai
Jordan is rumored to struggle Tito Vera within the coming weeks, though he has not been formally booked. Salkild is simply He’s booked to face Mateusz Gamlot at UFC Vegas 120. Montague is at present not booked. Olorubai ought to proceed so as to add to his win tally towards Jeremiah Wells. Kniev faces Tyrell Fortune in a couple of weeks and it should be terrifying to look at. Wang Kong will face Tracy Cortez subsequent weekend.
Lee — Ian Machado Garry
Meshu — Anthony Hernandez (wildcard)
Martin — Islam Duratov (wildcard)
Youth — Ateba Gauthier (wildcard)
Cruise — Vinicius Oliveira
AK rounded out the roster believing that Gary will upset Makhachev at UFC 330. I consider “Fluffy” will survive early towards Gregory Rodriguez and overwhelm him late within the August match. Mike was very impressed with Almabaev’s win over Charles Johnson and is supporting him to proceed transferring up the rankings. Damon will appoint Duratov to defeat Wellington Turman later this month. Jose will get a steal from Gauthier, who isn’t drafted however is a participant who will certainly earn cash if he performs. Gui then finishes the draft by inserting Rock Canine within the featherweight division.
And it was executed! The fifth MMA Preventing UFC Fantasy Draft has been determined! There have been a couple of surprises this season as neither Season 4 MVP Josh Hokit nor runner-up Justin Gaethje had been drafted. Additionally on the sidelines was middleweight champion Sean Strickland.
Who was ignored and which picks had been reached? Tell us within the feedback. Vote for who you suppose will win the trophy this season.
