Top 5 fights to make in 2026
If 2025 reminded us of anything, it’s that combat sports still thrive on the right matchups. Titles matter, legacies matter, but nothing moves the needle like two names colliding at the perfect moment. Looking ahead, 2026 has the potential to be an all-time year if promoters pull the trigger on the fights fans actually want. Here are five matchups that would dominate headlines across boxing and MMA.
The fights fans want to see
1. Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev
By 2026, the idea of champions clashing across weight classes feels less impossible than ever. Ilia Topuria ruling lightweight while Islam Makhachev operates at welterweight would create a rare pound-for-pound spectacle. Topuria’s explosive boxing and finishing instinct against Islam’s suffocating grappling and control is the kind of stylistic clash that defines eras. Titles aside, this would be about supremacy.
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2. Deontay Wilder vs Oleksandr Usyk
This is the heavyweight contrast boxing has somehow missed. Wilder’s one-punch chaos against Oleksandr Usyk’s movement, IQ, and precision feels like unfinished business for the division. If Wilder is still chasing relevance and Usyk remains king, this becomes a dangerous but fascinating matchup.
3. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
Even now, it still feels surreal that this fight hasn’t happened. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua would be the biggest British boxing event ever, full stop. There is some skepticism following Joshua’s recent issues and reported setbacks, but if he’s cleared and competitive, the commercial and emotional pull remains massive.
4. Jake Paul vs KSI
Love it or hate it, this fight prints money. Years of back-and-forth, stalled negotiations, and online chaos have turned this into the ultimate influencer boxing grudge match. Jake’s progression against KSI’s unpredictability makes this less of a joke than critics admit. It doesn’t need a belt, just a ring.
5. Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall
This is the MMA super fight of the moment. Jon Jones against Tom Aspinall is youth, speed, and danger meeting the greatest résumé in UFC history. If Jones truly wants to cement his legacy, this is the fight that does it.
If even two or three of these fights happen in 2026, it could be a year fans talk about for decades.
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