As the UFC ushers in 2026, fight fans find themselves staring eagerly down the barrel of a year packed with explosive rematches that promise to shake the very foundations of the MMA world. The UFC rematches list gleams with names that pour adrenaline straight into the veins of combat sports enthusiasts: from Aspinall’s heavyweight thunder to Topuria’s featherweight finesse, the agenda is set for a showdown parade that could eclipse even the best UFC moments we’ve seen recently. Yeah, we’re staring down some bouts that won’t just be reruns—they’ll be hard-hitting sequels with grudges, skills, and tattoos of revenge inked on every strike.
Heavyweight fights always bring a special kind of hype, and when fighters like Tom Aspinall get tangled in controversial clashes, the plot thickens like a protein shake after leg day. And let’s not overlook Ilia Topuria, whose slick style and sharp hooks made waves last year and now look ready to dive headfirst into a chapter two with some familiar—but definitely not friendly—faces. This isn’t just about throwing fists again; it’s about crafting legacies, settling debates that were left hanging after split decisions, and throwing down where pride, belts, and reputations hang in the balance.
With a UFC fight calendar stuffed with rematches and revenge tales, 2026 is shaping up to be a canvas for some of the most memorable combat sports paintballs in recent memory. From heavyweight brawls that carry the weight of a thousand memes, to featherweight puzzles packed with speed, precision, and tactical wizardry, every fight is a microcosm of MMA’s raw, unspoiled brutality and beauty. Buckle up: these five bouts promise fireworks hotter than your post-gym sweat t-shirt in a summer heatwave.
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane: A Heavyweight Rematch With More Than Just Muscle
The heavyweight rematch between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane isn’t riding in quietly—it’s crashing through the front door like a wrecking ball on pay-per-view demand. Their first dance at UFC 321 was cut brutally short by that infamous eye poke that left Aspinall sidelined and fans hanging like cliffhangers in a scandal series. But don’t be fooled into thinking the initial bout was a warm-up: Aspinall’s camp is buzzing with talk that the eye poke was no accident, casting a long shadow of mistrust that guarantees this rematch will be one heck of a heated grudge match.
The stakes for Aspinall go way beyond just reclaiming his moment. After weeks of blurry vision and forced rest, the champ is itching to get back into the cage, arguably hungrier than a hipster’s Instagram feed during a food festival. The heavyweight division thrives on chaos, and the line-up of challengers isn’t getting any softer. That makes this fight not just a crucial title defense but a battle for heavyweight supremacy—a clash where every punch will echo with the ghosts of their last, unfinished business.
Expect a more cage-savvy Gane as well. His movement was sharp before, but now with time to analyze that eye poke fiasco and gearing up with UFC resources, his approach will be tactical. Aspinall’s striking precision and ground control will be on trial against Gane’s elusive footwork—think chess, but the pieces hit like freight trains. The UFC heavyweight scene rarely offers such a potent cocktail of controversy and talent; this is the kind of rematch that could redefine narratives for years to come.
Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley: The Bantamweight Battle of Ego and Skill
Here comes a bantamweight clash soaked in drama and scattered with plenty of “Dana White privilege” accusations, the kind of rivalry that’s as much business as it is blood sport. Petr Yan and Sean O’Malley’s paths are lined with heated words, controversial decisions, and bragging rights that won’t fade quietly. Remember that split decision from 2022? Yan’s corner still argues Yan should’ve taken that win, while O’Malley’s flashy style and big-name status keep the heat on. The title fight chatter around these two is loud enough to drown out a whoopee cushion in a silent room.
O’Malley’s upcoming scrap against Song Yadong at UFC 324 will be under a microscope. Should he slide through with style, expect the clamoring for a rematch with Yan to grow louder than a hype train at full throttle. Fans have mixed feelings: some see O’Malley as the UFC’s golden boy with more style than substance, others acknowledge the kid’s got striking flair sharper than his tweets. Meanwhile, Yan, the ever-stoic warrior, sees this as unfinished business wrapped in a condescending laugh at the rematch talk. For this fight to have real teeth, it needs more than flash—it needs raw determination and a game plan as tight as Yan’s infamous takedown defense (which, by the way, is like the Wi-Fi at Starbucks: weirdly unreliable but adored).
This matchup serves as a reminder that bantamweight divisions, with their non-stop pace and dynamic striking, produce some of the wildest UFC rematches. The drama around their rivalry feeds into what combat sports fans crave most: a story, not just punches. In 2026, the hype surrounding Yan vs. O’Malley isn’t just about fists flying; it’s about ego, redemption, and proving who really owns the bantamweight throne.
Jirà Procházka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.: Light Heavyweight’s High-Stakes Rematch
When Jirà Procházka and Khalil Rountree Jr. met last year, it was a rollercoaster of wild strikes and heart-pounding drama. Procházka snagged a third-round TKO, but only after Rountree was cruising ahead on the judges’ cards—talk about a plot twist worthy of Netflix’s next big thriller. That fight wasn’t just a brawl; it was a tactical battlefield where every mistake got punished like a kid sneaking cookies before dinner.
The prospect of a rematch hangs in the air—thanks partly to a swirling light heavyweight title picture. Alex Pereira’s flirtation with the heavyweight division and potential blockbuster matchups with legends like Jon Jones have stirred chaos in the division. If the title picture opens up, Procházka vs. Rountree could be the main event for an interim or vacant title, translating into a classic revenge tale wrapped in a spotlight that adds pressure and sugar to the punch.
This fight has all the ingredients of a fan-favorite: skill, suspense, and a clear “what if” scenario buzzing between both camps. Rountree will be looking to fix the mistakes that cost him, while Procházka will bring that unpredictable style with more cage control and patience, turning his wild horses into a precise stampede. This rematch isn’t just about talent—it’s about facing your demons head-on in the UFC’s unforgiving light heavyweight jungle.
Valentina Shevchenko vs. Amanda Nunes: Women’s Bantamweight Trilogy on the Horizon
The MMA world might have to prepare for gold-plated fireworks should Valentina Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes re-enter the cage for a trilogy. Their two previous encounters back in 2016 and 2017 laid the groundwork for an epic saga, with Nunes coming out on top both times, the second by a razor-thin split decision that barely convinced anyone but the judges. This trilogy wouldn’t just be a fight; it would be a legacy fight, symbolizing the clash of two generations of female bantamweights.
Despite Nunes’s retirement for over two years, the whispers of her comeback have fans buzzing like a corner man on a caffeine drip. Her next challenge? Taking on Kayla Harrison, the current women’s bantamweight champ—a fight that could rekindle the rivalry if Nunes recaptures the belt. For Shevchenko, who hasn’t stepped in the 135-pound cage since their last bout, the question is whether her ambitions at flyweight will delay or detour her from chasing one more shot at the bantamweight throne.
Both fighters know what’s at stake. The trilogy isn’t just about adding to their win column; it’s about proving who truly defines the era. In the world of women’s MMA, where respect and strategy intertwine tightly, this rematch trilogy will be a landmark event, more than worthy of the title fight anticipation it’s already generating.
Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway: Featherweight Flair Meets Lightweight Ambitions
At first glance, a rematch between Ilia Topuria and Max Holloway might not instantly set off alarm bells. After all, Topuria knocked out Holloway in their last encounter, showcasing power and precision that left jaws on the floor. But hold up—2026 might paint a bigger picture where ambition, strategy, and the lightweight division’s shifting sands produce a battle you won’t want to miss.
Picture this: Holloway, fresh off defending his BMF title against Charles Oliveira, accepting a fiery contender bout against Arman Tsarukyan at the White House event—a fight he’s more than ready for, considering Tsarukyan’s bold calls and followers. Holloway’s victory here sets the stage for him to sidle up cageside for the biggest lightweight show—Topuria’s unification bout against the winner of the Gaethje-Pimblett interim title clash.
Topuria wants the Makhachev showdown, sure, but that fight isn’t on the immediate horizon. Instead, this rematch with Holloway offers a real, tangible storyline wrapped in feather-to-lightweight drama, and a striking masterclass that could redefine lightweight ambitions for both fighters. If and when it happens, this fight will aren’t just a sequel—it’ll be a heavyweight contender for fight of the year in the lightweight division.
| Rematch | Weight Division | Anticipated Event | Key Stakes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane | Heavyweight | UFC 335 (TBD) | Title clarification & rivalry resolution |
| Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley | Bantamweight | UFC 326, Las Vegas | Title contention & fan drama |
| Jirà Procházka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. | Light Heavyweight | Late 2026 TBD | Potential interim title & redemption |
| Valentina Shevchenko vs. Amanda Nunes | Women’s Bantamweight | Post-Nunes comeback | Trilogy fight & legacy stakes |
| Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway | Lightweight/Featherweight | Mid-2026 scenario | Division dominance & revenge |
- Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane is the heavyweight bout with the most heat and unresolved grievances.
- Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley keeps the bantamweight intrigue alive amid UFC’s star-power dynamics.
- Jirà Procházka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. could define the light heavyweight landscape depending on title shifts.
- Valentina Shevchenko vs. Amanda Nunes carries heavyweight emotional and legacy weight as a trilogy.
- Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway meshes featherweight skills and lightweight ambitions into a must-watch rematch.
For those hungry to keep tabs on the ins and outs of 2026’s UFC fight calendar, this lineup spells anticipation, blood, and strategy with a side of unforgettable moments. Fans scouting for the next big play should keep these rematches top of mind—because when combat sports bring back the fire, it’s the fan who wins the night.
More insight on how these rematches shape the UFC’s landscape can be found in updates like the UFC 2026 fight calendar and reports detailing the shifts in divisions and rivalries. For heavyweight drama and rising titan moves, look no further than Alex Pereira’s heavyweight aspirations and the fallout from epic bouts like UFC 320 Ankalaev vs. Pereira. Bantamweight fans tracking the Yan saga will find solid coverage at Sandhagen-Dvalishvili and Yan coverage. Women’s MMA aficionados can check Shevchenko’s movements alongside upcoming UFC 322 previews for a full picture.