The UFC has announced its schedule for the first quarter of 2026, and while there are some road dates, Fight Night events at the UFC Apex will continue.
Hold the applause (not that we expect much).
The announcement of the first ten UFC events of 2026 came as part of Friday’s “It’s On” press conference and sees the promotion head to Houston, Mexico City and Seattle, in addition to previously announced dates in Sydney, Australia and London, England.
The rest of the newly reported dates come in Las Vegas, which, aside from the first card of 2026 and UFC 326 in March, both at T-Mobile Arena, will take place in the relatively barren UFC Apex.
- January 24: UFC 324 – T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- January 31: UFC 325 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
- February 7: UFC Fight Night – UFC Apex, Las Vegas
- February 14: UFC Fight Night – UFC Apex, Las Vegas
- February 21: UFC Fight Night – Toyota Center, Houston
- February 28: UFC Fight Night – Arena CDMX, Mexico City
- March 7: UFC 326 – T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- March 14: UFC Fight Night – UFC Apex, Las Vegas
- March 21: UFC Fight Night: O2 Arena, London
- March 28: UFC Fight Night: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle
The promotion’s own private venue and production facility has been a godsend during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing the UFC to consistently and safely stage events while virtually every other sports league was shuttered. However, since fans returned to venues, the company has often been criticized for seemingly lackluster fight cards tied to Fight Night shows at the Apex, with the term “Top slop” entering the MMA lexicon.
While there was some hope that the UFC would return to the road full-time in the wake of the Paramount+ broadcast deal, which would see the company make $1.1 USD per year for its US broadcast rights alone, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
#UFC #Announces #Schedule #Apex #Cards #Happen