After A Year Of Title Changes, One Of UFC’s Deepest Division Enters 2026 With No Shortage Of Contenders And Compelling Storylines
“On fire” is the most apt description of the welterweight division heading into 2026, and even then, that is probably an understatement. In 2025, the belt changed hands twice, first to Jack Della Maddalena and then to Islam Makhachev.
Underneath those shifts, the queue for a title shot features an abundance of riches, with multiple highly qualified and highly intriguing contenders all holding a fair case for a chance at UFC gold. Each of them brings their own narratives to the table with their own combinations of storylines.