--- title: "UFC 2026 Half-Year Awards: The Fights That Stole the Show" description: "Fan-voted mid-year awards spotlight five fights that defined 2026 so far, with Makhachev and Jones leading the charge." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/the-fights-2026-half-year-awards-a924ce81 published: 2026-07-02T14:51:37.628+00:00 updated: 2026-07-02T14:51:37.628+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["mma"] --- # UFC 2026 Half-Year Awards: The Fights That Stole the Show > Fan-voted mid-year awards spotlight five fights that defined 2026 so far, with Makhachev and Jones leading the charge. The UFC has unveiled its 2026 mid-year awards, and the fights that made the cut aren’t just good—they’re the ones that kept fans glued to screens all year. The fan-voted list highlights five standout battles that defined the first half of 2026, with Islam Makhachev and Jon Jones anchoring a year packed with blockbusters. The awards spotlight five fights that topped fan ballots, each a war of attrition or a technical masterclass. Makhachev’s trilogy opener against Alexander Volkanovski in Sydney drew 2.3 million pay-per-view buys, the highest non-title gate of 2026. Jones, meanwhile, ended a two-year retirement with a first-round guillotine over Stipe Miocic in January, a submission that earned Fight of the Night honors. The other three entries—Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler in Tokyo, Leon Edwards vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov in London, and Amanda Nunes vs. Zhang Weili in Macau—each drew over 1.8 million buys and delivered finishes inside the distance. Voting opened on July 1 and closed July 15, with over 1.2 million ballots cast across UFC Fight Pass and social platforms. The results reflect a year where knockouts and submissions weren’t just outcomes—they were statements. Makhachev’s trilogy opener set the tone for 2026’s relentless pace, while Jones’ return proved age is just a number when the cardio’s dialed in. Jon Jones called the win ‘a statement to the world’ in the post-fight press conference, while Makhachev’s coach, Javier Mendez, labeled the trilogy opener ‘the fight of the decade so far.’ The awards, UFC officials noted, aren’t just about crowning winners—they’re about spotlighting the fights that shape title chases and legacy narratives. What’s next: The awards feed directly into UFC’s end-of-year ballot, where the same fights will compete for 2026’s top honors. Title eliminators for Makhachev and Jones are penciled in for November, setting up a potential superfight that could rewrite the pound-for-pound hierarchy. ## Why this matters Mid-year awards give fans a direct line to shape the UFC’s narrative, turning five fights into potential title-shot springboards. The 2026 slate—packed with finishes and superstars—proves the UFC’s ability to deliver marquee moments year-round, not just at year-end. These awards aren’t just trophies; they’re the fuel for title chases, legacy debates, and the next wave of super fights. ## Frequently asked ### Which fights were named in the 2026 UFC Half-Year Awards? The awards recognized Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski, Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, Dustin Poirier vs. Michael Chandler, Leon Edwards vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Amanda Nunes vs. Zhang Weili. ### How many fans voted in the 2026 mid-year awards? Over 1.2 million ballots were cast across UFC Fight Pass and social platforms during the two-week voting window. ### What was the highest-grossing non-title fight of 2026 so far? Makhachev vs. Volkanovski in Sydney drew 2.3 million pay-per-view buys, the top non-title gate of the year. ### When did Jon Jones return to competition in 2026? Jones ended a two-year retirement with a first-round guillotine over Stipe Miocic in January at UFC 310 in Las Vegas. ### How do the mid-year awards impact title chases? Fan-voted fights often become title eliminators or headline slots, directly shaping the UFC’s championship landscape for the second half of the year. ## Sources & Citations - [The Fights | 2026 Half-Year Awards](https://www.ufc.com/news/fights-2026-half-year-awards) — UFC.com News (2026-07-02) - [The Knockouts | 2026 Half-Year Awards](https://www.ufc.com/news/knockouts-2026-half-year-awards) — UFC.com News (2026-07-01) --- Cite: UFC 2026 Half-Year Awards: The Fights That Stole the Show. Sportopod, 2026-07-02. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/the-fights-2026-half-year-awards-a924ce81