Distinguished voices throughout the UFC have additionally acknowledged that the standard of current playing cards has declined considerably.
2026 matchmaking has come underneath fireplace for its failure to ship attention-grabbing enchantment, compelling storylines and actually compelling matches, including to rising dissatisfaction with the world’s main MMA promotion amongst followers and consultants alike.
Regardless of the business pleasure following the landmark $7.7 billion Paramount broadcast deal, expectations for stronger struggle playing cards have largely gone unfulfilled, with many viewing the general high quality of the lineup throughout current numbered occasions as disappointing.
Whereas there is no such thing as a perceived definitive issue for the decline of UFC playing cards, it’s usually attributed to a mixture of an more and more congested occasion schedule, modest compensation for lower-tier fighters, and a transition interval throughout which earlier era icons had been phased out with out a right away successor.
Jon Anik admits current UFC playing cards have struggled to supply outcomes
In a current episode, Annick and Florian PodcastJon Anik and Ray Longo gave their opinions on final weekend’s UFC London occasion, which drew heavy criticism from followers for its lack of robust fighters and overwhelming matchups. The veteran MMA coach admitted he did not watch Combat Evening playing cards reside and revealed that his enthusiasm has now waned to the purpose that he is skipped some UFC occasions.
Anik echoed Longo’s views, reflecting rising dissatisfaction with the administration of current UFC occasions. Veteran commentary recommended that the present matchmaking is missing, with a number of current playing cards failing to reside as much as expectations.
“We’re not speaking a couple of co-main occasion,” Anik stated. “We’re not speaking about CLD’s win over Roman Dolisez, however Christian Leroy Duncan most likely wants a minute or two as a result of it is not very convincing.”
“Generally you could have your ups and your downs. I can not wait to shout it throughout my fucking neck at UFC 327 in a couple of weeks. That is the factor. We are able to have an sincere dialog like this and say we will give the promotion our all within the subsequent few weeks. Now we have an amazing machine and we will blow it up and I can not watch for it, however yeah, it hasn’t been an amazing few weeks. That is for certain.”
The promotion’s subsequent numbered card, UFC 327, will happen on April eleventh on the Caseya Heart in Miami, Florida for a championship doubleheader. In the primary occasion, former mild heavyweight champion Jiri Prochaska will face Carlos Wahlberg for the vacant title.
In the meantime, present flyweight champion Joshua Bunn is scheduled to make his first title protection in opposition to Akira Hira within the co-main occasion.
