Yep , Knew this was coming .
The UFC in 2026 has seen a lot of underwhelming matchmaking and even more underwhelming events, and it feels like we’re starting to hit levels of fan dissatisfaction never seen before.
The bad vibes go further than just ‘the rabble’ on X (formerly Twitter) and forums. Even the loyal soldiers on the Anik and Florian Podcast are discussing the issue after Saturday’s painfully uneventful UFC London: Evloev vs. Murphy event. Play-by-play commentator Jon Anik had legendary coach Ray Longo on, and they clearly had no interest in digging into the U.K. stinker.
“Ten, twelve years ago, I never left my house on Saturday night,” Longo said. “If we had a wedding for somebody, everybody had their phone out watching the fights. It’s just not like that any more.”
“I think some of these cards have been a little weaker. I mean, it’s just not captivating … And those fights on the White House card, you can’t tell me anybody gives a s–t. Like, the way we come up with these matchups? God.”
“What’s happening now is you’re getting fighters that are pushing back,” Longo added later. “They’re not taking fights if they’re not getting paid what they think they should be getting paid. Then [UFC] just move on to somebody else, and that’s why we’re not getting the fights.”
Anik agreed with Longo and gave his own thoughts on the UFC product.
“I think a lot of people feel that way,” he said about waning interest. “And even when you think about this UFC podcast … we’re not talking about the [UFC London] co-main event. We’re not talking about Christian Leroy Duncan’s win over Roman Dolidze even though CLD maybe deserves a minute or two. Because it’s not largely compelling.”
“41 UFC live events times 13 fights. It’s 533 UFC fights a year, not to mention the Contender Series and everything else. It’s a lot to continuously ask to hit triples and home runs.”
“Sometimes there’s ebbs and flows and I can’t wait to just scream through my neck at UFC 327 in a few weeks,” he concluded. “I can have an honest conversation like this and tell you that I’m gonna put my promotional best foot forward in a couple weeks. We have a tremendous card, and we’re gonna blow it out and I can’t wait for that. But, yeah, it hasn’t been a great few weeks to be sure.”
UFC 327 does look pretty decent with Jiri Prochazka vs. Carlos Ulberg for the vacant light heavyweight title and Joshua Van defending the flyweight belt against Tatsuro Taira. The UFC has done a decent job of stacking the undercard with big names and reliable bangers. Will it be enough to get the UFC out of its end-of-winter funk? It certainly can’t be worse than the last two months.
I don’t remember people watching UFC on their phones in 2014.
i tried ordering the paramount dealy and is a computer in a computer to deal with. Just PPV Me
Color me shocked. They’ve been putting out a shit product for years now. They’ll do whatever they can to ruin competition that would actually benefit them. Fuck Zuffa. Fuck TKO. Fuck Dana. Fuck Ari.
Maybe you didn’t go to many weddings that year.
They got fat and lazy when they started getting big TV deals. Now, without PPV, there is no incentive for them to do anything but be mediocre. They get paid the same by Paramount if they have Contender Series scrubs or legit fighters on the undercard.
Enshittification.
We were the only ones paying PPV though. They just are cunts. U Fight Cheap.
I get it, but they had to entice people to buy PPVs. Now they get a steady paycheck from Paramount regardless of how good the cards are.
Joe Silva actually liked MMA.. their current match makers don’t give a fuck.
MVP and PFL need to merge and the UFC has competition.
MVP has name value and PFL has a lot of good fighters the UFC doesn’t want to pay.
Paramount? I blame TUF.
if that’s true it makes sense. it seems like matches are being made by fucking idiots.
The rumor was that Zuffa hired people who hated MMA. They didn’t want fanboys working there.
This is the way.
And bring back the points system for pfl
Paramount got played by the GOAT.
It’s Sean Shelby (the WEC matchmaker) and Mick Maynard (ran his own org at one point). They’ve both been on the job for way too long and are clearly phoning it in.
I remember a few years back ufc fighters like Liddell, Tito, GSP were becoming household names. I’d go out and even women would know who they were and be somewhat interested .. fast forward to today and I just don’t feel the same interest - its probably numerous factors but from my vantage point, the biggest problem is too many Jack of all trades’ fighters .. for every fighter like Khamzat, you have 150 that are good at everything but great at nothing - you put two guys like this together and you end up with a lame fight
Way too many fights these days are what I’d call c level kickboxing matches with 4 ounce gloves - add in an occasional takedown.. that’s what modern ufc is - how to fix this? I’m not sure
UFC needs to open that wallet and pick up some fun hvwts - that’s a good start