MMA Fighting Staffers Unveil UFC Fantasy Draft Season 5 Rosters, Aim for Second Half 2026 Dominance

The highly anticipated Season 5 of MMA Fighting’s UFC Fantasy League has officially commenced, with staffers drafting 72 fighters to compete throughout the remainder of 2026. As the calendar turns past the halfway mark of the year, the bi-annual fantasy league enters its latest iteration, challenging participants to curate rosters of 12 fighters—one from each of the 11 UFC weight classes and an additional wild card selection—in pursuit of ultimate victory over their colleagues.

The conclusion of Season 4 at UFC Baku provided a timely intermission, allowing the six participating competitors to strategize and prepare for the new draft. Alexander K. Lee, representing Canada, enters Season 5 on the back of a dominant performance, having "run roughshod" over the MMA Fighting staff in Season 4. Lee set a new record for the most points ever amassed in a single season, largely attributed to the stellar performance of his Season 4 MVP, Josh Hokit. Conversely, the intense struggle at the bottom of the Season 4 standings culminated in Guilherme Cruz receiving the "Cone of Shame," a distinction that grants him the coveted first overall pick in the Season 5 draft. The other competitors for this season include Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, Mike Heck, and José Youngs.

The Season 5 draft adheres to the established format: a snake draft, with selection order determined by the reverse finishing order of Season 4. Additionally, each participant was permitted to designate two keepers from their previous team’s roster, adding a layer of strategic continuity to their selections. While the specific scoring criteria were not detailed, it is understood that they remain consistent with previous seasons, rewarding performance inside the Octagon.

The Keeper Selections: Strategic Retentions for Season 5

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The keeper round saw each staffer make calculated choices to retain key assets:

• Guilherme Cruz: Opted to retain Valter Walker (Heavyweight) and Paddy Pimblett (Lightweight). Walker, a rising contender in the often-thin heavyweight division with a fight already scheduled, provides an early points opportunity. Pimblett, known as "The Baddy," is a bold retention given his upcoming bout against the formidable Benoit Saint Denis next weekend, where he enters as an underdog.
• José Youngs: Secured Umar Nurmagomedov (Bantamweight) and Carlos Prates (Welterweight). Nurmagomedov, an undefeated prospect with a challenging fight against David Martinez at UFC Abu Dhabi later this month, offers high upside and potential for a second fight this season. Prates, a consistent scorer with a knack for finishes, presents a risk of inactivity if he opts to hold out for a title shot, as he has previously suggested.
• Damon Martin: Maintained two champions, Islam Makhachev (Lightweight) and Alexander Volkanovski (Featherweight). Makhachev, the reigning lightweight champion, is slated to defend his title against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330, guaranteeing points. Volkanovski, while not currently booked, is expected to face Movsar Evloev in the coming months, offering further championship-level scoring potential.
• Mike Heck: Kept Gable Steveson (Heavyweight) and Iwo Baraniewski (Light Heavyweight). Steveson, the Olympic gold medalist, was a speculative pick in Season 4 for a rumored "UFC White House" event, but is now booked for UFC 329 and likely to fight again. Baraniewski proved to be a bonus machine in Season 4 with two quick finishes and two Performance of the Night awards, making him a valuable, albeit currently unbooked, asset.
• Jed Meshew: Retained his Season 4 women’s core of Carli Judice (Women’s Strawweight) and Fatima Kline (Women’s Strawweight). Judice, a reliable performer, is booked for August, while Kline, a proven scorer, is scheduled to face Tabatha Ricci this month.
• Alexander K. Lee: Held onto Kevin Vallejos (Featherweight) and Gillian Robertson (Women’s Flyweight). Vallejos, considered one of MMA’s brightest prospects, is expected to receive a significant opportunity soon. Robertson, meanwhile, has a title shot against Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330, presenting a high-stakes, high-reward proposition.

UFC 329 Approaches: The First Rounds of the Draft

With UFC 329 looming, the draft immediately transitioned into its initial rounds, with staffers making their first fresh picks:

Round 1:

1. Guilherme Cruz: Selected Max Holloway (Wild Card). Holloway, heavily favored against Conor McGregor next weekend, offers immediate scoring potential and the possibility of another fight before year-end. Holloway’s recent performances, including his highlight-reel knockout of Justin Gaethje, position him as a high-value pick.
2. José Youngs: Chose Ciryl Gane (Heavyweight). Youngs aims to secure a dominant presence in the heavyweight division with Gane, a former interim champion with elite striking and movement, who is widely considered a future undisputed champion.
3. Damon Martin: Picked Mackenzie Dern (Women’s Strawweight). This selection immediately creates a head-to-head matchup against AK Lee’s Gillian Robertson, as Dern is set to challenge Robertson for the title at UFC 330. Dern’s elite jiu-jitsu makes her a constant threat for finishes.
4. Mike Heck: Drafted Dricus du Plessis (Middleweight). Heck demonstrates confidence in the reigning middleweight champion to defeat Kamaru Usman in their upcoming main event bout, solidifying a champion in his roster.
5. Jed Meshew: Acquired Benoit Saint Denis (Lightweight). Meshew expressed satisfaction with this pick, anticipating Saint Denis will "demolish" Paddy Pimblett and potentially main event UFC Paris in September, capitalizing on the French fighter’s rising star.
6. Alexander K. Lee: Added Kayla Harrison (Women’s Bantamweight). Lee targeted one of the few high-quality options in the women’s bantamweight division, banking on Harrison’s decorated PFL background and strong UFC debut performance.

Round 2:

1. Alexander K. Lee: Selected Arman Tsarukyan (Lightweight). Acknowledging Tsarukyan’s dominant wrestling, Lee hopes the lightweight contender secures a title shot this season, a move that would provide substantial points. Tsarukyan has consistently proven himself a top-tier threat in the division.
2. Jed Meshew: Picked Adrian Yañez (Bantamweight). Meshew foresees Yañez’s strong striking proving too much for Cody Garbrandt in their upcoming clash, potentially leading to another fight later in the year.
3. Mike Heck: Drafted Nina Milošević (Women’s Flyweight). Heck made a "crafty selection" by choosing the highly-touted prospect Milošević, who is expected to dominate Hailey Cowan in August and continue her ascent.
4. Damon Martin: Added Erin Blanchfield (Women’s Flyweight). This marks Martin’s first non-champion pick, showcasing belief in Blanchfield’s grappling prowess and contender status within the flyweight division.
5. José Youngs: Secured Vicente Luque (Middleweight). Youngs bolstered his middleweight roster with "The Silent Assassin," a proven finisher booked against Tresean Gore, known for his exciting fights.
6. Guilherme Cruz: Chose Nikita Krylov (Light Heavyweight). Cruz filled his 205-pound slot with Krylov, who is slated to make his light heavyweight debut against former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, a significant test.

Round 3:

1. Guilherme Cruz: Selected Uros Medic (Lightweight). Medic, known for his aggressive style, is booked for a main event against Daniel Rodriguez in a few weeks, offering immediate point-scoring opportunities.
2. José Youngs: Picked Jean Silva (Featherweight). While not yet booked, Silva is known for delivering exciting performances and consistent results, aligning with Prates as a reliable, if unbooked, scorer.
3. Damon Martin: Drafted Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight). Martin believes Chimaev will get another opportunity to challenge Sean Strickland for the middleweight title, banking on his dominant grappling and striking.
4. Mike Heck: Chose Valentina Shevchenko (Women’s Flyweight). Heck picked the "women’s flyweight GOAT," anticipating Shevchenko will continue her winning ways whenever she is booked against Natalia Silva, despite recent challenges to her long reign.
5. Jed Meshew: Added Bia Mesquita (Women’s Strawweight). Meshew maintained consistency by bringing back Mesquita, aiming to replicate his previous season’s women’s lineup, trusting her BJJ prowess.
6. Alexander K. Lee: Secured Tom Aspinall (Heavyweight). Lee expressed confidence that Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion, will successfully defend his title against Ciryl Gane in a potential rematch.

Round 4:

1. Alexander K. Lee: Used his second wild card pick on Movsar Evloev (Featherweight). Lee identified Evloev as a potential future featherweight champion, capitalizing on his undefeated record and strong wrestling.
2. Jed Meshew: Retained the services of Lone’er Kavanagh (Bantamweight). Kavanagh is poised for a significant performance against Brandon Royval next weekend, a fighter known for his aggressive style.
3. Mike Heck: Completed his women’s divisions with Alexia Thainara (Women’s Strawweight). This pick represents a "fade" of Amanda Lemos, suggesting Heck believes Thainara holds more upside.
4. Damon Martin: Picked Petr Yan (Bantamweight). Martin continued to stack his team with champions, banking on Yan to regain or retain a title when he next fights, despite recent inconsistent form.
5. José Youngs: Kept Tatiana Suarez (Women’s Strawweight). With good women’s selections becoming scarce, Youngs opted for Suarez, a highly-regarded grappler who has battled injuries but remains a formidable force.
6. Guilherme Cruz: Chose Christian Leroy Duncan (Middleweight). Cruz anticipates CLD will defeat veteran Jared Cannonier in their upcoming bout this month, showcasing his dynamic striking.

Round 5:

1. Guilherme Cruz: Selected Alessandro Costa (Flyweight). Costa enters his UFC 329 bout against Cody Durden as a favorite, offering an early scoring opportunity for Cruz.
2. José Youngs: Picked Alexandre Pantoja (Flyweight). Youngs aims for Pantoja to reclaim his flyweight title, recognizing his championship pedigree and aggressive fighting style.
3. Damon Martin: Added Joshua Van (Flyweight). Martin continued his strategy of securing champions and top contenders, highlighting Van’s rising stock in the flyweight division.
4. Mike Heck: Chose Jalin Turner (Lightweight). Turner, known for his finishing power, is booked against Kauê Fernandes at UFC 330, offering potential for significant points.
5. Jed Meshew: Drafted Luke Riley (Bantamweight). Meshew expects Riley to convincingly defeat Kai Kamaka III next weekend, a prospect with high finishing potential.
6. Alexander K. Lee: Rounded out the halfway point with Cory Sandhagen (Bantamweight). Sandhagen faces a tough challenge against Mario Bautista this weekend, but Lee relies on his technical striking and experience.

Round 6:

1. Alexander K. Lee: Selected Mansur Abdul-Malik (Middleweight). Abdul-Malik is booked against Dustin Stoltzfus at UFC 330 and is expected to secure a decisive victory.
2. Jed Meshew: Picked Jacobe Smith (Middleweight). Smith is in a similar position, facing Kevin Holland in a couple of weeks, with Meshew banking on his wrestling background.
3. Mike Heck: Drafted Diego Lopes (Featherweight). While unbooked, Lopes is known for his aggressive, fan-friendly style and willingness to fight frequently, making him a consistent scoring threat.
4. Damon Martin: Chose Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight). Guskov is set to rematch Jan Błachowicz, a fight that promises high action and potential for a significant win.
5. José Youngs: Added Alexa Grasso (Women’s Flyweight). Grasso, the reigning champion, is currently unbooked but is a virtual certainty to compete at Noche UFC in September, providing a strong anchor for Youngs’ team.
6. Guilherme Cruz: Selected Dione Barbosa (Women’s Flyweight). Barbosa is expected to deliver a dominant performance against Veronica Hardy in a couple of weeks, adding immediate points.

Round 7:

1. Guilherme Cruz: Picked Shi Ming (Featherweight). This selection raised some discussion as Shi Ming has primarily competed on Road to UFC cards, implying a potential eligibility clarification might be needed if he fights outside the main UFC banner.
2. José Youngs: Drafted Magomed Ankalaev (Light Heavyweight). Ankalaev, a top contender, is booked against Khalil Rountree at UFC Abu Dhabi, a crucial fight for his title aspirations.
3. Damon Martin: Chose Brando Pericic. Pericic, though unbooked, delivered a pair of impressive finishes in Season 4, making him a speculative high-upside pick.
4. Mike Heck: Selected Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight). Dvalishvili, known for his relentless pace, is widely expected to face Petr Yan in a trilogy bout next, a high-profile matchup.
5. Jed Meshew: Acquired Jiri Prochazka (Light Heavyweight). While unbooked, Prochazka, the former champion, is known for his "crazy" and exciting fighting style, providing a dynamic element to Meshew’s roster.
6. Alexander K. Lee: Added Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev (Featherweight). Yakhyaev is coming off a dominant performance and is likely to receive another favorable matchup this year.

Round 8:

1. Alexander K. Lee: Selected Alden Coria (Welterweight). Coria is scheduled to face Stewart Nicoll in a couple of weeks, offering an imminent scoring opportunity.
2. Jed Meshew: Picked Damian Pinas (Middleweight). Pinas is expected to deliver a strong performance against Cesar Almeida this weekend.
3. Mike Heck: Made a surprising wild card pick with Conor McGregor (Lightweight). Despite McGregor’s five-year hiatus from the Octagon and being a significant underdog against Max Holloway, Heck’s selection represents a high-risk, high-reward strategy banking on a monumental upset.
4. Damon Martin: Drafted Magomed Zaynukov (Bantamweight), also known as "John Pork," who is finally set to make his much-anticipated UFC debut.
5. José Youngs: Chose Alice Pereira (Women’s Flyweight). Youngs acknowledged this as a speculative pick, indicating options were diminishing in the women’s divisions.
6. Guilherme Cruz: Selected Amanda Nunes (Women’s Bantamweight). Cruz’s pick is contingent on Nunes, the former "Lioness" and double-champion, theoretically fighting Kayla Harrison this year, a highly anticipated super-fight.

Round 9:

1. Guilherme Cruz: Picked Charles Jourdain (Featherweight). Jourdain, known for his exciting fights, is rumored to be facing Marlon "Chito" Vera in the coming weeks.
2. José Youngs: Drafted Quillan Salkilld (Lightweight). Salkilld was recently booked to face grappling specialist Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120, a significant step up in competition.
3. Damon Martin: Chose Michelle Montague. Montague is currently unbooked, making her a speculative pick based on potential future activity.
4. Mike Heck: Selected Myktybek Orolbai (Welterweight). Orolbai is expected to continue his winning streak against Jeremiah Wells, building on his impressive form.
5. Jed Meshew: Added Rizvan Kuniev (Heavyweight). Kuniev is set to fight Tyrell Fortune in a few weeks, a matchup that Meshew anticipates might not be the most aesthetically pleasing bout.
6. Alexander K. Lee: Drafted Wang Cong (Women’s Flyweight). Wang Cong is scheduled to take on Tracy Cortez next weekend, a challenging opponent.

Round 10:

1. Alexander K. Lee: Concluded his roster by selecting Ian Machado Garry (Welterweight). Lee believes Garry will deliver an upset victory over Islam Makhachev at UFC 330, a bold prediction given Makhachev’s dominance.
2. Jed Meshew: Used his wild card pick on Anthony Hernandez (Middleweight). Meshew expects "Fluffy" Hernandez to weather an early storm against Gregory Rodrigues and overwhelm him in the later rounds of their August bout.
3. Mike Heck: Picked Asu Almabayev (Flyweight). Heck was impressed by Almabayev’s recent victory over Charles Johnson and is backing him to continue climbing the rankings.
4. Damon Martin: Used his wild card on Islam Dulatov (Welterweight). Martin anticipates Dulatov will decisively defeat Wellington Turman at the end of this month, showcasing his finishing abilities.
5. José Youngs: Secured a "steal" with his wild card pick, Ateba Gautier. Gautier, though unbooked, has consistently proven to be a reliable earner when he competes.
6. Guilherme Cruz: Wrapped up the draft by taking Vinicius Oliveira (Featherweight), also known as "Lok Dog," known for his exciting and aggressive fighting style.

The fifth MMA Fighting UFC Fantasy Draft has concluded, setting the stage for the second half of 2026. Notably absent from the drafted rosters were several prominent fighters, including Season 4 MVP Josh Hokit, runner-up Justin Gaethje, and the reigning middleweight champion Sean Strickland, highlighting the strategic risks and perceived values within the fantasy league.

The final team results are presented below. Readers are encouraged to share their insights in the comments section regarding perceived snubs and strategic reaches, and to cast their votes on which team they believe is best positioned to claim the Season 5 trophy.

Final Team Results:

(Image of final team results, as per original article content)

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