UFC 334 and UFC 335 Predictions: Five Massive Fights to Make

The UFC has already given fans the dates and locations for its final two numbered events of 2026. Now comes the fun part: figuring out who should actually fight.

UFC 334 is headed to Madison Square Garden on November 14, while UFC 335 will close out the year at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 12. Neither card has an officially announced fight yet, leaving the UFC with a blank canvas to build two massive events.

And there are plenty of stars available.

Islam Makhachev is coming off the biggest win of his career, Carlos Prates wants his title shot, Alex Pereira is looking for his next challenge, Paddy Pimblett is teasing a return and Ilia Topuria has unfinished business after suffering the first loss of his career.

Islam Makhachev vs. Carlos Prates

UFC Welterweight Championship

Let's start with the obvious one.

Islam Makhachev just made UFC history by earning his 17th consecutive victory against Ian Machado Garry, breaking Anderson Silva's record. Despite questions about whether he should retire while he's on top, Makhachev has made it clear that he still has several difficult fights ahead of him.

Carlos Prates wants to be next.

Prates has claimed that the UFC has guaranteed him the next welterweight title shot, although the promotion has not officially confirmed the matchup. He has also publicly called for Makhachev at UFC 334 in New York. It makes too much sense.

Makhachev is arguably the greatest fighter in the sport. Prates is one of the most dangerous knockout artists at 170 pounds.Put the two together at Madison Square Garden and you have a perfect main event.

Alex Pereira vs. Josh Hokit

Heavyweight

Alex Pereira's next move is one of the biggest questions in the UFC.

After moving to heavyweight and losing to Ciryl Gane, Pereira remains interested in chasing a third UFC championship. Now the question is whether he continues at heavyweight or eventually returns to light heavyweight.

If Pereira wants to stay at heavyweight, Josh Hokit is an intriguing option.

Hokit is an undefeated heavyweight prospect who has quickly started attracting attention, and the matchup would give Pereira a dangerous but winnable test as he continues his pursuit of history. It's also exactly the kind of fight that could work at MSG.

Pereira has the name. Hokit has the opportunity. And the winner gets a massive boost heading into 2027.

Paddy Pimblett vs. Charles Oliveira

BMF Championship

This might be the most fun fight on the entire list.

Paddy Pimblett has already teased that an announcement regarding his next fight could be coming soon, with UFC 334 and UFC 335 both possible landing spots. He has also mentioned several potential opponents, including Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria.

Oliveira is the perfect opponent.

The former lightweight champion remains one of the most dangerous submission artists in UFC history, while Pimblett has become one of the promotion's biggest personalities. Now add the BMF belt.

Instead of simply being another lightweight fight, Pimblett vs. Oliveira becomes a fight for a piece of UFC hardware designed for exactly this type of matchup.

It's two massive names, two aggressive grapplers and two fighters who are never afraid to get into a scrap. New York would eat this up.

Ilia Topuria vs. Justin Gaethje II

Lightweight

This is the redemption fight.

Topuria's first professional loss changed everything.

The former featherweight and lightweight champion went from being viewed as one of the sport's unstoppable forces to suddenly having to answer questions about what's next.

The man who handed him that first defeat? Justin Gaethje.

A rematch gives Topuria the opportunity to erase the biggest blemish on his résumé while giving Gaethje the chance to prove that his first victory wasn't a fluke. It also gives the UFC a storyline that requires almost no explanation.

Topuria wants revenge. Gaethje wants another massive win.

And the winner could put himself right back into the lightweight title picture. If Topuria is healthy and ready to return, this is the kind of fight that could headline UFC 335 in Las Vegas.

An Interim Light Heavyweight Championship

Who fights for it? That's the question.

The UFC's light heavyweight division could also provide one of these two cards with a championship fight, particularly if scheduling creates enough uncertainty around the division's title picture.

And that's where things get interesting.

If Pereira is booked against Hokit, the UFC has a major star committed elsewhere. If Pereira isn't, his name immediately becomes one of the most obvious possibilities for a major 205-pound matchup.

Either way, an interim championship could give UFC 335 another major storyline. The promotion has plenty of contenders capable of filling the spots. The trick is finding the matchup that makes the most sense.

Two Blank Cards, Plenty of Options

That's what makes UFC 334 and UFC 335 so interesting.

The UFC has essentially handed itself two blank canvases.

Makhachev has already said he has at least three difficult fights ahead of him. Prates believes he's next. Pimblett is teasing an imminent announcement. Pereira wants another massive challenge. And Topuria has to figure out how to respond to the first loss of his career.

None of these fights are officially booked. That's the point. These are the fights fans want to see.

If the UFC can land even a few of them, the final two numbered events of 2026 could be massive.

For UFC 334, Makhachev vs. Prates feels like the fight to make.

For UFC 335, Topuria vs. Gaethje II has the storyline.

And somewhere in between, Pimblett vs. Oliveira for the BMF title could steal the show. The year isn't over yet.

But the UFC already has two stages. Now it just needs to fill them.