UFC has rolled right back into the action in 2021. After what can be called nothing short of a massive success in 2020 under incredibly difficult circumstances, UFC hasn’t missed a beat in the time since the pandemic started with big fight after big fight throughout the year. The first six months of the new year have been no different.
We’ve seen new champions crowned, current titleholders turn back challengers and a pair of non-title main events steal the show on PPV. Dustin Poirier got revenge against Conor McGregor in January with a second-round TKO after the Irishman won the first meeting in 2014. Then in July, Poirier was on his way to winning the first round of the trilogy when McGregor’s leg snapped underneath him. The two, along with Dana White, have already said a fourth fight will likely happen.
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After a week off, the promotion returns to the Octagon on Sept. 18 with a light heavyweight main event featuring Anthony Smith and Ryan Spann. Smith, a former title challenger, has picked up a pair of big wins after a short losing streak to get back into this spot. Smith will get the main event slot for the eighth time in his last nine appearances with his lone three-rounder in that span coming in his most recent fight — a TKO win over Jimmy Crute in April.
Then at the end of September, UFC returns to Las Vegas for its latest installment of International Fight Week with a pair of title fights and a massive return on the marquee. Featherweight champ Alexander Volkanovski will look to defend his title against Brian Ortega in the main event, women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will take on Lauren Murphy and fan favorite Nick Diaz will return from a six-year hiatus to take on longtime rival Robbie Lawler.
Be sure to check back in on this page when we have more information on upcoming UFC events throughout the year.
Upcoming UFC Schedule
| UFC Fight Night | Sept. 18 | Anthony Smith vs. Ryan Spann | Light heavyweights | Las Vegas | ESPN+ |
| UFC 266 | Sept. 25 | Alexander Volkanovski (c) vs. Brian Ortega | Featherweight title | Las Vegas | ESPN+ PPV |
| UFC Fight Night | Oct. 2 | Thiago Santos vs. Johnny Walker | Light heavyweights | Las Vegas | ESPN+ |
| UFC Fight Night | Oct. 9 | Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez | Women’s strawweights | Las Vegas | ESPN+ |
| UFC Fight Night | Oct. 16 | Ketlen Viera vs. Miesha Tate | Women’s bantamweights | Las Vegas | ESPN+ |
| UFC Fight Night | Oct. 23 | Paulo Costa vs. Marvin Vettori | Middleweights | Las Vegas | ESPN+ |
| UFC 267 | Oct. 30 | Jan Blachowicz (c) vs. Glover Teixeira | Light heavyweight title | Abu Dhabi | ESPN+ |
| UFC 268 | Nov. 6 | Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Colby Covington | Welterweight title | New York | ESPN+ PPV |
| UFC 269 | Dec. 11 | Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Julianna Pena | Bantamweight title | TBD | ESPN+ PPV |
