With a new broadcast partner for the new year, LFA has a big year coming up. This list wasn’t made with the idea of getting all these prospects to the UFC this year (which they very well could). Instead, it aimed to highlight the depth of the LFA roster and how high the level of these matchups can be. While most of these won’t be made due to preserving their best prospects, it’s fun to imagine that these are all possible matchups that the promotion could make.
To make this list, fighters had to have one of their last two fights in LFA and not currently be booked outside of the promotion. Trying to predict who the promotion signs in 2026 would be too hard, but fighters already booked are included. With no further ado, let’s dive into 15 fights that LFA should make in the new year.
Aieza Berolso (7-0) vs. Natalia Alves (8-0) – Women’s Strawweight Championship
One of the best fights LFA can make in the new year, if neither of these girls gets a UFC call before then. Bertolso claimed the Strawweight title with a Round 2 armbar win over Lany Silva at LFA 216. The former 3x IMMAF champion went 16-1 as an amateur with some impressive wins over Ayan Tursyn and Giulliany Perea. Since that run, Bertolso has spent all seven of her pro fights in LFA, racking up five finishes, including her title-winning performance.
Alves also fought on the LFA 216 card, two fights before the aforementioned title fight. It feels to me like that was done intentionally to set up this fight. With a 4-0 record in LFA, Alves’ opponents in the promotion combined for a 16-5 record. Alves also managed to find wins by TKO and submission in two of those fights. Considering her strong level of competition and training with the Fighting Nerds, the 25-year-old poses a significant test for the champion.
These girls have proven to be UFC-ready, and while this is the best WMMA fight the promotion could make, I doubt it happens before one or both get signed. If it does, however, expect a high-caliber matchup between two of the best WMMA prospects in the world.
Eduardo Chapolin (15-2) vs. Marcos Degli (13-3) – Undisputed Flyweight Championship
LFA flyweight champion Eduardo Chapolin received multiple chances at the UFC last year, but still went unsigned. After being upset by Joseph Morales in the opening round of TUF, Chapolin came back to LFA and defended his belt with a thunderous first-round KO over Devon Lozej. Just four days after the win, he stepped up on one week’s notice to face fellow LFA alum An Tuan Ho. Despite winning all three rounds and getting the Unanimous Decision, Chapolin was the only unsigned fighter on the episode. While he is likely on the short notice list for the UFC, LFA is teasing a fight for LFA 227. It would be surprising to see Chapolin fight so close to the interim champion again, but it may happen.
Degli is set to make his second interim title defense at LFA 225 against Luis Aguiar. Facing a tough submission specialist, “Tailandes” will likely be a big favorite and continue his dominance. After a 2-3 start to his career, Degli has won 11 straight, with finishes in a whopping 10 fights. His highlight reel knockouts stand out most of all; however, Degli is a capable grappler with submission wins over strong opponents. With a 5-0 record in the promotion, his competition has been steep to this point. Despite the strong competition, Degli has seemed unstoppable in the LFA cage, but he should fight for the current belt in 2026 to prove he’s the best flyweight the promotion has to offer.
Artem Belakh (11-2) vs. Shuya Kamikubo (16-2-1) – Bantamweight Championship
After leaving ONE Championship, Belakh was welcomed to LFA with a title shot against champion Vinicius Pires in his first title defense. The fight may have underdelivered, but Belakh did what was needed to neutralize Pires’ strengths and take the Unanimous Decision. Belakh holds a win over the current ONE champion Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu. Belakh’s inactivity may be his biggest weakness. It seems that could improve now that he’s no longer with ONE Championship, and if it changes, a signing to a major promotion could be coming soon. His well-rounded skill set and impressive résumé make him a respected champion who has fought around the globe. With callouts from multiple fighters in the stacked Bantamweight division, Belakh will have his choice of opponents for his first title defense in 2026.
Now, it may be a bit early to give Kamikubo a title shot, but he has the experience and style to give Belakh an interesting fight. His two wins in LFA both come against short-notice opponents. While that isn’t as impressive as if he were to beat his originally scheduled opponents, he did end UFC vet Eric Shelton’s stunning five-fight win streak. After dropping his Road to UFC semi-final by Majority Decision to Xiao Long, Kamikubo has won three straight by submission, with his last two coming in LFA. He may need another win before this fight happens, but his skills are good enough to challenge for the belt next year.
Erick Visconde (16-3) vs. Icaro Brito (8-1) – Vacant Featherweight Championship
After starting 2025 with a devastating spinning elbow KO over Ary Farias, Visconde received a lot of attention. His eventual crowning for the LFA Knockout of the Year likely only gets him a bigger platform. After losing his LFA debut in a surprise upset, Visconde has been on a three-fight tear. Most recently, he stopped top regional fighter Chris Mecate with a doctor stoppage, proving his elite striking skills. His grappling has also impressed throughout his career, along with a strong level of competition. Seeing him fight for the Featherweight championship in 2026 feels like a given, and any matchup he’s in has the chance for fireworks.
Brito has been a top prospect for two years now, having been signed for DWCS in 2024 and 2025. His biggest issue has been his visa troubles, as they led to pullouts in both of those fights. Despite not fighting at all last year, Brito is already booked for the new year at LFA 225, facing Aristides Vinicius. The explosive and dynamic striker is a product of the Fighting Nerds and clearly has interest from the UFC. With Brito fighting just once since September 2023, an active 2026 would be crucial for his mindset and development. If he stays active, the highly touted prospect is likely to fight for the LFA title next year, especially if his visa issues continue.
Richie Miranda (12-1) vs. Jefferson Nascimento (12-0) – Undisputed Lightweight Championship
Unifying this belt has clearly not been easy for LFA, but 2026 may be the perfect time. Miranda claimed the belt in April as a +750 underdog, breaking top prospect Richie Lewis in Round 5. Miranda followed up that performance with a FOTY contender against Ilay Barzilay in August, showing how exciting and gritty the champion is. At 31 years old, Miranda should be signed soon after proving his ability to entertain and throw down for five rounds. However, if he’s not, the title unification bout against Nascimento should be the only thing on his mind.
Whenever an interim champion defends their title, things should be questioned. However, the fault in this situation actually lies with the interim champion, who took a near two-year layoff after claiming the title. After a barnburner with Gabriel Costa in 2023, Nascimento seemingly disappeared until September of this year. After defending his title against Baysangur Makaev in a tightly contested bout, Nascimento is clearly in line to fight for the belt next. If this fight doesn’t happen in 2026 (barring a signing to a major promotion), it would be very disappointing.
Jonathan Piersma (11-3) vs. Richard Martins (10-1) – Welterweight Championship
Piersma went into his LFA Welterweight title fight against Luis Francischinelli as a +275 underdog, but dominated nearly every second of the fight. After dropping his LFA debut in an upset loss to Devin Smyth, Piersma has been more tactical and patient, finding three Round 3 finishes. Despite losing to top prospect Samandar Murodov on Road to UFC, Piersma’s resume and LFA title are strong accolades. Piersma’s last five opponents were all undefeated coming into their fights against him, with only Murodov emerging with his 0. The submission grappler’s past six wins all come by finish.
A 2025 TUF member whose quarterfinal loss to eventual winner Daniil Donchenko left many disappointed, Martins returned to LFA with a dominant win. Before his TUF appearance, Martins won eight straight, finishing every opponent except Reginaldo Junior. His well-rounded game and finish-friendly style put him at the forefront of title talks. With a 5-0 record in LFA and a TUF appearance, a title shot for Martins in 2026 seems likely. As most TUF alumni are, Martins is likely still on the radar for a short-notice signing.
On the next page, we’ll cover the non-title fights –>