20 Female Prospects the UFC should sign in 2026

Shannon Clark

7-1, 33 years old, Flyweight, Canada

 

Another fighter I had to think long and hard about before deciding whether to include her or not in this list. The reigning LFA champion, Shannon Clark, put together a flawless 2025 campaign, marking a perfect rebound after her heartbreaking loss to Yuneisy Duben on the Contender Series last year. Clark first defended her title against Cheyanne Bowers in a unification bout, as an interim belt had been created during her DWCS stint. She then capped off the year with a true masterpiece, delivering a veteran-level lesson against Beatriz Consuli, who many viewed as the best female prospect in the world. At 33 years old, she’s at the crossroads.

 

Clark now finds herself in an unusual position. Without a call from the UFC, she risks becoming the ultimate gatekeeper at LFA. The best option would be a move to the sport’s biggest organization despite her age, as she has proven to be well-rounded and capable of beating the top up-and-coming prospects. She would be an ideal test for rising talents, but at the UFC level rather than in LFA.

 

So Yul Kim

9-1, 28 years old, Flyweight, South Korea

 

The theme of familiar names continues in my list. I’ve decided to include So Yul Kim, a fighter who tried to sign with the UFC in 2023. She had even been booked to face Eduarda Moura, but a contractual dispute with One Championship dashed any hopes of seeing her compete at that time. Fast forward to 2025: Kim is now out of her contract purgatory and has returned to action, earning a first-round victory against a lower-level opponent in Vietnam earlier this year.

 

Kim presents an intriguing profile for the UFC, as a submission specialist, a common path to finishes in women’s MMA. Additionally, the organization has scaled back its female roster from Asia in recent years, which makes Kim an interesting prospect demographic-wise. South Korea remains a lucrative market for the UFC, but they need fresh talent after the retirements of notable Koreans like TKZ and Stun Gun Kim. Finally, the UFC has shown interest in her before, making this a natural and obvious connection.