A prominent voice within the UFC has acknowledged a noticeable decline in the quality of its recent fight cards.
Fans and commentators alike have expressed increasing dissatisfaction with the world’s leading MMA promotion, as its 2026 event scheduling has been criticized for lacking compelling matchups, engaging narratives, and truly exciting fights.
Despite a significant commercial boost following the landmark $7.7 billion Paramount broadcast deal, expectations for stronger fight cards have largely gone unmet. Many observers now find the overall lineup of recent numbered events to be disappointing.
While no single factor definitively explains the perceived drop in UFC card quality, it is often attributed to a combination of an increasingly packed event schedule, relatively low compensation for lower-tier fighters, and a transitional phase where older icons are retiring without immediate, equally compelling replacements emerging.
Jon Anik Admits Recent UFC Cards Have Underperformed
On a recent installment of the Anik & Florian Podcast, Jon Anik and Ray Longo discussed the previous weekend’s UFC London event. This card had garnered significant fan criticism due to its lack of star power and uninspiring matchups. The seasoned MMA coach, Ray Longo, admitted he skipped watching the Fight Night card live, indicating a decline in his personal enthusiasm for several UFC events.
Anik concurred with Longo’s sentiment, echoing the growing frustration surrounding the UFC’s recent offerings. The veteran play-by-play announcer suggested that current matchmaking efforts have been subpar, with many recent cards failing to live up to expectations.
Anik noted the lack of compelling narratives around recent fights, stating:
“We’re not talking about the co-main event… We’re not talking about CLD’s win over Roman Dolidze even though Christian Leroy Duncan maybe deserves a minute or two because it’s not largely compelling.”
He went on to describe the natural fluctuations in event quality, expressing his strong anticipation for the upcoming UFC 327.
“Sometimes there’s ebb and flow. I can’t wait to just scream through my fu*king neck at UFC 327 in a few weeks. That’s the thing. I can have an honest conversation like this and tell you that I’m going to put my promotional best foot forward in a couple of weeks, and we have a tremendous card, and we’re going to blow it out, and I can’t wait for that, but yeah, it hasn’t been a great few weeks, to be sure.”
This candid remark underscores his recognition of recent struggles while looking forward to a promising event.
The promotion’s next major event, UFC 327, is scheduled for April 11 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, and promises a championship doubleheader. The main event will see former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka compete against Carlos Ulberg for the vacant title. In the co-main event, reigning flyweight champion Joshua Van is set to defend his title for the first time against Tatsuro Taira.
