# 2018 in UFC

The year 2018 was the 26th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States and founded in November 1993. This year, the UFC celebrated its 25th anniversary, and an anniversary event was held on November 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado, the city where the historical UFC 1 was held.

## 2018 UFC.com awards

2018 UFC.COM Awards :
| No | Best Fighter | The Upsets | The Submissions | The Newcomers | The Knockouts | The Fights |
| 1 | Daniel Cormier | Alexander Hernandez defeats Beneil Dariush UFC 222 | Ryan Hall defeats B.J. Penn UFC 232 | Israel Adesanya | Yair Rodríguez defeats The Korean Zombie UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | Robert Whittaker defeats Yoel Romero 2 UFC 235 |
| 2 | Amanda Nunes | Chris Gruetzemacher defeats Joe Lauzon UFC 223 | Paul Craig defeats Magomed Ankalaev UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov | Alexander Hernandez | Brian Ortega defeats Frankie Edgar UFC 222 | Dustin Poirier defeats Justin Gaethje 1 UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje |
| 3 | Khabib Nurmagomedov | Jared Cannonier defeats David Branch UFC 230 | Aljamain Sterling defeats Cody Stamann UFC 228 (Tie) Zabit Magomedsharipov defeats Brandon Davis UFC 228 (Tie) | Mackenzie Dern | Lyoto Machida defeats Vitor Belfort UFC 224 | Yair Rodríguez defeats The Korean Zombie UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez |
| 4 | Henry Cejudo | Henry Cejudo defeats Demetrious Johnson 2 UFC 227 | Aleksei Oleinik defeats Júnior Albini UFC 224 | Maycee Barber | Amanda Nunes defeats Cris Cyborg UFC 232 | Max Holloway defeats Brian Ortega UFC 231 |
| 5 | Valentina Shevchenko | Sergio Pettis defeats Joseph Benavidez UFC 225 | Charles Oliveira defeats Christos Giagos UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders | Sodiq Yusuff (Tie) Petr Yan (Tie) | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos defeats Sean Strickland UFC 224 | Tony Ferguson defeats Anthony Pettis UFC 229 |
| 6 | Anthony Smith | Corey Anderson defeats Glover Teixeira UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Smith | Adam Wieczorek defeats Arjan Bhullar UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | Brad Katona | Yoel Romero defeats Luke Rockhold UFC 221 | Ronaldo Souza defeats Chris Weidman UFC 230 |
| 7 | Israel Adesanya | Khalil Rountree Jr. defeats Gökhan Saki UFC 226 | Ilir Latifi defeats Ovince Saint Preux UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens | Zhang Weili | Jéssica Andrade defeats Karolina Kowalkiewicz UFC 228 | Thiago Santos defeats Jimi Manuwa UFC 231 |
| 8 | Ronaldo Souza | Brian Kelleher defeats Renan Barão UFC 222 | Claudio Puelles defeats Felipe Silva UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | Johnny Walker | Daniel Cormier defeats Stipe Miocic 1 UFC 226 | Calvin Kattar defeats Shane Burgos UFC 220 |
| 9 | Dustin Poirier | Nina Ansaroff defeats Cláudia Gadelha UFC 231 | Darren Elkins defeats Michael Johnson UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi | Raoni Barcelos | Ismael Bonfim defeats Terrance McKinney UFC 283 | Drew Dober defeats Frank Camacho UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 |
| 10 | Corey Anderson (Tie) Thiago Santos (Tie) Kamaru Usman (Tie) | Donald Cerrone defeats Mike Perry UFC Fight Night: The Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | Gillian Robertson defeats Piera Rodriguez UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | Sijara Eubanks | Derrick Lewis defeats Alexander Volkov UFC 229 | Zabit Magomedsharipov defeats Kyle Bochniak UFC 223 |
| Ref | | | | | | |

## Title fights

* ↑ For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
* ↑ For the interim UFC Middleweight Championship (as Romero missed weight, only Rockhold was eligible).
* ↑ For the UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
* ↑ For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
* ↑ For the interim UFC Welterweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Flyweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Welterweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Lightweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.
* ↑ For the vacant UFC Women's Flyweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Featherweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Women's Featherweight Championship.
* ↑ For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

## The Ultimate Fighter

The following The Ultimate Fighter seasons are scheduled for broadcast in 2018:
| Season | Finale | Division | Winner | Runner-up |
| TUF 27: Undefeated | July 6, 2018 | Lightweight | Mike Trizano | Joe Giannetti |
| TUF 27: Undefeated | July 6, 2018 | Featherweight | Brad Katona | Jay Cucciniello |
| TUF 28: Heavy Hitters | November 30, 2018 | Heavyweight | Juan Francisco Espino Dieppa | Justin Frazier |
| TUF 28: Heavy Hitters | November 30, 2018 | Women's Featherweight | Macy Chiasson | Pannie Kianzad |

## Debut UFC fighters

The following fighters fought their first UFC fight in 2018:
* Abu Azaitar - UFC Fight Night 134
* Adam Yandiev - UFC Fight Night 136
* Alex Gorgees - UFC Fight Night 142
* Alexander Hernandez - UFC 222
* Alexey Kunchenko - UFC Fight Night 136
* Allan Zuñiga - TUF 27 Finale
* Anderson dos Santos - UFC Fight Night 140
* Andre Ewell - UFC Fight Night 137
* Andrea Lee - UFC Fight Night 129
* Antonina Shevchenko - TUF 28 Finale
* Augusto Sakai - UFC Fight Night 137
* Austin Arnett - UFC on Fox 27
* Bevon Lewis - UFC 232
* Blagoy Ivanov - UFC Fight Night 133
* Bobby Moffett - UFC Fight Night 139
* Brad Katona - TUF 27 Finale
* Brandon Davis - UFC 220
* Bryce Mitchell - TUF 27 Finale
* Carlo Pedersoli Jr. - UFC Fight Night 130
* Chance Rencountre - UFC Fight Night 131
* Charles Byrd - UFC Fight Night 127
* Chris Fishgold - UFC Fight Night 138
* Chris Gutiérrez - TUF 28 Finale
* Christos Giagos - UFC Fight Night 137
* Cory Sandhagen - UFC on Fox 27
* Craig White - UFC Fight Night 130
* Curtis Millender - UFC Fight Night 126
* Damir Ismagulov - UFC Fight Night 142
* Dan Ige - UFC 220
* Dan Moret - UFC on Fox 29
* Darko Stošić - UFC Fight Night 134
* David Zawada - UFC Fight Night 134
* Devonte Smith - UFC Fight Night 139
* Dmitriy Sosnovskiy - UFC Fight Night 127
* Edmen Shahbazyan - TUF 28 Finale
* Don Madge - UFC Fight Night 138
* Dwight Grant - UFC on Fox 31
* Elias Garcia - UFC Fight Night 133
* Geoff Neal - UFC Fight Night 126
* Hakeem Dawodu - UFC Fight Night 127
* Hannah Cifers - UFC Fight Night 139
* Hector Aldana - UFC Fight Night 132
* Ian Heinisch - UFC Fight Night 140
* Israel Adesanya - UFC 221
* Jalin Turner - UFC 229
* Jay Cucciniello - TUF 27 Finale
* Jennifer Maia - UFC Fight Night 133
* Jesus Pinedo - UFC Fight Night 140
* Jimmy Crute - UFC Fight Night 142
* Jin Soo Son - UFC Fight Night 136
* Joe Giannetti - TUF 27 Finale
* John Gunther - TUF 27 Finale
* John Phillips - UFC Fight Night 127
* Jonathan Martinez - UFC Fight Night 138
* Johnny Walker - UFC Fight Night 140
* Jordan Griffin - UFC on Fox 31
* Jose Torres - UFC Fight Night 131
* Juan Adams - UFC on Fox 31
* Juan Espino - TUF 28 Finale
* Julija Stoliarenko - TUF 28 Finale
* Julio Arce - UFC 220
* Justin Frazier - TUF 28 Finale
* Kai Kara-France - UFC Fight Night 142
* Kevin Aguilar - TUF 28 Finale
* Kevin Holland - UFC 227
* Khalid Murtazaliev - UFC Fight Night 136
* Khalid Taha - UFC Fight Night 134
* Kyle Nelson - UFC 231
* Laureano Staropoli - UFC Fight Night 140
* Lauren Mueller - UFC on Fox 29
* Leah Letson - TUF 28 Finale
* Liu Pingyuan - UFC Fight Night 134
* Livia Renata Souza - UFC Fight Night 137
* Luigi Vendramini - UFC Fight Night 137
* Luis Peña - TUF 27 Finale
* Nathaniel Wood - UFC Fight Night 131
* Mackenzie Dern - UFC 222
* Macy Chiasson - TUF 28 Finale
* Magomed Ankalaev - UFC Fight Night 127
* Maia Stevenson - UFC Fight Night 125
* Manny Bermudez - UFC on Fox 28
* Mike Rodríguez - UFC Fight Night 137
* Marcin Prachnio - UFC on Fox 28
* Martin Day - UFC Fight Night 141
* Maycee Barber - UFC Fight Night 139
* Matt Bessette - UFC 220
* Matt Frevola - UFC Fight Night 124
* Matt Sayles - UFC 227
* Mayra Bueno Silva - UFC Fight Night 137
* Maurice Greene - TUF 28 Finale
* Megan Anderson - UFC 225
* Michel Batista - TUF 28 Finale
* Mike Jackson - UFC 225
* Mike Rodriguez - UFC 223
* Michael Trizano - TUF 27 Finale
* Molly McCann - UFC Fight Night 130
* Montel Jackson - UFC 227
* Su Mudaerji - UFC Fight Night 141
* Nad Narimani - UFC Fight Night 134
* Pannie Kianzad - TUF 28 Finale
* Petr Yan - UFC Fight Night 132
* Polyana Viana - UFC Fight Night 125
* Priscila Cachoeira - UFC Fight Night 125
* Ricky Rainey - UFC on Fox 29
* Raoni Barcelos - UFC Fight Night 133
* Richie Smullen - TUF 27 Finale
* Ricky Simón - UFC Fight Night 128
* Roosevelt Roberts - TUF 28 Finale
* Ryan Spann - UFC Fight Night 137
* Said Nurmagomedov - UFC Fight Night 133
* Sergei Pavlovich - UFC Fight Night 141
* Sijara Eubanks - UFC Fight Night 131
* Sodiq Yusuff - UFC Fight Night 142
* Stefan Sekulić - UFC Fight Night 136
* Steven Peterson - UFC Fight Night 126
* Suman Mokhtarian - UFC Fight Night 142
* Te'Jovan Edwards - UFC Fight Night 138
* Thiago Moisés - UFC Fight Night 139
* Tim Williams - UFC Fight Night 126
* Tyler Diamond - TUF 27 Finale
* Vince Morales - UFC Fight Night 141
* Wu Yanan - UFC Fight Night 122
* Yana Kunitskaya - UFC 222
* Zhang Weili - UFC 227

## Events list

| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
| 463 | UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 | December 29, 2018 | The Forum | Inglewood, California, U.S. | 15,862 |
| 462 | UFC on Fox: Lee vs. Iaquinta 2 | December 15, 2018 | Fiserv Forum | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | 9,010 |
| 461 | UFC 231: Holloway vs. Ortega | December 8, 2018 | Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 19,039 |
| 460 | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | December 2, 2018 | Adelaide Entertainment Centre | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | 8,652 |
| 459 | The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale | November 30, 2018 | Pearl Theatre | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | 2,020 |
| 458 | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Ngannou 2 | November 25, 2018 | Cadillac Arena | Beijing, China | 10,302 |
| 457 | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | November 17, 2018 | Estadio Luna Park | Buenos Aires, Argentina | 10,245 |
| 456 | UFC Fight Night: Korean Zombie vs. Rodríguez | November 10, 2018 | Pepsi Center | Denver, Colorado, U.S. | 11,426 |
| 455 | UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis | November 3, 2018 | Madison Square Garden | New York City, New York, U.S. | 17,011 |
| 454 | UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith | October 27, 2018 | Avenir Centre | Moncton, New Brunswick | 6,282 |
| 453 | UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor | October 6, 2018 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | 20,034 |
| 452 | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Anders | September 22, 2018 | Ginásio do Ibirapuera | São Paulo, Brazil | 9,485 |
| 451 | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oliynyk | September 15, 2018 | Olimpiyskiy Arena | Moscow, Russia | 22,603 |
| 450 | UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till | September 8, 2018 | American Airlines Arena | Dallas, Texas, U.S | 14,073 |
| 449 | UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick | August 25, 2018 | Pinnacle Bank Arena | Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S. | 6,409 |
| 448 | UFC 227: Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2 | August 4, 2018 | Staples Center | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | 17,794 |
| 447 | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | July 28, 2018 | Scotiabank Saddledome | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | 10,603 |
| 446 | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Smith | July 22, 2018 | Barclaycard Arena | Hamburg, Germany | 7,798 |
| 445 | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov | July 14, 2018 | CenturyLink Arena | Boise, Idaho U.S. | 5,648 |
| 444 | UFC 226: Miocic vs. Cormier | July 7, 2018 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | 17,464 |
| 443 | The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale | July 6, 2018 | Pearl Theater | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | 2,123 |
| 442 | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Edwards | June 23, 2018 | Singapore Indoor Stadium | Kallang, Singapore | 6,419 |
| 441 | UFC 225: Whittaker vs. Romero 2 | June 9, 2018 | United Center | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | 18,117 |
| 440 | UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes | June 1, 2018 | Adirondack Bank Center | Utica, New York, U.S. | 5,063 |
| 439 | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till | May 27, 2018 | Echo Arena | Liverpool, England, U.K. | 8,520 |
| 438 | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | Movistar Arena | Santiago, Chile | 11,082 |
| 437 | UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington | May 12, 2018 | Jeunesse Arena | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 10,696 |
| 436 | UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Lee | April 21, 2018 | Boardwalk Hall | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | 9,541 |
| 435 | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | April 14, 2018 | Gila River Arena | Glendale, Arizona, U.S. | 11,382 |
| 434 | UFC 223: Khabib vs. Iaquinta | April 7, 2018 | Barclays Center | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | 17,026 |
| 433 | UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov | March 17, 2018 | The O$_2$ Arena | London, England, U.K. | 16,274 |
| 432 | UFC 222: Cyborg vs. Kunitskaya | March 3, 2018 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | 12,041 |
| 431 | UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens | February 24, 2018 | Amway Center | Orlando, Florida, U.S. | 10,124 |
| 430 | UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Medeiros | February 18, 2018 | Frank Erwin Center | Austin, Texas, U.S. | 10,502 |
| 429 | UFC 221: Romero vs. Rockhold | February 11, 2018 | Perth Arena | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | 12,437 |
| 428 | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders | February 3, 2018 | Arena Guilherme Paraense | Belém, Brazil | 10,144 |
| 427 | UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 | January 27, 2018 | Spectrum Center | Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | 10,249 |
| 426 | UFC 220: Miocic vs. Ngannou | January 20, 2018 | TD Garden | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | 16,015 |
| 425 | UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi | January 14, 2018 | Scottrade Center | St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | 10,052 |