Fans have been naming the stars they think Dana White could sign to improve the UFC roster.
White’s promotion has long been seen as the MMA leader, and few have threatened to upset that applecart.
But while that has led most to suggest that the sport’s best compete in the Octagon, not every top name and elite fighter calls the UFC home.
Whether it’s the Professional Fighters League or some of Europe’s rising organizations, plenty of promising prospects and established stars fight under different banners — but who would fans like to see test themselves in the UFC?
Fans tell Dana White who the UFC should sign in 2026
Bloody Elbow readers have been engaging in a TalkingPoints discussion about the UFC roster, prompted by the question, “You are Dana White for the day, who’s the first fighter you sign?”
Fans went down some clear paths with their picks, with some focusing on improving arguably the weakest weight class in the promotion right now.
The UFC heavyweight division is a mess in 2026, and some proposed fixing it with the additions of Gable Steveson, Vadim Nemkov, and Rico Verhoeven. It was no surprise to see the 2020 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling come up multiple times, given that fans flocked to urge UFC to sign Steveson after his third victory in MMA.
Others shared a common sentiment in the MMA community, which is that the undefeated Dakota Ditcheva must be added to the UFC women’s flyweight division.
PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov also came up more than once, with fans wanting to see the cousin of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov brought in to challenge Ilia Topuria.
“Any good heavyweights and Dakota.”
“Definitely Dakota!”
“They need Heavyweights badly. 8 billion people on the planet and there’s literally only a handful of good heavyweights between the UFC and PFL.”
“Usman Nurmagomedov and Nemkov.”
“Gable Steveson or Dillon Danis.”
“Usman to beat Topuria.”
“Dakota Ditcheva! Female division needs more real competition.”
“Gable and Rico, but Rico already declined once for boxing money.”
4 big names, but who would you choose to see inside the UFC Octagon right now? 🤔
Who do the Bloody Elbow staff want the UFC to sign?
Fans weren’t the only ones getting involved in the discussion.
The Bloody Elbow staff also gave their takes on which fighter currently competing outside of the Octagon would be the best pick-up for the UFC.
Jordan Ellis: “Francis Ngannou!”
Harvey Leonard: “If we’re disregarding contractual hurdles, Ditcheva for sure.”
Kyle Dimond: “Dakota Ditcheva would be incredible in the UFC. I do think that will happen eventually though.”
Donagh Corby: “Usman Nurmagomedov, Paul Hughes or Corey Anderson.”
Jamie Theodosi: “Has to be Gable Steveson. The heavyweight division NEEDS it.”
Receive a digest of our best Bloody Elbow content each week direct to your mailbox
Subscribe to my channel
