The Future is Now: Unveiling UFC’s Hard-Hitting Rising
The UFC’s 2026 “Fighters on the Rise” series named Jacobe Smith, Payton Talbott, Islam Dulatov, and Fatima Kline among its breakout candidates. Here are the results and divisions that made each fighter worth watching as the year began.
Jacobe Smith: unbeaten welterweight
Smith entered 2026 at 11-0 as a welterweight. His first two UFC appearances ended by stoppage: a 73-second knockout of Preston Parsons and a submission of veteran Niko Price at UFC 317. He was scheduled to face SeokHyeon Ko in Houston on February 21, 2026, according to the UFC’s January prospect feature.
Payton Talbott: a ranked bantamweight
Talbott entered the year ranked No. 11 at bantamweight after defeating former champion Henry Cejudo by unanimous decision at UFC 323 in December 2025. It followed a decision loss to Raoni Barcelos earlier that year; the UFC’s feature described his Cejudo win as evidence of progress in his wrestling and grappling.
Islam Dulatov: a welterweight finisher
Dulatov rebounded from his lone professional loss with 12 straight wins, according to the UFC’s 2026 prospect profile. In his UFC debut at UFC 318, he stopped Adam Fugitt by strikes at 4:06 of Round 1.
Fatima Kline: three wins in 2025
Strawweight Kline closed 2025 with three UFC victories: a January stoppage of Viktoriia Dudakova, a July stoppage of Melissa Martinez, and a unanimous decision over Angela Hill at UFC 322 in November. The UFC’s year-ahead profile noted that those results put her in the division’s Top 15.
Sources:
- UFC: Fighters on the Rise 2026, Part 1
- UFC: Fighters on the Rise 2026, Part 2
- UFC: Official results and scorecards from UFC 318
Context and Significance
A prospect list is best treated as a snapshot, since rankings and opportunities can change quickly. The UFC’s own “Fighters on the Rise” series supplies the source for the names highlighted here, while their results and divisions offer concrete reasons to follow them. Being identified as a prospect is not a guarantee of a title run; development depends on continued competition, health, and matchmaking. Readers can use the list as a starting point and revisit the fighters’ records as the season progresses.
