The UFC Fantasy League returns for its third season! With the first half of 2024 completed, Season 2 has concluded, and it was Alexander K. Lee who once again claimed the top spot with an impressive point total, finishing ahead of runner-up E. Casey Leydon. Fighters like Joshua Van and Merab Dvalishvili delivered high point totals in the last season.
Now, attention turns immediately to Season 3. This is not a daily fantasy format, but rather a season-long league structured like traditional sports fantasy leagues. Six participants – Alexander K. Lee, E. Casey Leydon, Mike Heck, Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, and Guilherme Cruz – will draft teams. Each team consists of 12 fighters, with one fighter selected from each major weight class and one wildcard pick. Points are awarded based on specific scoring criteria, and Season 3 will run through the end of 2025, culminating in the crowning of a new champion.
Scoring criteria will determine point values for fighter performances.
For this season, a reverse snake draft format was used, with the participants ranked last in Season 2 picking first. Adding an extra strategic layer, each participant was allowed to retain one fighter from their Season 2 roster before the draft commenced.
Without further delay, here are the initial draft picks:
Guilherme Cruz: Alexandre Pantoja (Retained Pick)
Pantoja holds the longest active reign among male UFC champions and is expected to face Joshua Van later this year. Despite being 35, he appears to be improving, having finished his last two opponents.
Jed Meshew: Sergei Pavlovich (Heavyweight)
Known for brutal, quick knockouts, Pavlovich secured a decision win in February but has another opportunity to score big points in his upcoming fight against Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
Damon Martin: Islam Makhachev (Lightweight)
Selecting the top pound-for-pound fighter is always a smart move, especially as Makhachev seems poised to challenge for the welterweight title later in the year.
Mike Heck: Ilia Topuria (Featherweight)
Another fighter at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, Topuria`s rapid ascent is reminiscent of Conor McGregor`s rise. For his first title defense, he will likely be favored to finish his opponent early.
E. Casey Leydon: Tom Aspinall (Heavyweight)
Aspinall`s potential was somewhat limited last season by the lack of a fight with Jon Jones. Now the undisputed champion reportedly has a fight scheduled, making the heavyweight king likely to deliver significant points.
Alexander K. Lee: Joshua Van (Flyweight)
As the second-highest point scorer in Season 2, Van is set to fight Alexandre Pantoja later this year. Given his activity level, he might compete again before the year ends.
Cruz: Jean Silva (Featherweight)
Silva scored 450 points last season and has a fight scheduled against Diego Lopes. A win could potentially put him in title contention by the end of the year.
Meshew: Shara Magomedov (Middleweight)
“Bullet” faces Marc-Andre Barriault later this month. With another potential event in the UAE in October, there`s a good chance he gets two fights this season.
Martin: Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight)
The top scorer of Season 2, Dvalishvili does not currently have a title defense scheduled but has expressed a desire to defend his title twice more this year.
Heck: Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight)
Chimaev typically delivers impressive performances when he competes. The key question is his consistency in making it to the cage. He is booked to challenge Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title in August.
Leydon: Zhang Mingyang (Light Heavyweight)
“The Mountain Tiger” has impressed in his short UFC tenure and is headlining a China event against the often-knocked-out Johnny Walker.
Lee: Dricus du Plessis (Middleweight)
The current middleweight champion and a top pound-for-pound fighter, “DDP” is on a remarkable run and will look to continue it against Khamzat Chimaev.
Lee: Max Holloway (Lightweight)
The `BMF` champion is the first lightweight selected and is scheduled for a trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier later this month.
Leydon: Reinier de Ridder (Middleweight)
The former two-division ONE champion has made an impact since joining the UFC and faces Robert Whittaker this month.
Heck: Ateba Gautier (Wild Card)
A 2024 Contender Series signing, Gautier secured a first-round KO and bonus in his debut. He is set to fight Robert Valentin later this month.
Martin: Alexander Volkanovski (Featherweight)
The reigning featherweight champion is not currently booked, but rumors suggest a rematch with Yair Rodriguez. He is expected to defend his title before the end of the year.
Meshew: Kevin Holland (Welterweight)
One of the UFC`s most active fighters, Holland was surprisingly undrafted last season. He has already fought three times in 2024 and is booked against Daniel Rodriguez.
Cruz: Zhang Weili (Strawweight)
The strawweight champion recently defended her title against Tatiana Suarez. Her next move could be another title defense or potentially a move to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko.
Cruz: Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight)
A 2024 Contender Series signee, Teixeira knocked out Justin Tafa in 35 seconds in his debut, earning him a main event spot against Derrick Lewis this Saturday.
Meshew: Fatima Kline (Strawweight)
With a 1-1 UFC record, Kline faces Melissa Martinez this weekend as a significant betting favorite.
Martin: Michael Morales (Wild Card)
Morales is undefeated in the UFC with six wins, coming off a first-round stoppage in May. Though not booked, the Ecuadorian fighter is likely to compete again this year.
Heck: Magomed Ankalaev (Light Heavyweight)
The light heavyweight champion has sought a rematch with Alex Pereira, though the possibility is uncertain. Jiri Prochazka has also been mentioned as a potential challenger.
Leydon: Jacobe Smith (Welterweight)
Smith secured an impressive stoppage against Niko Price, despite a challenging fight. The Contender Series product is considered a promising prospect.
Lee: Carlos Prates (Welterweight)
Prates suffered his first UFC loss in April via decision. He is rumored to be facing Geoff Neal later this year.
Lee: Cory Sandhagen (Bantamweight)
A consistent top contender, Sandhagen is expected to finally get a shot at the undisputed bantamweight title against champion Merab Dvalishvili later this year.
Leydon: Steve Garcia (Featherweight)
Currently on a five-fight winning streak, Garcia faces Calvin Kattar in a featured bout this weekend.
Heck: Petr Yan (Bantamweight)
The former bantamweight champion is on a two-fight winning streak and hopes to earn a title shot when he faces Marcus McGhee.
Martin: Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight)
Making his return after his first professional loss, Taira faces a tough test against Amir Albazi in an August main event.
Meshew: Morgan Charriere (Featherweight)
Charriere competes this weekend. It would be surprising if the French fighter did not participate in the UFC Paris event later this year.
Cruz: Caio Borralho (Middleweight)
Borralho main events the UFC Paris card in September against Nassourdine Imavov. A win could position him for a middleweight title opportunity.
Cruz: Vinicius Oliveira (Bantamweight)
A Contender Series product, “Lok Dog” has been exciting in his three UFC appearances and takes on Kyler Phillips later this month.
Meshew: Daniel Zellhuber (Lightweight)
Zellhuber faces veteran Michael Johnson this month. He is highly likely to be featured on the Noche UFC card in September.
Martin: Mauricio Ruffy (Lightweight)
Another fighter from the successful “Fighting Nerds” camp, Ruffy is not officially booked but is expected to compete at least once more this year.
Heck: Waldo Cortes-Acosta (Heavyweight)
On a five-fight winning streak, “Salsa Boy” gets a chance to climb the heavyweight ranks against Sergei Pavlovich.
Leydon: Manel Kape (Flyweight)
Kape`s consistency in making it to the cage is a question. An injury forced him out of a recent fight, and he is currently recovering.
Lee: Jailton Almeida (Heavyweight)
Almeida has had a dominant run in the heavyweight division and has openly campaigned for a title shot against Tom Aspinall.
Lee: Azamat Murzakanov (Light Heavyweight)
Undefeated in the UFC with four knockouts, Murzakanov has also faced challenges with fight cancellations. He is not currently booked.
Leydon: Dustin Poirier (Lightweight)
A future Hall of Famer, Poirier is expected to compete in the final fight of his career in a trilogy bout against Max Holloway this month.
Heck: Ramazan Temirov (Flyweight)
Temirov holds three UFC wins since joining from Rizin and faces Asu Almabayev.
Martin: Marco Tulio (Middleweight)
A Contender Series product, Tulio has secured two stoppage wins in his two UFC fights and is set to face Michel Pereira.
Meshew: Carli Judice (Women`s Flyweight)
Judice is 1-1 in the UFC but has earned a bonus in both fights. She faces Nicolle Caliari later this month.
Cruz: Ian Machado Garry (Welterweight)
Following his win over Carlos Prates, “IMG” is nearing a title shot and may have a fight lined up against former champion Belal Muhammad later this year.
Cruz: Natalia Silva (Women`s Flyweight)
As the number one contender after defeating Alexa Grasso, Silva could be next for a title shot, depending on developments in other divisions.
Meshew: Brandon Moreno (Flyweight)
The former two-time flyweight champion is not currently booked but has been linked to several potential opponents and is likely to compete on the Noche UFC card.
Martin: Marcin Tybura (Heavyweight)
Currently on a two-fight winning streak, Tybura is scheduled to face former PFL fighter Ante Delija in September.
Heck: Michael ‘Venom’ Page (Middleweight)
Although “MVP” claims to be a welterweight, his last fight was at 185 pounds, and he is booked against former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier, suggesting his current placement is at middleweight.
Leydon: Tatiana Suarez (Strawweight)
Suarez experienced a tough loss in February and is not currently booked. Her history of infrequent competition is a concern.
Lee: Kennedy Freeman (Women`s Flyweight)
An undefeated prospect and Cage Warriors champion, Freeman is set to make her UFC debut.
Lee: Mayra Bueno Silva (Women`s Bantamweight)
On a three-fight losing streak, “MBS” returns to the bantamweight division to face Joselyne Edwards in an effort to turn her career around.
Leydon: Wang Cong (Women`s Flyweight)
On a two-fight winning streak, Wang Cong is not currently booked to compete. She last fought in June.
Heck: Jasmine Jasudavicius (Women`s Flyweight)
Jasudavicius is on a five-fight winning streak, including a submission win in June. She is not currently booked.
Martin: Norma Dumont (Women`s Bantamweight)
With five consecutive wins, Dumont could be next in line for a title shot, depending on the outcome of other key matchups in the division.
Meshew: Nora Cornolle (Women`s Bantamweight)
Cornolle holds a 3-1 UFC record and is scheduled to face Karol Rosa in August.
Cruz: Arman Tsarukyan (Lightweight)
Tsarukyan served as a backup fighter for a recent event, and the top-ranked lightweight contender has been actively seeking potential fights against others in the rankings.
Cruz: Jiri Prochazka (Light Heavyweight)
After knocking out Jamahal Hill in January, the former light heavyweight champion took time off but could quickly find himself back in a title fight given the division`s landscape.
Meshew: Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight)
On a three-fight winning streak, Guskov is set to face Nikita Krylov.
Martin: Dominick Reyes (Light Heavyweight)
Reyes is on a three-fight winning streak and is unexpectedly close to title contention. He has been linked to a potential fight with Carlos Ulberg.
Heck: Gillian Robertson (Strawweight)
Robertson is on a four-fight winning streak, including a stoppage win in May. She is not currently booked.
Leydon: Umar Nurmagomedov (Bantamweight)
Nurmagomedov has not fought since his loss in January. His return is likely to coincide with Islam Makhachev`s welterweight title opportunity.
Lee: Alexia Tainara (Strawweight)
A Contender Series product, Thainara won her UFC debut via submission in March. She is not currently booked.
Lee: Aaron Pico (Featherweight)
A prominent fighter from Bellator, Pico is scheduled to make his UFC debut against Movsar Evloev.
Leydon: Raquel Pennington (Women`s Bantamweight)
The former bantamweight champion has not competed since losing her title.
Heck: Movsar Evloev (Featherweight)
Undefeated with a strong UFC record, Evloev still seeks a title shot and needs to overcome Pico to potentially earn that opportunity.
Martin: Erin Blanchfield (Women`s Flyweight)
Blanchfield was scheduled to fight last season, but her opponent withdrew. She has not been rebooked.
Meshew: Malcolm Wellmaker (Bantamweight)
One of the most exciting recent Contender Series prospects, Wellmaker has two first-round knockouts and two performance bonuses in his two UFC fights.
Cruz: Karol Rosa (Women`s Bantamweight)
Rosa has alternated wins and losses recently. She lost her last fight in January and faces Nora Cornolle in August.
Cruz: Anthony Hernandez (Wild Card)
“Fluffy” is on a seven-fight winning streak and headlines an August event against Roman Dolidze.
Meshew: Azamat Bekoev (Wild Card)
Bekoev holds a 2-0 UFC record and faces Torrez Finney in August.
Martin: Sam Hughes (Strawweight)
On a two-fight winning streak, Hughes is scheduled to face Shauna Bannon at UFC Paris.
Heck: Kayla Harrison (Women`s Bantamweight)
Harrison recently won the title and is now potentially heading towards a superfight. The question is whether this fight will happen within the season timeframe.
Leydon: Gregory Rodrigues (Wild Card)
“Robocop” secured a quick finish in his last fight and may be able to make a swift return to action.
Lee: Torrez Finney (Wild Card)
The only fighter to go 3-0 on Contender Series, Finney seeks redemption in his next fight after a less-than-impressive UFC debut.
That concludes the announcement of the initial picks from the third UFC Fantasy Draft.
