With no UFC events for a couple of weeks, that doesn’t mean we can’t get down at the sportsbooks with UFC action. Just about every book out there is flooded with markets for UFC futures – most of which are on who will be champion come December 31st of 2026. With 9 of the 11 titles changing hands in 2025, it’s clear that there is plenty of money to be made with UFC futures. For today’s pick, we’ve dug into the welterweight division to find the very best bet at 170lbs. Come check out what we cooked up for this MMA pick!
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2026 MMA Futures Pick of the Week: Welterweight Champion
UFC Welterweight Rankings
Current Champ: Islam Makhachev – Next Challenger: TBA
The welterweight division is another where the belt had recently changed hands. In November, Islam Makhachev relinquished his lightweight title to go up in weight. His first assignment at welterweight was champion Jack Della Maddalena. Makhachev rode a one-sided decision to the belt and is now the odds-on favorite to hold the belt throughout the year.
While there isn’t a big number next to his name, I do like Makhachev to retain throughout 2026. The primary reason I like him to retain throughout the year is that he is not a particularly active fighter. He fought just twice in 2025 and spaced out by 10 months. 2024 saw him only fight one time, and while he fought twice in 2023, it again was spaced out by nine months. Having just fought in November and win Ramadan beginning next month, we are unlikely to see Makhachev fight until at least May. If he does defend the title in May, or even in June, this bet will probably cash.
The other reason why I like him to still be champion is the list of contenders. While there are lots of fun options at 170lbs, Makhachev and his management seem bent on giving a fight to former champion Kamaru Usman. Usman – who shares a management team with Makhachev – has won just one fight in the last four years. If he were to be the next challenger, it would not be much of a challenge for him to keep that belt. Even if they were to go to one of the other, more logical options, most do not have the grappling to hang with Makhachev.
UFC Welterweight Champion on December 31st, 2026: Islam Makhachev (+100)
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