Who will be UFC Middleweight champion at the end of 2026?

Traders currently price "Sean Strickland" at 59% for "Who will be UFC Middleweight champion at the end of 2026?". Full distribution: Sean Strickland 59%, Nassourdine Imavov 25%, Khamzat Chimaev 17%, Dricus Du Plessis 2%. The market has traded $906K in total volume and resolves Dec 31, 2026. Sean Strickland holds the UFC middleweight title after a split-decision victory over Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in May 2026, positioning the veteran as the clear frontrunner to finish the year as champion. His consistent striking volume, defensive grappling, and recent wins over Chimaev plus Anthony Hernandez underscore the division's current hierarchy. Nassourdine Imavov remains the primary threat due to his five-fight win streak and prior title contention momentum, while Chimaev's grappling-heavy style and first career loss create uncertainty around a potential rematch. Lower-ranked options like Dricus Du Plessis face steeper paths after earlier setbacks, reflecting how recent title-fight outcomes and contender activity shape the implied probabilities reflected in current market pricing.

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