UFC Fantasy Draft, Season 5: Which 72 UFC fighters Will Close Out 2026 In Style?

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Hey, it's Bill from the Bill Simmons Podcast. FIFA World Cup 26 fans, listen up. As the official beer sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 26, McLobe Ultra is giving away $1 million worth of FIFA World Cup 26 tickets and prizes. Enter now at www.mclobeultra.com/superioraccess/fifaworldcup26. McLobe Ultra FIFA World Cup 26 Superior Access, no purchase necessary. Open US. Residence 21 Plus begins on December 1st, 2025, ends on July 31st, 2026, multiple entry periods. Visit www.mclobeultra.com/superioraccess/fifaworldcup26 for free entry, deadlines, prizes and details.

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This Friday.

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The ocean shows you to save us all.

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The stories are true.

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The story has just begun. From Disney.

**Damon Martin** (0:43)
Moana of Motunui, daughter of the chief. Let's save the world.

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Ready?

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It's Maui time.

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I'm gonna eat whatever that is.

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His name is Heihei.

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Disney's Moana, in theaters Friday, rated PG. For rental guidance suggested, get tickets now.

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You're listening to the Vox Media Podcast Network.

**Jed Meshew** (1:12)
Oh, yeah, yeah, that is right, ladies and gentlemen. Those horns, they mean it's time to get drafting again, baby. It is time for the 2026 part two, AKA season five of the MMA Fighting UFC Fantasy Draft League.
At this point, you probably know what's going on. We've built our own fantasy MMA game. It's not year round, but it's half year round. We just wrapped up season four. We're bringing back the full MMA Fighting crew to restock, re-rack and get going. We'll explain the rules as we go along very briefly. But again, you probably know this already. Before we do, let me first introduce to you in the order we will be drafting, because we are drafting in reverse order of the winners basically.
My name is Jed Meshew, if you don't know this already. Hi, I'm actually drafting second to last this year. So I'm slightly out of order. But first up, the Brazilian beast, a man who is proudly representing his country as they prepare to face the mighty Vikings of Norway, Guilherme Cruz, Guy, you finished dead last. How are you feeling about this draft?

**Guilherme Cruz** (2:31)
I'm not surprised that I finished last. I think it was the same way last year. I suck at this. That's why I'm coming with this shirt, because I don't know if you guys are going to remember, but last, I think it was 24 years ago. 24 years ago? Mass sucks.
In 1994, not in 6 years ago, we wore these jerseys to beat the USA on 4th of July to then win the World Cup in the United States. And then we are back to the United States to win our fifth World Cup title. So I had to bring this, to bring me luck, to maybe get a better result on this year's MMA Fighting drafts.

**Jed Meshew** (3:28)
Well, to be fair to you, Guy, basically nobody did very well this year, but for our champion who mopped the floor with us, but we'll get to him in a moment because we're going to the hardest working man in MMA. He will be drafting second as he prepares for his Mexico squad to take on the evil English team this Sunday as well.
José Youngs, José, it was your first draft last time. How do you feel about it? You're ready to get going this time?

**José Youngs** (3:57)
Yeah, I didn't know research that time. I've done no research this year.
You guys reminded me, I had a team every single big event. I'm like, oh yeah, I did that. And then I looked at like, oh, he did have Carl Solberg. So like, yeah, looking forward to not paying attention and kind of stumbling through the season, but maybe I will do better this year. I promise, last year was a learning curve. There's a lot of people I should have drafted. Also, not for nothing, my lightweight got investigated by the FBI. So I feel like I should get something. So that was a big bummer, like right out of the gate for like the first event of the year, but we personally are.

**Jed Meshew** (4:38)
That is a tough look.
A man who could not care less about the World Cup, but does have a potentially exciting season ahead of him as we near the football season for the Cincinnati Bengals. Damon Martin coming in in the middle section, number three this year. Damon, tough scenes last year. Everybody you had that weighed more than 155 pounds, mostly let you down. And your bold selection of Conor McGregor was just a couple of weeks too early. How are you feeling this time?