BRAZILIAN PROSPECTS MMA FIGHTERS IN THE FLYWEIGHT CATEGORY IN 2026

The men’s flyweight division (57 kg / 125 lb) has always been highly relevant for Brazilian MMA, especially in recent years, with fighters who reached the very top of the UFC, such as Deiveson Figueiredo and Alexandre Pantoja, both former UFC champions. These names helped establish Brazil as a global powerhouse in the division. More recently, however, the landscape has gone through a period of contraction, as the UFC released several Brazilian flyweights and did not replace them at the same rate. In this context, 2026 emerges as a key year, with a strong possibility of new Brazilian signings to rebuild the division. This overview was conducted in January 2026, based on the national rankings and considering factors such as age, record, recent winning streaks, and overall technical level.

• Marcos “Tailandês”, 25 years old, stands out as one of the most exciting Brazilian flyweight prospects today. Training at Vale Top Team alongside Carlos Prates, Marcos is known for an extremely aggressive style, always pushing for a finish. He holds 13 professional wins, with 8 coming by KO/TKO and 4 by submission, and is currently riding an impressive 11-fight winning streak. This run earned him the interim LFA flyweight title, in an organization widely recognized as one of the main pipelines to the UFC. His momentum was further highlighted when Carlos Prates publicly called for his UFC signing in a post-fight interview, reinforcing the internal belief in his potential.

• Alisson Murilo, also 25 years old, is another fast-rising name in the division. Representing the renowned Chute Boxe Diego Lima team — home to fighters like Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira — Alisson brings an aggressive approach and strong efficiency in transitioning between striking and grappling. With 13 career victories, including 4 by KO/TKO and 6 by submission, he has won 9 of his last 10 fights, with his only loss in that stretch coming against Marcos Tailandês. In 2025, he secured two important wins and now enters 2026 at a pivotal moment to establish himself as one of the top Brazilian flyweight prospects.

• Eduardo “Chapolin”, 30 years old, is currently the undisputed LFA flyweight champion and one of the Brazilian fighters closest to the UFC within the division. Sporting a strong 15–2 record, with 7 KO/TKO victories and 4 submissions, Chapolin combines experience, finishing ability, and high-level competition. In 2025, he competed on The Ultimate Fighter, initially viewed as one of the favorites to earn a UFC contract, but was submitted in the first round of his opening bout by Joseph Morales, who would go on to win the season. Despite that setback, Chapolin remained highly active, defending his LFA title in August and, just two weeks later, accepting a short-notice fight on the Dana White’s Contender Series, where he earned a win but was not signed. As a result, 2026 shapes up as a decisive year, whether through another short-notice opportunity or a return to the Contender Series.

💬 Summary: Brazilian men’s flyweight MMA is clearly in a phase of renewal. With the current shortage of Brazilian fighters in the UFC, 2026 could mark a new wave of signings, and Marcos Tailandês, Alisson Murilo, and Eduardo Chapolin stand out as natural candidates to fill that space.

🗣️ Discussion: which of these fighters do you believe is closest to reaching the UFC? Are there other Brazilian flyweight prospects who deserve to be included in this list?