UFC’s 2026 Half-Year Awards spotlight a sharper submission game, with rear-naked chokes leading the way

The UFC has released its 2026 Half-Year Awards, and the focus is telling: through the first six months of 2026, the organization says submission finishes are trending upward again, after a stretch in which the number of tap-outs and the variety of finish types had been viewed as softening. In the feature, submission specialists and technicians are essentially getting an early statistical spotlight, with the release positioning submissions as a defining through-line of the year’s fight results so far.

According to the breakdown, there have been 44 submission finishes in UFC action through the opening six months of 2026. Rear-naked chokes are identified as the clear leader among submission methods, a reminder of how frequently elite control grappling can be converted into a fight-ending lock. Equally notable in the release is the claim that the era’s grappling diversity has widened, with the organization pointing to 13 different holds represented among the submission finishes during this period.

The awards concept is credited to Thomas Gerbasi, with using the opening-half data to frame what has worked in the sport’s current technical cycle. In the feature, the publication argues that the first half of 2026 produced not only more submission endings than recent years’ pattern suggested, but also a broader set of grappling tools being used to end fights. That kind of variety matters because it generally reflects how fighters and coaches are training the full spectrum of positions, transitions, and finish paths rather than leaning on a single go-to technique.

While UFC fights are decided for many reasons, submission finishes have a particular impact on how styles are read by matchmakers. A larger share of fights ending on the ground can alter risk calculations across divisions, since athletes who can secure dominant grappling positions force opponents into tighter windows for stand-up exchanges. The awards framing, centered on both volume and variety, suggests the sport is producing more opponents willing to commit to grappling-based finishes, and more finishing specialists able to capitalize on openings.

The piece also serves as a snapshot of what fans and fighters are likely to notice as the calendar turns. If the first half’s trends hold, it could mean continued emphasis on positional wrestling, guard and half-guard breakdowns, and choking mechanics under pressure. It could also mean gyms place additional weight on the less-common holds and the transitions that lead to them, since the release highlights multiple hold types being represented rather than a narrow set of outcomes.

There are limits to what awards like these can prove. They are based on UFC events and the organization’s own compilation of submission outcomes, and they capture a six-month window rather than a long-term trend. Still, when a promotional body publishes a data-driven mid-year review and explicitly ties it to a recent downturn-and-rebound storyline, the implication is that the sport’s training priorities and tactical developments are moving in an observable direction.

For fight week planning and match-up conversations later in 2026, the most immediate takeaway is that UFC is indicating a grappling renaissance, at least in terms of results. The release’s emphasis on both rear-naked chokes and a wider range of hold types suggests that opponents who prepare for multiple finish avenues may be better positioned than those who optimize for only one threat. The next stage will be whether the second half sustains the increase in submissions and the breadth of techniques, not just one-off spikes.