Legacy Fighting Alliance reaches 400 UFC athlete contracts

The Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) has reached a historic milestone, with 400 athletes from the organization now contracted to the UFC. The LFA has set a new annual record in 2026, with 39 fighters joining the premier MMA league so far this year, surpassing the 36 recorded in 2023.

Brazil remains a central hub for this talent pipeline. Of the 39 athletes contracted in 2026, at least nine are Brazilian, including Mateus Soares, Aieza Bertolso, Marcos Degli, Guilherme Uriel, Hector Santiago, Lucas Fernando, Jefferson Nascimento, Luis Francischinelli, and Douglas Lapa.

Douglas Lapa secured the 400th spot for the organization after earning a UFC contract during the final episode of the 2026 season of Dana White's Contender Series (DWCS).