UFC Monthly Report May 2026: Haddon, Ardelean, Asakura Win Top Awards

Cody Haddon's return from injury earned him the UFC's Breakout Performance award for May 2026 after he stopped Aoriqileng with a liver knee at UFC Macau. The Australian bantamweight had been sidelined with foot problems through most of 2024, falling behind the division's rising talent pool, but looked sharp in the stoppage win over the experienced Chinese striker. UFC.com noted that Haddon controlled the opening frame with active grappling before finishing with a knee along the fence, putting himself back on the prospect map after questions about his future.

Alice Ardelean claimed Submission of the Month by landing the first capsule lock finish in UFC history, tapping Polyana Viana late in the second round of their May 16 bout in Las Vegas. Stationed in Viana's guard, Ardelean trapped the Brazilian's left foot between her thighs when Viana attempted a body triangle from the bottom, then torqued backward to create pressure on the flexed ankle. Viana tapped immediately. The finish caught everyone off guard on the broadcast, but the Romanian strawweight attacked the position deliberately. As the UFC's official report put it, the move was "a rare 'What was that?' moment" that demanded recognition.

Asakura Returns to Form at Bantamweight

Kai Asakura won Knockout of the Month after flattening Cameron Smotherman at UFC Macau in his first UFC appearance at bantamweight. The Japanese fighter had dropped his first two UFC bouts at flyweight, both by second-round submission, including a title shot against Alexandre Pantoja. Moving back up in weight, Asakura pressed forward early and landed a fake left uppercut that set up a switch-stance right hand to close the show. The performance marked a return to the finishing form that made him a star in Japan.

Other honorable mentions for May included Quillan Salkilld, who stopped Beneil Dariush in the first round in Perth. Haddon and Salkilld train together under Romelo Luistro at Luistro Combat Academy in Western Australia. Joshua Van's flyweight title fight against Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 took Fight of the Month honors, per the report.

UFC 329 is scheduled for late June in Austin, with multiple May winners expected to return before the end of summer.

Source: ufc.com