UFC 5 Roster Update Adds 5 Fighters This January

While there were some loud complaints about the UFC 5 roster at launch, EA Sports continues to expand it with new fighters. After adding a few smaller groups shortly after launch, the biggest set of additions so far is finally due to arrive.

The January UFC 5 roster update will add five different fighters to the game, and there are still three more coming next month. However, these may be the last additions for some time.

Updated January 11, 2024: The UFC 5 patch notes adding these fighters have finally been released. We've got more details here about their confirmed ratings and weight classes. The update should go live on January 12 at 10am PT. 

January UFC 5 Roster Update Adds 5 Fighters

As of now, EA Sports has yet to confirm an exact release date for the next UFC 5 roster update. Shortly after launch, developers revealed three sets of new fighters coming to the game. Yan Xiaonan and Amir Albazi kicked things off as the December additions, but we've now got five more on the way this month.

Looking ahead, February is due to bring three more fighters in Bryce Mitchell, Maycee Barber, and Joe Pyfer. EA Sports hasn't commented or confirmed who might be next or when future roster updates could arrive, but let's take a closer look at the group hitting UFC 5 any day now.

Ian Machado Garry

The first name coming to the UFC 5 roster is 26-year-old Ian Garry, and it's one fans have been clamoring for. Born in Portmarnock, Ireland, Garry kicked off his amateur career in 2018 and later made his pro debut with Cage Warriors, ultimately winning the Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship.

Garry signed with the UFC in 2021, and he's been in a handful of key fights since then. While he hasn't captured a title just yet, Ian Garry is due to face Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in just a handful of weeks.

Mike Malott

A veteran of WSOF, Bellator MMA, and Cage Fury Fighting, Mike Malott finally reached the UFC in 2022 where he debuted with a first round TKO on Mickey Gall. While he's gotten three straight victories since arriving in the UFC (and hasn't been defeated since 2014), Malott also has the distinction of winning Performance of the Night at his last two events.

All of that certainly has the excitement at a fever pitch, as Malott is due to face Neil Magny at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024. Magny was already on the roster at launch, so players will soon be able to preview that upcoming clash in UFC 5.

Charles Jourdain

Another experienced Canadian is on the way in Charles Jourdain, and you probably won't be surprised by now to hear that he's got a fight coming very soon. A fixture of the UFC since 2019, Jourdain is coming off a decision victory over Kron Gracie at UFC 288 and a submission win over Ricardo Ramos that earned him Performance of the Night back in September 2023.

With that momentum, Jourdain heads into a fight against Sean Woodson at UFC 297 on January 20, 2024. Unfortunately, while players will likely have Jourdain by the time that event arrives, Sean Woodson is not on the UFC 5 roster despite his nearly five-year tenure with the company.

Mayra Bueno Silva

Fortunately, the much smaller selection of female fighters in UFC 5 is also due to expand with the arrival of Mayra Bueno Silva. While she absolutely lit the world up with a second-round submission over Holly Holm back in July 2023, that victory was ultimately taken away over a positive drug test for standard ADHD medication Silva had been taking regularly.

Unfortunately, the paperwork on her exemption wasn't quite right and the victory was taken away along with her Performance of the Night honor for that event. Silva's suspension over the drug test ended in November, and she's due to challenge Raquel Pennington at UFC 297 for the vacant UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.

Jailton Almeida

Lastly, the fifth fighter coming in the January UFC 5 roster update will be Jailton Almedia, one of the most prominent heavyweights in the UFC today. After years of competing in Brazil, Almeida picked up a submission win at Dana White's Contender Series 39 that has triggered a dominant run.

Almeida has racked up six consecutive UFC victories, three Performance of the Night honors, and he's currently 7th on the UFC Heavyweight Rankings. Almeida is scheduled to face Curtis Blaydes at UFC 299 in March, but you'll be able to simulate that fight yourself as soon as the next UFC 5 update goes live.