The UFC

kicked off 2025 with a bang, delivering thrilling fights and unforgettable moments. UFC 311 saw Lightweight Champion Islam

Makhachev dominate Renato Moicano
with a first-round submission, solidifying his grip on the division. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili retained his Bantamweight title after a hard-fought decision against Umar Nurmagomedov.

UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov also turned heads, as Nassourdine Imavov shocked the world

by defeating former Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya in a stunning upset
. As the year unfolds, the UFC schedule continues to pack major events featuring top contenders and rising stars.

UFC 2025 So Far

• Dricus Du Plessis dominated Sean Strickland to retain the UFC Middleweight Championship by unanimous decision at UFC 312.
• Magomed Ankalaev stunned Alex Pereira to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion with a hard-fought decision win at UFC 313.
• Song Yadong defeated Henry Cejudo via technical decision after an eye poke ends the fight early at UFC Fight Night in Seattle.

​In a series of recent UFC events, several champions successfully defended their titles, while others saw new contenders emerge. At UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, on February 9, 2025, Dricus Du Plessis retained his Middleweight Championship by defeating Sean Strickland via unanimous decision, with scores of 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. On the same card, Zhang Weili defended her Women’s Strawweight Championship against Tatiana Suarez, showcasing her dominance in the division. A week later, at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, Jared Cannonier secured a swift victory over Gregory Rodrigues with a TKO just 21 seconds into the fourth round. In Seattle, on February 22, Song Yadong triumphed over Henry Cejudo by technical decision after an accidental eye poke halted the bout, leading to scorecards reading 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27 in Yadong’s favor. ​

March brought further shifts in the UFC landscape. At UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8,

Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira
to claim the Light Heavyweight Championship, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47. Later that month, on March 22 in London, Sean Brady submitted Leon Edwards in the fourth round via guillotine choke, marking a significant victory in the welterweight division. Concluding the month, on March 29 in Mexico City, Brandon Moreno outpointed Steve Erceg, earning a unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 49-46, reaffirming his position among the flyweight elite.

UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes

Ilia Topuria Vacated The Title

• Date: April 12, 2025
• Location: Kaseya Center, Miami, Florida

A UFC Featherweight Championship clash for the vacant title is set to headline the event, featuring former champion Alexander Volkanovski taking on rising contender Diego Lopes, following Ilia Topuria’s decision to vacate the belt and move up to lightweight.

In the co-main event, Michael Chandler is slated to face Paddy Pimblett in a high-stakes five-round lightweight showdown.

Although a UFC Flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and former interim challenger Kai Kara-France was rumored for the card, the matchup ultimately did not come together.

UFC Fight Night: Machado Garry vs. Prates

An Incredible Fight Night Headliner

• Date: April 26, 2025
• Location: Kansas City, Missouri

A light heavyweight showdown between former champion Jamahal Hill and top contender Khalil Rountree Jr. was originally slated to headline the event, but the bout was scrapped once again after Hill withdrew due to a lingering leg injury.

In a twist that may excite fans even more, a welterweight clash between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates is now expected to headline the card, with Garry stepping up on short notice to reinforce his reputation as a throwback fighter who welcomes any challenge.

The event also features several intriguing matchups, including Anthony Smith vs. Zhang Mingyang, Giga Chikadze vs. David Onama at featherweight, and a middleweight bout between Michel Pereira and Abusupiyan Magomedov.

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo

The Headliners Are Looking To Return To Title Contention

• Date: May 3, 2025
• Location: Des Moines, Iowa

A bantamweight main event between former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen and former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo is expected to headline the card, promising a high-stakes clash between two elite finishers.

In a surprising twist, UFC veteran and BKFC standout Jeremy Stephens is set to make his return to the Octagon, taking on Mason Jones in a must-watch matchup.

UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena

Jack Della Maddalena Is On A Hot Streak

• Date: May 10, 2025​
• Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada​

UFC 315 is set to feature a welterweight title bout between reigning champion Belal Muhammad and challenger Jack Della Maddalena, marking Muhammad’s first title defense since capturing the belt.

​

In the co-main event, two-time women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title against top contender Manon Fiorot, promising an exciting clash in the women’s flyweight division.

UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2

Will Suga Sean Get Revenge?

• Date: June 7, 2025
• Location: Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey

UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O’Malley 2 will feature two high-stakes title fights. The main event is a bantamweight championship rematch between current champion Merab Dvalishvili and former titleholder Sean O’Malley, less than a year after their first clash at UFC 306. In that bout, Dvalishvili dominated with his relentless wrestling and cardio, earning a unanimous decision to claim the belt. Since then, he successfully defended the title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January. O’Malley, meanwhile, has not competed since undergoing hip surgery following his loss but aims to reclaim the belt and avenge his defeat.

The co-main event will see women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Peña defend her title against Olympic gold medalist and former PFL champion Kayla Harrison. Peña regained the belt in October 2024 with a split decision victory over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307. Harrison has been on a meteoric rise since joining the UFC, securing dominant wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira.

Additional fights on the card include:

• Bantamweight: Marlon Vera vs. Mario Bautista
• Flyweight: Bruno Gustavo da Silva vs. Joshua Van
• Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac vs. Shamil Gaziev
• Light Heavyweight: Johnny Walker vs. Azamat Murzakanov

UFC 317: Jones vs Aspinall (Unconfirmed)

Dana White Insists It Will Happen

• Date: June 28, 2025
• Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

UFC 317 is expected to be headlined by a monumental heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones, the reigning undisputed champion, and Tom Aspinall, the interim titleholder. This clash, rumored to take place during International Fight Week, has been described as one of the biggest fights in UFC history.

What Else To Expect In 2025

McGregor’s Return Is Still Unconfirmed

Conor McGregor recently made headlines with a mix of revelations about his fighting future, political ambitions, and a notable decision to turn down a fight offer. The former two-division UFC champion admitted he declined a proposed bout at the iconic Alcatraz venue, citing concerns over the deal not matching his worth as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

While McGregor has expressed satisfaction with his MMA legacy, he remains adamant about returning to the octagon in 2025.