Mixed martial arts (MMA) fans are in for a treat in 2025, with the upcoming calendar packed with a plethora of blockbuster bouts across different weight classes.
The Ultimate Fight Championship (UFC) will undoubtedly hog most of the headlines this year, but Bellator, PFL and One Championship will also be bidding to grab their share of the spotlight.
The previous 12 months were packed with classic MMA battles including the brutal encounter between Esteban Ribovics and Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306 in September.
They traded a series of ferocious blows in a contest which many respected pundits ranked as the fight of the year and it is difficult to argue with that viewpoint.
Mateusz Rebecki and Myktybek Orolbai also produced a stunning bout at UFC 308 the following month, destroying the theory that the lightweight division is generally boring.
Attention now switches to 2025 and several eye-catching fights have already been confirmed. Read on as we take a closer look, before assessing what may be on the agenda further down the line.
Middleweight rematch takes centre stage in Australia
Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland will top the bill when UFC 312 is staged in Sydney, Australia, on February 8.
The two fighters produced a classic when the met at UFC 207 last January, with Du Plessis claiming victory via a split decision.
Strickland has spent much of the run-up to the rematch moaning about being ‘robbed’ in the first fight, a notion which De Plessis has brutally dismissed.
There is likely to be little to choose between the pair in their second meeting, but Du Plessis is fancied to cement the belief that he is the better fighter.
Sports bettors face a tricky puzzle to unravel the following month when Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev go head-to-head at UFC 313.
While the pre-fight online betting cannot split the pair, Pereira believes he will make his fourth successful defence of the light heavyweight title.
However, Magomed has been on a stellar run in the UFC and it would be foolish to underestimate his chances of toppling the champion.
Speaking on UFC broadcaster Ariel Helwani's show this week, the Brazilian said Ankalaev ‘is the guy I'm really going to make fun of’ when they meet. Their clash will be intriguing to watch.
Jones vs Aspinall would be a fight for the ages
If the fighting gods are looking down kindly on the MMA world this year, here are three match-ups that would be a real treat for fans.
Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has reportedly set an asking price of $30 million for a potential title defence against Tom Aspinall.
That figure is unlikely to faze UFC president Dana White, who has guaranteed the fight will be made. Saudi Arabia is the most likely destination for the bout.
There has been talk of Jones walking away from the UFC after facing Aspinall, although the temptation to face Pereira if he steps up in weight would be difficult to resist.
However, there is no guarantee Jones will make it past Aspinall, with many people believing he is the man who will carry the heavyweight division into a new era.
White described the potential clash between Jones and Aspinall as ‘probably the biggest fight in heavyweight history’ and fans will be desperate to the see the match-up made.
Ilia Topuria vs Diego Lopes
Ilia Topuria garnered a ton of headlines last year by recording impressive victories over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
The featherweight champion looks destined to meet Diego Lopes at some point this year providing he does not decide to step up to the lightweight division.
Lopes took his professional MMA record to 26-6 with a unanimous decision victory over Brian Ortega at UFC 306 and deserves a shot at the title.
Dustin Poirier vs Justin Gaethje
The UFC is renowned for booking trilogy fights and one of the biggest of the year could be a potential clash between Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
The two fighters are tied with one win apiece and both previous bouts were classics, so setting up a decider between two UFC greats makes perfect sense.
The winner of the fight could feasibly earn another shot at the lightweight title, which would be a fitting reward given what each of them have contributed to MMA during their respective careers.
