Pereira, Jones, Pena amongst 25 fighters who will form UFC panorama in 2025

Every 12 months there are a set of opponents that dominate and form the UFC panorama, each inside and outdoors of the Octagon. Many are acquainted, established skills, whereas some rise by means of the ranks to take pleasure in breakout campaigns.

As we head into 2025, listed here are 25 athletes who may have a serious influence within the upcoming 12 months, setting the desk for what’s shaping as much as be one other wildly entertaining 12 months of UFC motion.

Jon Jones: The heavyweight champion heads into the brand new 12 months because the centre of consideration, as everybody wait to see what his subsequent transfer shall be. Which path Jones decides to go and the way shortly he makes that call could have fast and simple ramifications on the heavyweight division and the UFC as a complete.

Tom Aspinall: No one needs to know Jones’ plans greater than Aspinall, the reigning interim champion who already efficiently defended his title as soon as, and is aching to face “Bones” in a title unification bout. The gifted Brit is caught in limbo for the second, however no matter whether or not he fights Jones subsequent or not, Aspinall shall be an influence participant as soon as he’s again in motion.

Alex Pereira: “Poatan” was both first or second on most 2024 Fighter of the Year lists, and is all the time a high contender to land there once more as a result of he likes to compete often and has confirmed extremely tough to defeat at gentle heavyweight. There are choices for him inside his personal division, and he’s the third man on this lingering Jones saga, so rely on Pereira to be a significant component once more in 2025. Chama!

Islam Makhachev: After making only one title defence final 12 months, Makhachev is slated to defend his belt in January, and heads into the 12 months as one of the vital intriguing figures within the UFC. He’s been champ for over two years, has received 14 straight fights (two shy of tying the file), and has already expressed curiosity in venturing to welterweight sooner or later. The finest pound-for-pound fighter on the planet shall be heard from an ideal deal within the coming 12 months.

Arman Tsarukyan: Not solely is he difficult Makhachev for the title at UFC 311, however Tsarukyan can be trying to avenge his earlier defeat to the Russian standout. Should he declare the title, it might open a bunch of latest choices on the high of the light-weight division as the one tenured contenders he’s confronted up to now are Charles Oliveira and Mateusz Gamrot.

Ilia Topuria: The featherweight champ has ensured we’re speaking about him heading into the 12 months by declaring he’s prepared to surrender his title and transfer to light-weight, which is one thing everybody assumed would occur sooner or later, however not fairly but. Topuria promised Alexander Volkanovski a rematch, and fights with Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev loom, however dealing with off with Makhachev in a “Champion vs. Champion” bout can be extremely interesting as nicely.

Julianna Pena: “The Venezuelan Vixen” is a lightning rod atop the ladies’s bantamweight division — a polarizing determine who promotes herself and her bouts nicely, and whose efforts and success can’t be denied at this level. Whether it’s Kayla Harrison or Amanda Nunes subsequent, you recognize Pena will do job of commanding the highlight and forcing folks to concentrate to the primary girls’s bantamweight title struggle of the 12 months.

Kayla Harrison: After going 2-0 in her first 12 months within the UFC, Harrison is in line to problem for the title in 2025, and between her total success (and prior Olympic triumphs), her capacity to promote herself and her matchups on the mic, and the tensions that exist between her, Pena, and Nunes, there isn’t any manner the two-time gold medalist doesn’t have one other excessive influence 12 months as a sophomore on the UFC roster.

Amanda Nunes: Some would possibly view this as a wild card choice, however Nunes has two folks itching for her to return again, and that makes her a real individual of curiosity heading into 2025, in my thoughts. “The Lioness” departed the game as the best feminine fighter of all time lower than two years in the past, and a return to face both Pena or Harrison with gold hanging within the stability can be an enormous struggle within the second half of the 12 months.

Merab Dvalishvili: The bantamweight champ dominated Sean O’Malley to say the title at UFC 306, working his profitable streak to 11 within the course of, and but it looks like he’s being checked out like a “transitional champion” as his first title defence approaches. With a victory at UFC 311, “The Machine” will cement his standing as the highest man within the 135-pound ranks and arrange an attention-grabbing 12 months for the veteran class in probably the most talent-rich division within the group.

Umar Nurmagomedov: “Cousin Umar” is ready to problem Dvalishvili for the title in January and opened because the betting favorite. While he wasn’t as dominant in 2024, Nurmagomedov enters this 12 months with an ideal 18-0 mark and might usher in a brand new period within the bantamweight division by ascending to the throne on January 18 in Los Angeles.

Belal Muhammad: After claiming the title in July with a five-round mauling of Leon Edwards, Muhammad was speculated to defend his belt at UFC 310, however was pressured out with a bone an infection. He has received six straight, is unbeaten in his previous 11, and extra folks now like his possibilities of holding onto the welterweight strap after how the UFC 310 co-main occasion performed out.

Shavkat Rakhmonov: While he bested Ian Machado Garry within the latest “battle of unbeaten contenders” (which got here collectively after his title bout with Muhammad was scuttled), Rakhmonov wasn’t as dominant as he’d been in his earlier outings, failing to complete an opponent for the primary time in his profession. He’s not being talked about because the “champion in waiting,” however may nonetheless very a lot find yourself atop the division earlier than the halfway level of the 12 months.

Whether he or Muhammad lead the division into the again half of the 12 months, welterweight stands as probably the most compelling division heading into 2025 in my view, which suggests each are positive to be main gamers within the UFC’s plans this 12 months.

Dricus Du Plessis: “Stillknocks” claimed and efficiently defended the middleweight title in 2024, and is poised to place the belt again on the road in a rematch with Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in February. His unconventional type leads folks to underestimate or possibly even devalue him a little bit, however the South African champion solely turns 31 years previous in January and will very nicely be on the precipice of a future atop the 185-pound weight class.

Weili Zhang: It was a bummer to solely get one look from Zhang in 2024, however she’s already scheduled to defend her title at UFC 312 in Perth in February, which, in idea, ought to assure we see her not less than twice in 2025. If she holds onto her title, a potential journey to flyweight would be certain that the two-time champion has an enormous influence on the UFC panorama within the coming 12 months.

Tatiana Suarez: The oft-injured Suarez has an enormous alternative in entrance of her to start the 12 months when she faces Zhang for the belt in Australia. She’s been tabbed to high the division since arriving on the scene greater than eight years in the past, and if she will achieve this whereas additionally staying wholesome — that are each large query marks — there are quite a few intriguing matchups ready for her at strawweight and flyweight doubtlessly.

Valentina Shevchenko: Now again atop the flyweight ranks, Shevchenko has choices heading into the brand new 12 months, and choices normally imply you’re going to make waves. The division is flush with contemporary contenders due to her three-fight sequence with Alexa Grasso, whereas there’s additionally the potential of Zhang or Suarez developing from strawweight or Shevchenko returning to bantamweight, the place she already holds a second-round submission win over Pena.

Manon Fiorot: “The Beast” has been ready for her championship alternative since besting Erin Blanchfield on the finish of March in Atlantic City, and already took to social media to inform Shevchenko to signal the contract or transfer on. She’s been a drive since arriving within the UFC, and claiming the title would deliver the deep and aggressive division to the fore, with Fiorot on the vanguard.

Jasmine Jasudavicius: The Niagara Top Team consultant is without doubt one of the high ascending Canadians on the roster, and somebody whose standing continues to develop with every passing look and victory. Jasudavicius has an enormous struggle on deck with Mayra Bueno Silva in the beginning of February, and a win there may land her one other marquee project — and a few prime actual property — each time the UFC comes north of the border in 2025.

Alexandre Pantoja: The flyweight champ is a little bit additional down this checklist as a result of after preventing in December, it’s exhausting to forecast when he’s going to return. It’s additionally tough to know who he’s going to face, however each time it’s and whoever it’s in opposition to, you recognize Pantoja will garner tons of consideration as he stays targeted on following up his statement-making effort in opposition to Kai Asakura in one other dominant title defence.

Payton Talbott: Arguably probably the most intriguing prospect on the roster, Talbott generates curiosity each time he competes, and his matchup with Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311 must be no completely different. If he can get by the Brazilian veteran in Los Angeles, the DWCS Class of 2023 grad shall be knocking on the door of the Top 15 within the bantamweight division, and much more folks shall be desperate to see what comes subsequent for him.

Khamzat Chimaev: Last 12 months confirmed each the explanation everyone seems to be so excessive on Chimaev, but in addition why we’re all so leery as nicely, as he stormed by means of Robert Whittaker, however solely after their matchup was postponed as a result of Chimaev was pressured to withdraw. He’s in line to problem for the title within the again half of the 12 months, and can possible be heard from lots within the lead-up to February’s championship rematch between Du Plessis and Strickland.

Max Holloway: “Blessed” is ready to embark on a brand new chapter within the light-weight division, and after his masterful and memorable efficiency in opposition to Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, it’s not possible to not be enthusiastic about what he may do within the 155-pound ranks. He’s one of the vital beloved fighters on the roster and will land a marquee alternative each time he’s prepared to start his 2025 marketing campaign, with a win doubtlessly catapulting him right into a championship alternative.

Joe Pyfer: If you’re on the lookout for an unranked fighter who would possibly finish the 12 months in competition, Pyfer may very well be your man. The DWCS grad bounced again from a February foremost occasion loss with a knockout win at UFC 303, and will proceed to get high quality alternatives to work his manner up the rankings in a surprisingly compelling middleweight division in 2025.

Paddy Pimblett: Whether the struggle he hinted at on social media comes collectively for UFC London or not, “Paddy the Baddy” is all the time garnering consideration and making waves. He enters 2025 with a 6-0 mark within the UFC, coming off his finest efficiency up to now, and with the group headed again to The O2 Arena in March, he may get an early begin on a high-impact 12 months.