Booking Five Blockbuster Bouts for UFC’s 2025 Calendar Year
These five fights would all be appointment-viewing
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Five fights to book for 2025
I fell into a trap.
I thought Conor McGregor was going to return in 2024.
We came close. McGregor did plenty of media ahead of his scheduled fight date last June, but the real tell that it wasn’t happening occurred in May when the press conference in Ireland was called off. So we’re still waiting for the McGregor-Michael Chandler bout, I’m not making any prediction that he returns in 2025.
After going one-for-five in each of the last two years, I’m ready to hit better than .200. Here are five fights I would love to see–and I think you would, too–in 2025.
1.) Alexandre Pantoja vs. Demetrious Johnson
The caveat to this fight, of course, is that Alexandre Pantoja called out Demetrious Johnson last month. As soon as he heard the sound clip, Johnson announced he was fully content in retired life.
Since defeating Brandon Moreno for the belt, Pantoja has run through the top of the flyweight division in his three title defenses. Dana White even brought in heralded Rizen star Kai Asakura for his past bout, but the result remained lopsided. So what comes next?
And that’s why there is a shot that a fight against Johnson takes place. He wrapped up his tenure in ONE Championship in May of 2023, defeating a very tough Adriano Moraes by decision. Johnson enjoyed a legendary career, and there is every reason to believe him when he says he is all set financially. Yet the one piece he is missing is the right send-off from the UFC.
Johnson lost to Henry Cejudo by split decision at UFC 227 in 2018, which stands as his final UFC fight. It was the Fight of the Night, but one with a ridiculous result: there was no way Johnson should have lost after out-striking Cejudo, 121-80, including an 81-51 advantage in significant strikes.
It would be a thrill to see Johnson return to the UFC for one more fight–and end his career in spectacular fashion against Pantoja, the new king of the flyweights.
2.) Israel Adesanya vs. Shara Magomedov
This is the fight where both fighters need to take an enormous risk.
But a risk well worth the reward.
If Shara Magomedov defeats Israel Adesanya, he propels himself into a title shot. But if Adesanya is victorious, especially on the heels of a win against Nassourdine Imavov (which takes place on February 1), then Adesanya will be back in position to fight for the title.
Magomedov competes on that same February 1 card, taking on Michael Page. That is a fight he should win, extending his undefeated streak and hopefully putting him right into the bright lights of a main event against Adesanya.
3.) Patrício “Pitbull” Freire vs. Alexander Volkanovski
Bellator vs. UFC.
It’s time.
The reigning Bellator featherweight champion is now an unrestricted free agent.
Patrício “Pitbull” Freire, who has competed for Bellator since 2010, is bound to end up in the UFC. And there is no better opponent than Alexander Volkanovski.
Volkanovski is the long-time face of the featherweight division. He’s also lost his last two fights in the division, and could benefit from a reboot. A bout against Freire would be significant. UFC would promote this, rightfully, as Bellator’s biggest star coming to the Octagon, and a win would get Volkanovski back on track… or it would become the biggest win of Freire’s career.
There are multiple compelling bouts for Freire in the Octagon, yet none bigger than this one.
4.) Ilia Topuria vs. Islam Makhachev
A loss is coming.
Islam Makhachev is only two victories shy of matching Anderson Silva’s 16-fight win streak. Like Kamaru Usman before him, he can reach 15 with a win tomorrow night at UFC 311 when he fights Arman Tsarukyan.
But in order to reach 16, it would be phenomenal if he had to go through Ilia Topuria.
Topuria is the current featherweight champ, but he is looking to extend his reach by fighting outside the division. He would satisfy that desire against Makhachev, who looked considerably less dominant in his most recent bout against Dustin Poirier.
While there are fights for Topuria at featherweight, mainly Diego Lopes and the undefeated Movsar Evloev, this is the type of fight that can raise his fight stature to a whole new level.
5.) Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira
This is the perfect bout for the November card at Madison Square Garden.
If Dana White and his team can make Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall happen by June, and Alex Pereira continues his dominance in the light heavyweight division, then this can become the must-see matchup at MSG.
A title isn’t even necessary. It would be both fighters making their claim for the greatest ever.
Jones long dominated the top of the light heavyweight division, the throne where Pereira now sits. Both are two-division champions. Defeating Jones at heavyweight would be an all-time moment for Pereira, or another chance for Jones to buttress his argument of the greatest to ever step in the cage.
UFC 311 features loaded card and two title fights
In the search for the most compelling fights possible this year, we also have two right in front of us this weekend.
UFC 311 is headlined by the rematch of Islam Makhachev against Arman Tsarukyan, which has the makings of an outstanding bout. My eyes will also be glued to the co-main, where Merab Dvalishvili makes his first title defense of the bantamweight title against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov (18-0) looks to remain undefeated and get his first taste of UFC gold, but Dvalishvili represents an incredibly tough challenge. The winner of his last 11 bouts in the Octagon, Dvalishvili (18-4) will test Nurmagomedov on the mat in a way foreign to him, which is remarkable considering his skill as a grappler. It is also fascinating to see the champion enter the fight as an underdog, which Dvalishvili is here (which stirs my soul as a gambler).
The main card features nothing but entertaining bouts. There is also the light heavyweight clash pitting Jamahal Hill against Jiri Prochazka, as both men attempt to step back into the same realm as Alex Pereira. There is Renato Moicano seeking to extend his hot streak with a five straight win, while Beneil Dariush will be desperate to avoid the indignity of a third straight loss. And we see former ONE Championship stalwart Reinier de Ridder in his first UFC pay-per-view against Kevin Holland.
Again, this is a superb card. The headline bout, Makhachev-Tsarukyan, is a rematch from 2019. That went the distance at three rounds, and Tsarukyan proved he could last shot-for-shot with Makhachev. The rematch is his chance to capture gold, as well as for Makhachev to win his fifteenth straight fight.
Can they recreate the magic from the first fight? Will Tsarukyan be as aggressive as he was the last time, instantly pushing the action? Wondering whether Makhachev can maintain constant pressure should not be a question, as we’ve seen more than enough to know the answer.
This is the most compelling rematch in all of MMA, and it’s the perfect way to kick off the year.
****
UPDATE:
The card took a step backwards.
On Friday afternoon, Dana White announced that Arman Tsarukyan was unable to compete. He’ll be replaced by Renato Moicano, who jumps the line and slides into a title shot against lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. With Moicano now facing Makhachev, it means that Beneil Dariush is off the card.
While this is still a compelling card, losing Makhachev-Tsarukyan and Moicano-Dariush leaves it in a drastically different place. Especially after knowing the original slate of fights, it is impossible not to be disappointed after learning so close to the pay-per-view that Tsarukyan is out.
Now the odds increase that we’ll see Makhachev dominate, this time by rag dolling Moicano. It was a sight to behold when Makhachev announced he would willingly face a new challenger–of course he will, particularly someone that isn’t on his level. The odds, like always, once again break in his favor.
There is still a lot to like about 311, particularly the bantamweight title bout. Hopefully that moves into the main event slot, as Dvalishvili fights to extend his title reign and end Nurmagomedov’s undefeated streak.
The Pick ‘Em Section
UFC 311 lightweight title bout: Islam Makhachev (c) vs. Renato Moicano
Pick: Islam Makhachev
UFC 311 bantamweight title bout: Merab Dvalishvili (c) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
Pick: Merab Dvalishvili
UFC 311 light heavyweight bout: Jamahal Hill vs. Jiri Prochazka
Pick: Jiri Prochazka
UFC 311 middleweight bout: Kevin Holland vs. Reinier de Ridder
Pick: Reinier de Ridder
UFC 311 heavyweight bout: Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac
Pick: Serghei Spivac