Sidekick Ranks: Top 5 UFC Fights to Make In 2025
UFC is set to kick off 2025 with a lot of anticipation. While there are a number of exciting fights that have been booked already, there are still some potential fights that people are dying to see.
That said, let’s take a look at the 5 potential fights that need to happen in 2025. It is worth noting that the list in no particular order,
Best 5 fights to make in 2025 in UFC
#5 Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall
Jon Jones is considered to be the greatest fighter in MMA history. He is now the heavyweight champion. Tom Aspinall, a 250-pound giant who moves like a middleweight and boasts both proven knockout power and submissions, is now the division’s interim champion.
Truth be told, this should have happened already, but we had to wait for Jones to fight Stipe Miocic for some reason. Now that’s mercifully behind us, there’s no other fight to make for either guy.
Jon Jones may be the greatest fighter of all time, but Tom Aspinall has the physical tools and skill to beat any fighter on the planet right now, no matter how unbeatable they may seem.
#4 Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
The Russian light heavyweight is unbeaten in his last 13 walks to the Octagon, defeating the likes of Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, Anthony Smith, Johnny Walker and, most recently, Aleksandar Rakic.
His fights aren’t always pretty—and UFC brass seems to have soured on him as a result—but he’s delivered some impressive finishes and deserves a crack at champion Alex Pereira based on his win-streak alone.
Hopefully, the matchmakers put aside their apparent frustration with Ankalaev and make the fight. It’s not only the obvious choice from a rankings perspective, but it may also be the toughest stylistic challenge of Pereira’s MMA career to date. The 32-year-old has better grappling than any of the former kickboxer’s previous opponents.
#3 Kayla Harrison vs Julianna Pena
Former PFL lightweight champion Kayla Harrison deserved a crack at the UFC bantamweight title from the moment she choked out former champ Holly Holm in her Octagon debut at UFC 300. For some reason, Julianna Pena got the opportunity first, despite being far less deserving and no bigger of a star than Harrison.
Pena ultimately made good on her opportunity, becoming a two-time titleholder with a dubious decision victory RaquelPennington at UFC 307. Now that she’s back on the throne, it’s time to give Harrison the opportunity she has deserved since she beat Holm, and one she deserves even more after her decision victory over Ketlen Vieira on the same night.
#2 Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev
February’s UFC 312 will see the promotion’s next middleweight title bout, as champ Dricus du Plessis is set to defend against former titleholder Sean Strickland. While the first clash between ‘Stillknocks’ and ‘Tarzan’ definitely could’ve gone either way, there’s a bittersweet feeling around this rematch.
That’s because, realistically, few fans want to see Strickland challenge for the gold again. Sure, he’s coming off a win over Paulo Costa, but everyone knows that the real top contender at 185 pounds now is Khamzat Chimaev.
#1 Ilia Topuria vs Islam Makhachev
In a lot of ways, the idea of champion vs. champion fights in the UFC has become tired at this stage. However, it’s fair to say that a fight between reigning featherweight champ Ilia Topuria and his lightweight counterpart Islam Makhachev would be one of the most intriguing bouts the promotion could put together right now.
Makhachev will have his hands full with Arman Tsarukyan in January, and has multiple viable contenders, namely former titleholder Charles Oliveira, waiting in the wings among others. Topuria, meanwhile, hasn’t held his title for a year yet, even if he does hold big wins over Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway.
Despite that, it’s hard not to get excited over the idea of this one. Not only did ‘El Matador’ used to compete at 155 pounds, but he’s already mooted the idea of abandoning his featherweight title to move back there.
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