2025 has arrived, and with it will come a new slate of fights for the MMA world.
For this new year, there are some massive fights that are expected, but there will sure be other great bouts that few saw coming. With UFC, PFL, Bellator, ONE Championship, and other promotions, there are plenty of possibilities out there. That’s why, over at MMA Junkie, we’ve decided to compile our top 25 fights we want to see for 2025.
For 2024, four of the 24 dream fights MMA Junkie wished for came to fruition – with two getting scheduled for early 2025. Let’s hope we top that number this new year. Remember, this list is a reflection of the current MMA landscape, and it’s realistic possibilities.
Below, we present MMA Junkie’s wish list of 25 fights we’d like to see in 2025.
25. Dakota Ditcheva vs. Liz Carmouche
Dakota Ditcheva became a must-watch in 2024. She reminds me very much of Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s violent rise in the UFC.
I believe she’s a top talent and one of the best ladies at 125 pounds. However, that needs to be backed up further, one successful PFL season won’t silence all the critics. I’d love to see a bout between Ditcheva and Bellator women’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche. It’s easily the biggest fight Ditcheva could get under the PFL banner.
24. Michael Page vs. Joel Alvarez
I’m well on the Joel Alvarez hype train. I think he’s the Spanish Carlos Prates, minus the excessive drinking and cigarette smoking. He MMA Junkie that he’s bound to move up to welterweight, so here’s an idea for his introduction: Michael Page. It would be a fun striking battle, plus a good name for Alvarez to debut at 170 pounds.
23. Marlon Vera vs. Payton Talbott
I might be rushing things here with Payton Talbott, but I actually think he’s ready for the top 15 of the bantamweight division. Marlon Vera might feel like a very rough introduction, but maybe Talbott fights someone right outside or in the top 15 in the first half of 2025, and then takes a crack at a bigger name in the second half of the year. I think Talbott vs. “Chito” would be a lot of fun in a bit of a generational clash.
22. Ian Machado Garry vs. Colby Covington
Ian Machado Garry and Colby Covington have talked way too much sh*t to not fight each other.
These two have been going back-and-forth for well over a year, and yet, despite both being highly ranked, they have yet to fight each other. 2025 seems like the last chance to make this happen. I don’t see Covington fighting high-level contenders past this year.
The build up to this fight would be insane, and the fight itself could be interesting should it play out on the ground.
21. Johnny Eblen vs. Derek Brunson
I really wish I had more Bellator and PFL matchups on this list, but the promotion really dropped the ball in 2024 and made it really hard to get hyped for the product in this new year. Let’s hope that changes soon.
Anyway, Johnny Eblen is a Bellator champion, and I’m assuming that title will get defended this year. There aren’t many options for the American Top Team standout, but Derek Brunson is actually a pretty good one. We often want to compare Eblen against UFC quality fighters, which is hard to do, but here we get just that.
20. Alexa Grasso vs. Jessica Andrade
Action-wise, I think Alexa Grasso vs. Jessica Andrade is one of the best fights you can make in women’s MMA today.
Volume and a refined boxing style clashing against knockout power and chaos. I think these two would create magic, and I think it also makes a ton of sense. They’re two former UFC champions looking to get back on track.
19. Dooho Choi vs. Jean Silva
Dooho Choi vs. Jean Silva. I don’t have to do much explaining here. Just book it.
18. Michael Chandler vs. Eddie Alvarez 3
If you’ve been following my work for quite some time, you know I’m a sucker for the legend’s division (aka the old-man league).
If you’ve been around long enough in the sport, you know how big and badass the rivalry was between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez in the early days of Bellator. I’d argue it’s the biggest and most important in the promotion’s history.
Anyway, badass matchup here with a score to be settled. I would love to see Dana White bring back “The Underground King” just as a one-fight deal. Or let Chandler fight at BKFC, I’d see the trilogy there, too.
17. Brandon Moreno vs. Manel Kape
This one is a tricky one given the way these two are positioned in the flyweight division. Brandon Moreno vs. Manel Kape might not make too much sense at the moment, but who cares? It’s likely the best fight you can make at 125 pounds, and I want to see it. That’s got five-round war written all over it.
16. Yair Rodriguez vs. Edson Barboza
Yair Rodriguez vs. Edson Barboza was on last year’s list, and it’s found its way back. I actually think this time around, it makes more sense than the year before.
Rodriguez hasn’t fought since losing to Brian Ortega last February. Prior to that, he came up short against Alexander Volkanovski in a UFC title unification bout. He’s still a player at featherweight but just needs a tune-up fight. Barbosa is just that at this point of his career, plus he’s still in the rankings.
A fight between two of the best kickers in the history of this sport? Sign me up.
15. Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler
See you at the top?
I honestly never considered Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler until my boss Simon Samano floated the idea to me on a recent episode of Overreaction. To be honest, at first it sounded ridiculous. I’m still getting accustomed to the idea that Pimblett is now a top-15 lightweight, at least according to the UFC. But as time has gone by, the idea has grown on me.
Pimblett wants a top guy with a big name, and Chandler wants to remain in high-profile bouts that entertain the masses. It makes sense. I have to admit, I like it now.
14. Jose Aldo vs. Dominick Cruz
Umm why the hell is Dominick Cruz fighting Rob Font? Seriously UFC?
Don’t get me wrong; I love Font, but fans have been clamoring for years for a Cruz matchup against Jose Aldo (Don’t believe me? Check the past Fight Wish Lists on MMA Junkie). Two legends of the game, two former UFC and WEC champions, and two fighters with little time left in the game. There’s a very small amount of fights left for these two, and the more you book them against other people, the less chances are of making this fight.
Let’s keep it real. The championship days are over for both Aldo and Cruz, but they still got some gas left in the tank. Aldo vs. Cruz makes too much sense, and maybe that’s why this fight has yet to happen.
13. Jorge Masvidal vs. Leon Edwards
The whole “three-piece and a soda” storyline was one of the juicier and drama-filled moments of recent years. It was a real and genuine spark to the rivalry between Jorge Masvidal and Leon Edwards.
Unfortunately, at the time, Masvidal was onto bigger and better things while Edwards remained relatively unknown. Then, on Edwards’ rise and Masvidal’s downfall, the two never crossed paths, and it looked like it remained a chapter for the streets and not the cage, given Masvidal’s MMA retirement.
Fast-forward to 2025, and all of a sudden that throwback moment can be easily brought back. Masvidal is still a big name and wants to return to the UFC, and Edwards’ schedule got freed up after losing his welterweight title. It’s one of the few big grudge matches you can make today. It’s now or never.
12. Joaquin Buckley vs. Kamaru Usman
Give the man what he wants.
Joaquin Buckley called out former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman after stopping his Usman’s arch nemesis Colby Covington and extending his welterweight run to 6-0. The guy is on fire at 170 pounds, and you’d be a fool not to consider him a serious threat to the title.
Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov is expected to be next, which is why it’s not on my wishlist, so have Buckley and Usman duke it out in a title eliminator bout on the same card the belt will be disputed.
11. Francis Ngannou vs. Denis Goltsov
Guys, we have to be realistic. I know this suggestion will likely not be everyone’s favorite, as many of you want to see Francis Ngannou against either Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones (or both), but that’s just not in the cards.
Ngannou seems to be tied up with PFL for a couple more fights, plus he wants to box again, so the odds of squeezing all that in to become a free agent and re-sign with UFC in 2025 are very low. Also, would Dana White even take him at this point? Also, there’s no chance UFC does a cross-promotion event with PFL.
So, with that in mind, Denis Goltsov has to be the best possible opponent for Ngannou. He just won the 2024 PFL heavyweight season, he’s on a four-fight winning streak and 9-1 in his past 10 bouts, and he’s 6’5 with 18 knockout wins.
10. Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 3
The Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz trilogy will forever keep making these lists until the day it happens or both fighters retire from the game. However, every year, it loses a bit of charm, and it keeps going lower and lower on the list.
The McGregor-Diaz rivalry is one of my favorite two-fight series in the sport. These two were made for each other in terms of fighting styles. Man, those fights were fun. At this point, the trilogy is getting close to its expiration mark. It’s no longer what it once meant, no longer fresh, but can still be enjoyable.
9. Carlos Prates vs. Jack Della Maddalena
This one might not make a ton of sense rankings wise right at the moment, but maybe it will towards the end of 2025.
Jack Della Maddalena is knocking on the door of a title shot, while Carlos Prates is a new face in the UFC welterweight rankings. If this fight doesn’t happen in 2025, I can guarantee you this booking will be on the “26 fights on our 2026 MMA wish list” next year. Della Maddalena vs. Prates is a striker’s delight. I’m all for it.
8. Dan Hooker vs. Max Holloway
I’ve been calling for a Max Holloway reinvention at lightweight ever since he lost a third time to Alexander Volkanovski. It took a few years, but finally, we’re here; the UFC lightweight division is “Blessed.”
Now, that leaves the question: Who should Holloway face now in his new weight class? The right answer is Dan Hooker.
The two are two of the most badass and exciting fighters in the promotion. Violence is their method of choice. Holloway needs a top contender, and Hooker is due a big name. Let’s run it.
7. Sean O’Malley vs. Cory Sandhagen
Say what you want about Sean O’Malley, but there’s no denying he’s legit and fun as sh*t to watch. I doubt he gets a crack at the belt without fighting a contender, so why not put him up against Cory Sandhagen?
These two are two of the most dynamic and cerebral strikers in not only the bantamweight division, but the entire sport. This fight can easily serve as the co-main event of a good pay-per-view or even be the main event of a big television card. Easily one of the more fun bouts that could be booked for 2025.
6. Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
I know this ain’t the sexiest matchup out there, and many of you are wondering why the hell is Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev on this list.
I get it. There’s a chance this fight could be a stinker. But as a fan of the sport, I like to see fighters be done right, and Ankalaev got totally screwed when he was skipped over three times in 2024, by opponents less deserving of a title opportunity than him.
This is the fight to make at light heavyweight. Plus, I’m actually very interested in seeing how Pereira would fare against Ankalaev. It’s a legitimate threat to his title, and a legitimate test of his MMA game. Give Ankalaev his shot.
5. Amanda Nunes vs. Kayla Harrison
Let’s keep it 100, women’s MMA kind of sucked in 2024. Yeah, there were some good fights and several ladies had standout runs, but there weren’t really any big, historical bouts. That’s why I’d like to suggest Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes.
Now, this is assuming Harrison wins the title from Julianna Peña, and Nunes is willing to come out of retirement for one more fight – two developments that don’t seem unlikely.
Harrison, former PFL champion and likely future UFC champion, against Nunes, the greatest female MMA fighter in the history of the sport, now that’s big and pay-per-view main event worthy. Also, the story is there, former teammates and a fight years in the making. Women’s MMA needs this kind of buzz right now.
4. Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Here’s the deal with this one. I just want to see Khamzat Chimaev finally get his shot at UFC gold. I don’t have to see him against a specific name, but I do have my preference.
Dricus Du Plessis is the current titleholder at middleweight, and I like him to beat Sean Strickland at UFC 312 next month. However, there are no guarantees in this sport, and Strickland did give Du Plessis a tough and close outing the first time they fought.
If it’s against Strickland, so be it, but I much rather see Chimaev challenge for a UFC title against Du Plessis. The two are powerhouses at 185 pounds, and it would be quite the scene to see which power gives in first. Also, Du Plessis grows stronger as the fight goes on, Chimaev seems to do the opposite. It’s a very compelling matchup, and I really hope it happens.
3. Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje 3
The perfect partner for Dustin Poirier’s last dance.
It’s no secret that Poirier is on his way out of the sport. The former interim UFC champion has been very vocal about hanging up the gloves in 2025, and he wants one big fight to close out his legendary career. Justin Gaethe is the right man for that task.
The two are tied at 1-1, and they own finishes over each other. They also seem to be in similar career points. Both fights have lived up to the hype, and I’m sure the third wouldn’t disappoint. This fight makes too much sense, and they have a score to settle.
2. Ilia Topuria vs. Diego Lopes
Ilia Topuria vs. Diego Lopes is the definition of a world-class banger.
The two are not only at the highest level of the UFC featherweight division, but they’re also at the top of the list of fun fighters to watch. Topuria shocked the world in 2024 with his knockouts over legends Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, while Lopes has captivated the MMA fan base with his always-attacking approach and his willingness to fight anybody, anytime.
On top of this being a fantastic matchup, I also find this to be the right move for the featherweight title picture.
Topuria should absolutely put his lightweight plans on hold and defend his 145-pound belt. I think the Volkanovski rematch has lost steam and would like to see him against a top contender like Movsar Evloev before putting him in another title fight. On the other hand, Lopes sits at No. 3 in the rankings, is on a five-fight winning streak, and has done many solids for the UFC. This man deserves his shot at the champ.
1. Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
This has to be the crown jewel of 2025. I know this list is very subjective, but I don’t know how any MMA fan or pundit can debate otherwise.
Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is easily the best fight the UFC could put on this year. Not only would it be the biggest fight for 2025, but like Dana White said, this could be one of the biggest fights in the promotion’s history and certainly the biggest in UFC heavyweight history.
Jones is a living legend. He’s the GOAT of MMA, and just happens to be in the tail end of his prime while also holding the UFC heavyweight belt. To compliment that, there’s Tom Aspinall, who’s arguably the greatest and most legitimate interim champion the UFC has ever seen. This is as good as a title unification gets in MMA.
So please, Dana, pay Jones his money, and please, MMA gods, keep these two healthy and on the same timeline. Jones vs. Aspinall is a must for 2025.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: 25 fights on our 2025 MMA wish list: Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes, more
