Predictions: Who will UFC champions by the end of 2025?
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In 2024, we witnessed the crowning of some new UFC champions. We saw Dricus Du Plessis win the middleweight title, Ilia Topuria win the featherweight title, and Merab Dvalishvili capture the bantamweight title.
Let’s predict who will be the champions of each division at the end of 2025:
Flyweight Champion
Current Champion: Alexandre Pantoja
Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja
The flyweight division is in a weird spot right with the current champion. Alexandre Pantoja has lapped off the division after defeating former champion, Brandon Moreno twice and #1-ranked contender, Brandon Royval twice. The only person that can give Pantoja a run for his money would likely be #4-ranked, Kai Kara-France. However, Pantoja will use his fight IQ and championship experience to be victorious if that fight ever materializes.
Bantamweight Champion
Current Champion: Merab Dvalishvili
Prediction: Umar Nurmagomedov
The UFC bantamweight division is at its strongest. It has guys like Sean O’Malley, Petr Yan, Cory Sandhagen, and Deiveson Figueiredo all in the title picture. Despite the result at UFC 311, you can’t bet against a Nurmagomedov. Umar will get another crack at the belt in 2025, and will dominate as champion in 2025.
Featherweight Champion
Current Champion: Ilia Topuria
Prediction: Ilia Topuria
The underrated division in the UFC will go through Spain in the year 2025. Ilia Topuria will be the champion. Featherweight has some incredible fighters including former champion and one of the greatest champions of all time, Alexander Volkanski. Additionally, the division has some excellent up-and-coming fighters in Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev. However, after the performance Topuria showed at UFC 308 against Max Holloway… I don’t see anyone taking the featherweight crown from him unless he moves up to lightweight and vacates the title.
Lightweight Champion
Current Champion: Islam Makhachev
Prediction: Islam Makhachev
This was the easiest prediction of them all. Islam Makhachev will continue to successfully defend his belt in 2025. His skills are at the highest levels in the UFC. Islam’s ability to showcase his crisp boxing and his mauling wrestling, like his mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov, is why the lightweight division will run through Dagestan.
Welterweight Champion
Current Champion: Belal Muhammad
Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov
The welterweight division will have a shakeup at the end of 2025. Shavkat Rakhmonov will dominate Belal Muhammad when they eventually fight for the welterweight title. While people are judging Rakhmonov’s last performance against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 310, people will remember why he is often avoided.
Middleweight Champion
Current Champion: Dricus Du Plessis
Prediction: Khamzat Chimaev
The middleweight division has been very intriguing lately. Former champions, Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya, did not have the best 2024. Looking ahead, the division will likely be owned by “Borz”. Khamzat Chimaev’s last performance against Robert Whittaker displayed why he is a nightmare at 185 pounds. Whoever wins at UFC 312 between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland will go on to lose it to Chimaev.
Light Heavyweight Champion
Current Champion: Alex Pereira
Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev
The light heavyweight division was one of the most active divisions in 2024. Former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka were unable to take the light heavyweight throne from Alex Pereira. However, at the end of 2025, the champion will be Magomed Ankalaev. His wrestling will be too much for anyone to handle. He also has underrated striking that will propel him to finally become champion.
Heavyweight Champion
Current Champion(s): Jon Jones & Tom Aspinall (IC)
Prediction: Tom Aspinall
One of the most important predictions of them all in 2025, lies with the heavyweight title. Unfortunately, that Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall fight may not materialize due to money. But, Aspinall will become the undisputed champion when Jones retires and vacates the title. I believe that once Aspinall claims the undisputed heavyweight title, the division will become much more active than it was in 2024.
Women’s Strawweight Champion
Current Champion: Zhang Weili
Prediction: Zhang Weili
The women’s strawweight division was dominated by Zhang Weili in 2024. I believe she will have her toughest test to date at UFC 312 against Tatiana Suarez. But, Weili will use her vast amount of high-level champion experience to defend her crown. Watch out for Mackenzie Dern in 2025… She could also be in the title picture very soon.
Women’s Flyweight Champion
Current Champion: Valentina Shevchenko
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko
This was the hardest one of them all. Shevchenko reclaimed her crown at Noche UFC against former champion, Alexa Grasso. However, she will be fighting Manon Fiorot in her first defense. Fiorot has looked unbeatable since arriving in the UFC. But, Shevchenko will use her high-level fight IQ to secure the win. Valentina will likely defend the title one more time in 2025, against either Maycee Barber or Erin Blanchfield.
Women’s Bantamweight Champion
Current Champion: Julianna Peña
Prediction: Kayla Harrison
The women’s bantamweight championship was vacant for a while after Amanda Nunes retired in 2023. At UFC 297, Raquel Pennington defeated Mayra Bueno Silva to claim the title. However, former champion Julianna Peña would then defeat Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 by split decision. The crown will end up belonging to the two-time gold medalist in judo, Kayla Harrison. Her skill set will be something that fighters at 135 will have to deal with for a while.
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