Crowning The Kings And Queens: UFC Champions On New Year’s Eve 2025

The UFC is one of the most unpredictable sports in the world. One moment, a fighter looks unbeatable, and the next, they’re dethroned by a new contender. As 2024 winds down, the UFC champions list looks more stable than in recent years, but there’s no guarantee it’ll stay that way. So, let’s try to predict who will be wearing the UFC champions belts at the end of 2025. Here’s a mix of bold guesses and logical forecasts.

New Champions to Watch in 2025

1. Heavyweight: Tom Aspinall

Tom Aspinall is already the interim champion and seems destined to face the legendary Jon Jones in 2025. Jones has only one loss in his career—a disqualification over 15 years ago—and is widely considered one of the best fighters of all time. But Aspinall isn’t your average contender. He’s big, fast, skilled, and confident. If anyone can take the belt from Jones, it’s him.

There’s a chance Jones might not even take the fight, especially if he’s eyeing retirement or a huge payday. In that case, Aspinall could either be promoted to undisputed champion or fight someone else for the vacant title. Either way, the odds of Aspinall ending 2025 as the heavyweight champion look good.

2. Middleweight: Khamzat Chimaev

Khamzat Chimaev has been tearing through opponents and is one of the most talked-about fighters in the UFC. The current champion, Dricus Du Plessis, has a rematch with Sean Strickland early next year, but Chimaev feels like a level above both of them. His grappling is suffocating, his striking is improving, and his confidence is sky-high.

He might have to wait until mid-2025 for his shot, but once he gets it, it’s hard to see anyone stopping him. By December, Chimaev could very well be the middleweight king.

3. Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov

Shavkat Rakhmonov was supposed to fight for the title in 2024, but that fell through when champion Belal Muhammad got injured. Rakhmonov didn’t waste time, though. He took a short-notice fight against Ian Machado Garry, another rising star, and won decisively.

Even though he didn’t get a finish for the first time in his career, Rakhmonov still looked dominant. He’s patient, methodical, and deadly in every area of the fight game. If he gets his long-awaited title shot in 2025, don’t bet against him becoming the welterweight champion.

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Source: Who will be the UFC champions on Dec. 31, 2025?

4. Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov

Umar Nurmagomedov is the latest fighter from the famous Nurmagomedov family to take the MMA world by storm. He’s undefeated and set to challenge the relentless Merab Dvalishvili in January 2025. Merab is a cardio machine and will be a tough test, but Umar’s grappling and striking are on another level.

If Umar wins the belt, he’ll have a tough road ahead defending it, but he’s got the skills to pull it off. By the end of the year, don’t be surprised if Umar is the bantamweight champ.

5. Women’s Bantamweight: Kayla Harrison

Kayla Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and has been dominating opponents since transitioning to MMA. The current champion, Julianna Peña, relies heavily on her wrestling, but that won’t work against someone as strong and technical as Harrison.

Harrison has proven she can make the bantamweight limit, and her physicality is unmatched. Her striking isn’t world-class, but she’s so good at closing the distance and taking the fight to the ground that it might not matter. If she gets her title shot in 2025, it’s hard to see anyone in the division stopping her.

Crowning the Kings and Queens: UFC Champions on New Year’s Eve 2025

Champions Who Could Hold On

1. Light Heavyweight: Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and quickly became the champion. His striking is among the best in the UFC, and his knockout power makes him dangerous in every fight. He might face a tough challenge from Magomed Ankalaev in 2025, but Pereira has shown he can rise to the occasion.

Even if he’s tested multiple times next year, Pereira has the skills and mindset to stay at the top.

2. Lightweight: Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev is the reigning lightweight champion and has looked nearly unbeatable. His grappling is suffocating, and his striking continues to improve. Unless someone truly special comes along, it’s hard to imagine anyone dethroning him in 2025.

There’s some talk about his teammate, Usman Nurmagomedov, eventually joining the UFC and challenging him, but that’s unlikely to happen in the next year. Makhachev’s reign seems safe for now.

3. Featherweight: Ilia Topuria

Ilia Topuria took the featherweight division by storm, defeating top fighters like Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. He’s well-rounded, confident, and dangerous everywhere the fight goes.

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While he’s expressed interest in moving up to lightweight, it seems unlikely he’ll make that move in 2025. At featherweight, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who can take the belt from him right now.

4. Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja

Alexandre Pantoja has been dominant at flyweight, showcasing incredible heart and skill in every fight. The division has talented fighters, but none of them have been able to solve the puzzle that is Pantoja.

Unless someone new bursts onto the scene, Pantoja should remain the champion through 2025.

5. Women’s Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko regained her flyweight title in 2024 and remains one of the most technically skilled fighters in the UFC. While she’s not as dominant as she was in her prime, she’s still a level above most of her competition.

At 36 years old, Shevchenko is nearing the end of her career, but she likely has at least one more great year left in her.

6. Strawweight: Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili has been on fire, blending powerful striking with improved grappling. Her toughest test in 2025 will come early, against undefeated Tatiana Suarez. If she can get past Suarez, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else in the division who can stop her.

Assuming she stays healthy and focused, Zhang should remain the strawweight champion through the year.

What’s Next for the UFC in 2025?

The UFC is known for its unpredictability, and 2025 will undoubtedly bring surprises. However, based on current trajectories, we’re likely to see a mix of new champions and dominant reigns. Fighters like Tom Aspinall, Khamzat Chimaev, and Kayla Harrison are poised to shake things up, while veterans like Islam Makhachev and Valentina Shevchenko seem ready to hold their ground.

As always, MMA fans should buckle up for a year full of action, drama, and unforgettable moments. Who will actually end up as champions by December 31, 2025? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: it’s going to be an incredible ride.