Many MMA fighters had an incredible yr in 2024. We noticed some declare their first title in a serious promotion. And there have been those that reclaimed titles they beforehand held. But no MMA fighter had a greater 12-month stretch than UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Pereira reeled off three profitable title defenses, together with wins over two fighters who beforehand held the title, Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka. But even with such an incredible efficiency in 2024, Pereira is not projected to have the perfect yr in 2025. So, who’s the fighter who ended Islam Makhachev‘s two-year run atop our MMA rank listing?
Which fighters are poised to have the perfect 2025? We assembled our panel of MMA specialists to find out who will thrive probably the most. This is not a rating of the perfect fighters on the planet. Instead, it is a projection of who will succeed over the subsequent 12 months based mostly on present efficiency, upcoming fights and different out-of-the-cage variables. Did your favourite fighter make the lower?
Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff Wagenheim and Dre Waters assess what is perhaps in retailer in 2025 for 50 of the game’s high fighters.
1. Tom Aspinall
Previous rank: No. 8
UFC interim heavyweight champion
MMA file: 15-3
The interim heavyweight champion entered 2024 with seven UFC wins through end, and no opponent had lasted longer than seven minutes within the Octagon with him. Aspinall added one other knockout win final yr, avenging his solely UFC loss by flattening Curtis Blaydes in 60 seconds. His distinctive mixture of method, pace, dimension and energy has many followers contemplating the Brit as the way forward for the heavyweight division. And if he hits his goal in 2025, there will probably be no “future” however slightly a wonderful current: Aspinall can have develop into one of the dominant forces the division has ever seen. A seemingly apparent collision course with Jon Jones is on the docket. Should the struggle with Jones come to fruition, Aspinall might develop into the primary man to actually defeat “Bones” in a struggle. And if he accomplishes that feat — which many imagine he can do — there’s not a lot any fighter can do to take the highest spot from him. — Hale
1:15
Tom Aspinall delivers message to Jon Jones after title protection
Tom Aspinall tells Jon Jones he is higher than him after his fast win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
2. Alex Pereira 
Previous rank: No. 2
UFC gentle heavyweight champion
MMA file: 12-2
The solely purpose Pereira is not No. 1 is that Aspinall is anticipated to struggle Jon Jones subsequent, which is the most important struggle within the sport. Pereira has established himself as one of the entertaining and lively fighters on the earth. And as he flirts with the thought of shifting as much as heavyweight, he’ll be firmly within the dialog about probably the most influential fighters within the sport. — Okamoto
3. Ilia Topuria 
Previous rank: No. 10
UFC featherweight champion
MMA file: 16-0
Topuria marched by way of 2024 by defeating two of the best featherweights in UFC historical past with knockout wins over former champions Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway. What can he do for an encore? He might defend the 145-pound title towards one of many worthy contenders. Or he might transfer to light-weight and try and develop into a two-division champion. Whatever he decides, the heavy-handed Georgian can have the highlight on him and the potential to have a 2025 that’s simply pretty much as good as, if not higher than, his 2024. — Hale
4. Khamzat Chimaev
Previous rank: No. 20
UFC middleweight
MMA file: 14-0
For the primary time in current reminiscence, there’s optimism round Chimaev’s capability to lastly attain his potential. He appeared to do numerous rising up in 2024. If he can stay wholesome and never disappear from the game for lengthy durations, nobody has as a lot potential. If he fights two or 3 times in 2025, he might go into 2026 as the most important star in MMA. — Okamoto
5. Islam Makhachev
Previous rank: No. 1
UFC light-weight champion
MMA file: 26-1
Makhachev’s reigning dominance and slightly inactivity are the one issues stopping him from competing for the highest spot on this listing. But after turning again Dustin Poirier in 2024, ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter is primed for a powerful 2025 that may doubtless see him struggle twice this calendar yr. He kicks issues off with a extremely anticipated rematch with Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 311 this weekend, and if he wins, his choices are plentiful. He might defend his title and stake his declare as the best light-weight in UFC historical past or pursue one other championship within the welterweight division. — Hale
1:20
Islam Makhachev faucets Dustin Poirier to retain light-weight championship
Islam Makhachev and Dustin Poirier face off in a relentless battle for the light-weight championship, earlier than Poirier faucets within the fifth spherical.
6. Zhang Weili
Previous rank: No. 5
UFC strawweight champion
MMA file: 25-3
Last yr was ho-hum for the UFC’s strawweight champion, as she recorded only one title protection by resolution towards Yan Xiaonan. This yr might be much more fascinating. The title protection towards Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in February is one the game has been ready on for a very long time, and if the suitable dominoes fall, this is perhaps the yr we see Zhang attempt to develop into a two-weight champion at flyweight. — Okamoto
7. Kayla Harrison
Previous rank: No. 50
UFC girls’s bantamweight
MMA file: 18-1
Harrison began 2024 as the most recent member of the UFC roster and punched her ticket to a title alternative with wins over Holly Holm and Ketlen Vieira. She’ll inevitably get a shot on the girls’s bantamweight championship this yr towards Julianna Peña, and you will be hard-pressed to seek out anyone who believes Harrison will not exit the cage with gold round her waist. Should she win, would that be sufficient to steer Amanda Nunes to come back out of retirement and face her in probably the most important girls’s struggle in UFC historical past? It might occur and place Harrison squarely within the debate for finest girls’s fighter in MMA historical past. The potential is there; all Harrison wants is the chance. — Hale
8. Shavkat Rakhmonov
Previous rank: No. 11
UFC welterweight
MMA file: 19-0
Rakhmonov is on tempo by way of once we thought he’d arrive at a title struggle. He goes into this yr on the brief listing of fighters who might get pleasure from a severe breakthrough as a result of his subsequent struggle will probably be for a title. He’s a confirmed finisher and holds the help of a whole nation in Kazakhstan. If he continues to complete fights and command the passion of that area, his inventory will proceed to develop. — Okamoto
9. Alexandre Pantoja
Previous rank: No. 6
UFC males’s flyweight champion
MMA file: 29-5
Any questions on Pantoja’s place among the many flyweight greats have been quelled with a powerful displaying in 2024, when he knocked off Steve Erceg and Kai Asakura in protection of his UFC flyweight championship. He will try to enhance on that standing in 2025. Although the probability of pulling Demetrious Johnson out of retirement is distant, Pantoja can tighten his grip because the flyweight king by delivering two title defenses this yr as properly. The solely actual situation stopping him from being increased on this listing is that he has already knocked off many of the division. He is simply now reaching his closing kind and will probably be a tall job for any fighter trying to problem him. — Hale
10. Umar Nurmagomedov
Previous rank: No. 31
UFC males’s bantamweight
MMA file: 18-0
Nurmagomedov has at all times had the expertise, and he has at all times had the identify. What he wanted have been alternatives. He’s getting them now, as he is beginning 2025 with a title struggle towards Merab Dvalishvili on Saturday. Just like his cousin Khabib and his teammate Islam Makhachev, he has No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter on the earth potential. — Okamoto
1:30
Umar Nurmagomedov stays undefeated with victory over Cory Sandhagen
Umar Nurmagomedov takes residence a unanimous resolution victory to stay undefeated in his MMA profession.
11. Charles Oliveira
Previous rank: No. 21
UFC light-weight
MMA file: 35-10
There’s not one other lively fighter on the planet who makes a sold-out area pop fairly like Oliveira. And it does not matter the place — the world loves itself some Charles Oliveira. Potential massive fights await in a light-weight title struggle, a BMF struggle towards Max Holloway and possibly a struggle with featherweight champ Ilia Topuria. If Oliveira wins in 2025, he’ll be a good greater star than he’s now, which is saying one thing. — Okamoto
0:52
Oliveira, Chandler placed on electrical co-main occasion at UFC 309
Charles Oliveira dominates the thrilling struggle between himself and Michael Chandler within the co-main occasion of UFC 309.
12. Diego Lopes
Previous rank: NR
UFC featherweight
MMA file: 26-6
It will probably be powerful to high 2024 for Lopes. The featherweight contender gained three fights final yr, together with beating former title challenger Brian Ortega. Now Lopes has his eyes set on the title, a possibility he’ll doubtless get earlier than the yr ends. But he might need to take one other struggle earlier than getting a title shot, maybe towards former title challenger Yair Rodriguez or rising contender Movsar Evloev. — Waters
13. Valentina Shevchenko
Previous rank: No. 24
UFC girls’s flyweight champion
MMA file: 24-4-1
It’s not but identified if Shevchenko is really slowing down or if Alexa Grasso was her kryptonite, however “Bullet” snatched the flyweight title again with a powerful displaying in 2024. Although she’s closing in on age 37, Shevchenko stays remarkably well-rounded and will spherical again into the dominant kind that noticed her peel off seven consecutive title defenses. New challenges await in 2025 as Manon Fiorot, Erin Blanchfield and Maycee Barber are ready for his or her quantity to be known as. — Hale
14. Merab Dvalishvili
Previous rank: No. 17
UFC males’s bantamweight champion MMA file: 18-4
A yr in the past, Dvalishvili was a contender who appeared destined for the highest. Today, he’s on the peak of the game as a champion. But that elevated standing will probably be threatened Saturday when he defends the UFC bantamweight title towards Umar Nurmagomedov, so Dvalishvili’s path forward is unclear. — Wagenheim
15. Dakota Ditcheva
Previous rank: NR
PFL 2024 girls’s flyweight champion
MMA file: 14-0
You cannot say Ditcheva got here out of nowhere, as she’d already began to garner consideration in PFL Europe in 2023 — however the best way she dominated top-level competitors in 2024 was surprising. She’s the true deal after which some. Ditcheva made arduous challenges look simple final yr. PFL will probably be below strain to present her significant alternatives. If they arrive by way of, her stardom ought to rise. — Okamoto
16. Tatiana Suarez
Previous rank: No. 28
UFC strawweight
MMA file: 11-0
Suarez would take an enormous step towards having her finest yr if she will declare the title from Zhang Weili at UFC 312 on Feb. 8. In an ideal world for Suarez, that may be solely the beginning of the yr’s accomplishments, although. If she will pair that potential win with shaking off the damage bug that has held her again in recent times and defend the belt at the least as soon as, that will probably be an incredible 2025. — Waters
17. Max Holloway
Previous rank: No. 19
UFC light-weight
MMA file: 26-8
Holloway’s featherweight run ended on a bitter observe by the hands of Ilia Topuria, however campaigning at light-weight is perhaps simply what the physician ordered for “Blessed.” He already owns the 2024 knockout of the yr within the weight class towards Justin Gaethje, and he might transfer up the 155-pound ladder towards a title shot in a brand new weight class earlier than he calls it a profession. It’s arduous to imagine that he simply turned 33 years previous and will have one other run in him. One factor we’ve realized is rarely depend out Holloway. — Hale
18. Jack Della Maddalena
Previous rank: NR
UFC welterweight
MMA file: 17-2
After not showing in MMA Rank a yr in the past, Della Maddalena fought solely as soon as in 2024 however made it depend, knocking out onetime UFC title challenger Gilbert Burns for his seventeenth straight win. Della Maddalena goes into the yr within the high 5 of ESPN’s welterweight rankings. — Wagenheim
19. Dricus Du Plessis
Previous rank: No. 23
UFC middleweight champion
MMA file: 22-2
According to our listing, Du Plessis enters 2025 with almost the identical outlook as 2024 — and we would come to remorse not giving him a better rank. He’s favored to beat Sean Strickland in a rematch in February. If he wins that bout, he’ll doubtless face Khamzat Chimaev in a large struggle. And the UFC continues to discover the potential for having him struggle in South Africa. This might be a giant yr for Du Plessis. — Okamoto
20. Jon Jones
Previous rank: No. 14
UFC light-weight champion
MMA file: 28-1
The path for Jones to have the perfect yr of any MMA fighter is already laid out for him — beat Tom Aspinall. That is the most important struggle the UFC might make this yr, and it has been speculated that it will likely be the final struggle of Jones’s storied profession. If Jones wins, it is going to cement him as the perfect heavyweight within the sport on his method out the door. — Waters
1:58
Jon Jones dominates Stipe Miocic earlier than TKO win
Jon Jones dominates a one-sided struggle vs. former two-time champ Stipe Miocic in the principle occasion of UFC 309.
21. Caio Borralho
Previous rank: NR
UFC middleweight
MMA file: 17-1
The Fighting Nerds chief has immense potential, and his wins over Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier have put the middleweight division on discover. His extraordinary struggle IQ and athleticism have his arrow pointing straight up in 2025. He’s virtually sure to land a struggle with a former champion earlier than the yr ends and, if issues shake out in his favor, Borralho might discover himself difficult for a UFC championship by the tip of the yr. — Hale
22. Arman Tsarukyan
Previous rank: No. 25
UFC light-weight
MMA file: 22-3
This rating might really feel too low by the tip of Saturday evening, as Tsarukyan challenges Islam Makhachev for the light-weight title at UFC 311. If Tsarukyan wins, it will likely be a giant yr for him it doesn’t matter what’s forward, as a result of the 155-pound division is stacked with fascinating fights. — Wagenheim
23. Dustin Poirier
Previous rank: No. 38
UFC light-weight
MMA file: 30-9
This yr is assured to be significant for Poirier, as he is positioned to make the ultimate stroll of his profession. His final struggle might be in his residence state of Louisiana, which might solely make it really feel greater. — Okamoto
24. Manon Fiorot
Previous rank: NR
UFC girls’s flyweight
MMA file: 12-1
This might be the yr Fiorot’s seven-fight undefeated streak contained in the Octagon results in a title shot. The flyweight contender has crushed everybody the UFC has positioned in entrance of her, together with former title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva, former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas and most not too long ago high prospect Erin Blanchfield. Fiorot ought to struggle for the title this yr. If she beats girls’s flyweight GOAT Valentina Shevchenko to say the title, that alone might be sufficient to be among the best years in all the sport. — Waters
25. Sean O’Malley
Previous rank: No. 12
UFC middleweight
MMA file: 18-2
O’Malley’s ascension was halted by Merab Dvalishvili in 2024, however that does not imply his newest setback will not flip into a serious comeback. Due to his star energy, O’Malley will doubtless discover himself proper again in title rivalry when he returns to motion midyear. His distinctive putting will make him a viable risk to regain the bantamweight title, no matter who stands reverse him. — Hale
26. Belal Muhammad
Previous rank: No. 15
UFC welterweight champion
MMA file: 24-3
Why did Muhammad fall 11 spots regardless that he grew to become UFC champion within the time for the reason that final MMA Rank? Clearly, our voters don’t favor him to carry on to the belt with the undefeated and dominant Shavkat Rakhmonov able to shoot his shot. — Wagenheim
27. Joaquin Buckley
Previous rank: NR
UFC welterweight
MMA file: 21-6
Buckley debuts on this listing after a 4-0 marketing campaign in 2024. It appears unlikely he’ll repeat that degree of exercise, however the fights are additionally far more significant. And he might even see title rivalry in 2025. — Okamoto
28. Sean Strickland
Previous rank: No. 18
UFC middleweight
MMA file: 29-6
For the second consecutive yr, Strickland kicks off his new yr headlining a UFC pay-per-view. That positions him to have an incredible yr. If he beats Dricus Du Plessis to reclaim the UFC middleweight title on Feb. 8 at UFC 312, his subsequent problem will doubtless be holding the title from Khamzat Chimaev. If — and that is a giant if — Strickland can win each of these fights, that may be powerful for anybody to high. — Waters
29. Tatsuro Taira
Previous rank: NR
UFC males’s flyweight
MMA file: 16-1
Taira’s speedy ascent up the flyweight ladder was stunted with a loss to Brandon Royval in an exciting showdown in October. At 24 years previous, Taira has loads of time to recalibrate and use that loss as a studying alternative as he expenses towards title rivalry in 2025. The abilities are there and his battle with Royval proved that he has what it takes to place all of it collectively and have a powerful 2025. — Hale
30. Ian Machado Garry
Previous rank: NR
UFC welterweight
MMA file: 15-1
A yr in the past, Machado Garry was undefeated, however he had loads of doubters as he hovered in the course of the 170-pound high 10. Now he has a loss on his file — however he confirmed, even in defeat to Shavkat Rakhmonov, that he can cling with the perfect. Overall, a web achieve. — Wagenheim
1:14
Ian Machado Garry completes outstanding comeback to win through TKO
Ian Garry stays undefeated with a TKO victory over Kenan Song.
31. Leon Edwards
Previous rank: No. 3
UFC welterweight
MMA file: 22-4
Edwards type of fell off the map in 2024, as a consequence of shedding his title and primarily disappearing from the general public eye. He’s a quiet, non-public particular person, however the odds are he can nonetheless struggle. A comeback should not shock anybody. — Okamoto
32. Usman Nurmagomedov
Previous rank: No. 26
Bellator light-weight champion
MMA file: 18-0
Nurmagomedov’s decrease placement on this listing is extra concerning the lack of alternatives accessible to him than his abilities contained in the cage. Nurmagomedov can have a giant struggle towards Paul Hughes at PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series on Jan. 25, however past that, his choices are unclear. — Waters
33. Alexander Volkanovski
Previous rank: No. 9
UFC featherweight
MMA file: 26-4
Two consecutive knockout losses have despatched Volkanovski tumbling down the ladder. His lone 2024 struggle noticed him drop the featherweight title to Ilia Topuria, and plenty of followers have questioned his future. He’ll have a while to consider his subsequent transfer and can goal to get his mojo again in 2025. — Hale
34. Israel Adesanya
Previous rank: No. 13
UFC middleweight
MMA file: 24-4
Adesanya’s solely struggle of 2024 — towards Dricus Du Plessis — was a failed try and regain the title he had misplaced in 2023. That’s two losses in a row for the two-time former champion. On Feb. 1, Adesanya will face Nassourdine Imavov in his first nontitle bout in six years. — Wagenheim
35. Brandon Moreno
Previous rank: No. 37
UFC males’s flyweight
MMA file: 22-8-2
Moreno is an extended shot to outperform this rating of No. 35. He seemed unimaginable in his final bout. He’s 0-3 towards champion Alexandre Pantoja, but when he one way or the other beats Pantoja in 2025, it might be an enormous yr. — Okamoto
36. Cory Sandhagen
Previous rank: No. 29
UFC males’s bantamweight
MMA file: 17-5
Sandhagen was only one struggle from incomes a title shot final yr. Though that struggle towards Umar Nurmagomedov did not go his method, along with his ability and the contemporary matchups accessible for him, there ought to nonetheless be loads of optimism for the bantamweight contender. — Waters
37. Yan Xiaonan
Previous rank: No. 41
UFC strawweight
MMA file: 19-4
Yan was overmatched when she challenged Zhang Weili for the strawweight title, however she put collectively a gutsy efficiency that proved she belonged within the higher crust of the division. That momentum carried her to a win over Tabatha Ricci to shut the yr, and he or she’ll look to work again into title rivalry in 2025. — Hale
38. Magomed Ankalaev
Previous rank: NR
UFC gentle heavyweight
MMA file: 20-1-1
Ankalaev gained twice in 2024 to increase his unbeaten run to 13 in a row, a streak extending to 2018. If his subsequent step is a shot at champion Alex Pereira, No. 2 within the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings, it will likely be a high-profile alternative. — Wagenheim
39. Renato Moicano
Previous rank: NR
UFC light-weight
MMA file: 20-5-1
“Money” Moicano has already gained over the hearts of UFC followers. Now he must maintain stacking wins within the Octagon for one good stretch in 2025 and his inventory will soar. — Okamoto
40. Petr Yan
Previous rank: NR
UFC males’s bantamweight
MMA file: 18-5
Yan ended a three-fight shedding streak final yr with two stable unanimous resolution wins over Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo. Now the previous bantamweight champion is firmly again within the hunt for the title, with loads of fascinating choices for opponents. A rematch towards Sean O’Malley might be a good way to earn a shot on the champ. — Waters
0:59
Petr Yan outduels Deiveson Figueiredo in terrific bout
Petr Yan wins by unanimous resolution towards Deiveson Figueiredo in an entertaining bout at UFC Fight Night.
41. Erin Blanchfield
Previous rank: No. 7
UFC girls’s flyweight
MMA file: 13-2
The 25-year-old hit a speedbump on her speedy ascent up the flyweight ladder towards Manon Fiorot, however she confirmed new wrinkles in her sport towards Rose Namajunas, rallying to upend the previous strawweight champion to shut 2024. Don’t be shocked if Blanchfield reveals enchancment and challenges for a title by the tip of 2025. — Hale
42. Jiří Procházka
Previous rank: No. 22
UFC gentle heavyweight
MMA file: 30-5-1
Procházka’s solely two losses since 2015 got here towards the present champion, Alex Pereira, however these defeats got here in two of his three most up-to-date bouts. Procházka, a former champ, has a possibility to show issues round on Saturday when he faces one other ex-champ, Jamahal Hill. — Wagenheim
43. Francis Ngannou
Previous rank: No. 27
PFL Super Fights heavyweight champion
MMA file: 18-3
Ngannou’s outlook is decrease in 2025 than 2024 solely as a result of he is now one yr older and there aren’t any apparent opponents for him. He’ll at all times be one of the outstanding tales within the sport, he simply merely is not combating continuously sufficient to make the identical affect as another names. — Okamoto
44. Kai Kara-France
Previous rank: NR
UFC males’s flyweight
MMA file: 25-11
Kara-France could also be low on this listing, however he’s in an incredible place to outperform his No. 44 rating. The former flyweight title challenger is coming off a formidable first-round knockout win over fellow title challenger Steve Erceg. Considering Kara-France is the one UFC fighter within the high 5 of ESPN’s flyweight rankings who has not but fought Alexandre Pantoja, he might be within the entrance of the road for a shot on the champion. Dethroning among the best flyweights in UFC historical past could be one of many high moments of 2025. — Waters
45. Movsar Evloev
Previous rank: NR
UFC featherweight
MMA file: 19-0
It could not at all times be electrifying, however Evloev’s distinctive grappling is why he stays undefeated. Turning again each Arnold Allen and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling has set the Russian on a course for a title alternative in 2025, and his high-level wrestling will probably be a large hurdle for whoever holds gold. — Hale
46. Arnold Allen
Previous rank: NR
UFC featherweight
MMA file: 20-3
Allen started 2024 along with his second loss in a row, however he received again on monitor with a July victory over Giga Chikadze. Can he construct upon that after he will get booked for his first struggle of this yr? — Wagenheim
47. Yair Rodriguez
Previous rank: No. 43
UFC featherweight
MMA file: 16-5
It’s slightly quiet round Rodriguez in the meanwhile, however make no mistake: That might change straight away. A giant important occasion in Mexico, maybe. And one win would put him in line for a large struggle towards Ilia Topuria. — Okamoto
48. Patchy Mix
Previous rank: No. 34
Bellator bantamweight champion
MMA file: 20-1
Mix is in the same place as Usman Nurmagomedov — he is among the best fighters within the sport in his division, however the lack of potential fights for him impacts his placement on this listing. If Mix can ebook a number of fights this yr, he might have an incredible yr. But will he get the alternatives? — Waters
49. Julianna Peña
Previous rank: NR
UFC girls’s bantamweight champion
MMA file: 13-5
Sooner or later, the game should put respect on the identify of “The Venezuelan Vixen.” She squeezed by Raquel Pennington in 2024 to develop into a two-time champion and is anticipated to defend her bantamweight crown towards Kayla Harrison in some unspecified time in the future. She’ll be the betting underdog in that struggle, however Peña is used to upsetting the apple cart. Ask Amanda Nunes. — Hale
50. Alexa Grasso
Previous rank: No. 4
UFC girls’s flyweight
MMA file: 16-4-1
Grasso was driving excessive a yr in the past, having dethroned Valentina Shevchenko by submission early in 2023 after which retaining the title in a rematch that was scored a draw. But she misplaced the belt final September, and her extreme drop in MMA Rank signifies that our voters imagine her alternatives will probably be few after three straight fights with Shevchenko. — Wagenheim
