As 2025 draws to a close, MMA professionals are celebrating the year gone by and preparing for 2026. New UFC champions and a pivotal broadcast partnership promise a dynamic future for the sport, as fans worldwide count down to midnight.
When UFC President Dana White predicted that Ronda Rousey’s return would surpass Conor McGregor’s staggering popularity, few doubted her star power. Yet this article examines how those claims ultimately did not come to fruition and why the McGregor phenomenon remained on top.
A two-weight champion has stepped forward with a startling admission after sparring with the UFC’s newcomer of the year runner-up. Touted as one of the UFC’s fiercest rising stars, this contender made waves with an unforgettable performance in 2025. Now, that hype seems more than justified.
Ilia Topuria may be on hiatus, but he’s far from silent. A fresh warning from Topuria has targeted both former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and current contender Islam Makhachev’s team, raising questions about the future of the UFC lightweight division.
A backstage brawl at the Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua event caught UFC legend Andrei Arlovski in a one-on-four clash. Footage from the scuffle shows Arlovski trading blows with multiple individuals, though he has yet to address the altercation publicly.
Carlos Prates’ decisive knockout of former champion Leon Edwards at Madison Square Garden has elevated his profile in the UFC. Now, the man known as “The Nightmare” has set his sights on champion Islam Makhachev, while keeping Jack Della Maddalena in mind if a title shot doesn’t materialize.
A brief yet heated confrontation erupted at UFC 323 between former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill and UFC Hall of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Hill has now weighed in on why he reacted the way he did, shedding light on the viral clip that circulated after the event.
As reigning champion Merab Dvalishvili chases history at UFC 323, Petr Yan finds himself unfairly dismissed. With experts weighing in, the question surfaces: Will the overlooked challenger rise to rewrite the narrative?
Sean O’Malley, after suffering consecutive defeats, sought a gentler path in his planned return to the Octagon in 2026. When the UFC declined his request for a less challenging adversary, they offered Song Yadong instead, setting the stage for O’Malley’s upcoming comeback match.
Jon Jones, now 38, lauds Khabib Nurmagomedov’s strong views on retirement but remains determined to forge ahead with his UFC career. His acknowledgment of Khabib’s advice stands in stark contrast to his decision to keep fighting despite age and controversy.
