2025 in UFC

The year 2025 is the 33rd year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.

2025 in UFC
Information
First date	January 13, 2025 (2025-01-13)
Last date	TBD
Events
Total events	TBD
UFC	TBD
TUF Finale events	TBD
Fights
Total fights	TBD
Title fights	TBD
Chronology
2024 in UFC 2025 in UFC 2026 in UFC

UFC in 2025

Main article: Ultimate Fighting Championship

Class action: anti-trust lawsuits

On August 9, 2023, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware granted class action status to more than 1,200 former UFC fighters who competed between December 2010 and June 2017 and are suing for $800 million upward to $1.6 billion in wages, as the lawsuit claims Zuffa had abused its power to suppress UFC fighters' wages. The anti-trust law also permits private plaintiffs to be able to recover three times the damages suffered, meaning the UFC may ultimately pay several billions of dollars worth of damages.^[1] The case has a scheduled April 8, 2024 trial date.^[2] On March 20, 2024, TKO, UFC parent company reached an agreement to settle all claims in the class action lawsuits for $335 million where the settlement amount will be deductible for tax purposes.^[3][4] However, on July 31, 2024, Judge Richard Boulware ruled that the case would be heard by a jury and denied the preliminary approval for a settlement and reset for trial of in October.^[5][6] On February 6, 2025, Judge Richard Boulware of Nevada granted final approval for a $375 million settlement in the "Le vs. Zuffa" antitrust lawsuit for monopolistic practices. As part of the settlement, around $240 million to $260 million will be distributed to eligible fighters, specifically those who competed in at least one UFC bout from December 2010 to June 2017. These payments are expected to be made over the next year. Additionally, $40 million from the settlement will be set aside for administrative and legal expenses.^[7]

Releases and retirements

These fighters have either been released from their UFC contracts, announced their retirement, or joined other promotions:

• Abdul Razak Alhassan - Released in March - Middleweight^[8]
• Ahmad Sohail Hassanzada - Released in April - Lightweight^[9]
• Alex Caceres - Signed with Dirty Boxing in May - Featherweight^[10]
• Andrea Lee - Released in March - Women's Flyweight^[11]
• Ange Loosa - Released in July - Welterweight^[12]
• Anthony Smith - Retired in April - Light Heavyweight^[13]
• Antonina Shevchenko - Retired in March - Women's Flyweight^[14]
• Ariane da Silva - Released in June - Women's Flyweight^[15]
• Armen Petrosyan - Contract Expired in March - Middleweight^[16]
• Bill Algeo - Retired in February - Featherweight^[17]
• Brad Katona - Released in June - Bantamweight^[18]
• Brad Tavares - Released in May - Middleweight^[19]
• Caolan Loughran - Released in April - Bantamweight^[20]
• Bruno Silva - Released in May - Middleweight^[21]
• C.J. Vergara - Released in April - Flyweight^[22]
• Carlos Hernandez - Released in May - Flyweight^[23]
• Choi Seung-woo - Released in April - Featherweight^[24]
• Cheyanne Vlismas - Retired in June - Women's Strawweight^[25]
• Chris Weidman - Retired in January - Middleweight^[26]
• Clay Guida - Released in January - Lightweight^[27]
• Cody Stamann - Released in February - Bantamweight^[28]
• Connor Matthews - Released in June - Featherweight^[29]
• Cortavious Romious - Released in April - Bantamweight^[20]
• Daniel Argueta - Retired in April - Bantamweight^[30]
• Danny Roberts - Released in January - Welterweight^[31]
• Diana Belbiţă - Retired in April - Women's Flyweight^[32]
• Dominick Cruz - Retired in February - Bantamweight^[33]
• Don'Tale Mayes - Released in May - Heavyweight^[34]
• Dustin Poirier - Retired in July - Lightweight^[35]
• Dylan Budka - Released in February - Middleweight^[36]
• Felipe dos Santos - Released in July - Flyweight^[37]
• Gabriel Miranda - Released in April - Featherweight^[38]
• Guram Kutateladze - Released in April - Lightweight^[39]
• Hakeem Dawodu - Released in June - Featherweight^[40]
• Holly Holm - Released in January at her request - Women's Bantamweight^[41]
• Ihor Potieria - Released in January - Middleweight^[42]
• Istela Nunes - Released in April - Women's Flyweight^[24]
• Ivana Petrović - Released in May - Women's Flyweight^[43]
• Jairzinho Rozenstruik - Released in February - Heavyweight^[44]
• Jalin Turner - Retired in March - Lightweight^[45]
• Jamal Pogues - Released in February - Heavyweight^[46]
• Jimmy Flick - Released in May - Flyweight^[47]
• Joe Solecki - Retired in February - Lightweight^[48]
• Jon Jones - Retired in June - Heavyweight^[49]
• Jonathan Pearce - Released in February - Featherweight^[28]
• Jordan Vucenic - Released in July - Lightweight^[12]
• José Johnson - Released in January - Flyweight^[42]
• José Aldo - Retired in May - Featherweight^[50]
• Josefine Lindgren Knutsson - signed with GFL - Women's Strawweight^[51]
• Joshua Culibao - Released in February - Featherweight^[28]
• Julia Avila - Retired in February - Women's Bantamweight^[52]
• Julian Marquez - Released in March - Middleweight^[53]
• Julio Arce - Signed with GFL - Featherweight^[54]
• Kang Kyung-ho - Retired in January - Bantamweight^[55]
• Kevin Jousset - Released in April - Welterweight^[39]
• Kron Gracie - Released in June - Featherweight^[29]
• Landon Quiñones - Released in March - Lightweight^[56]
• Lauren Murphy - Retired in July - Women's Flyweight^[57]
• Lucas Alexander - Released in April - Featherweight^[20]
• Magomed Gadzhiyasulov - Released in January - Light Heavyweight^[42]
• Marcos Rogério de Lima - Released in March - Heavyweight^[58]
• Marina Rodriguez - Retired in May - Women's Strawweight^[59]
• Matthew Semelsberger - Released in February - Welterweight^[60]
• Michał Figlak - Released in January - Lightweight^[61]
• Molly McCann - Retired in March - Women's Strawweight^[62]
• Montana De La Rosa - Released in March - Women's Flyweight^[63]
• Natan Levy - Released in February - Lightweight^[64]
• Nikolay Veretennikov - Released in February - Welterweight^[65]
• Pedro Falcão - Released in April - Bantamweight^[20]
• Roosevelt Roberts - Released in February - Lightweight^[66]
• Taylor Lapilus - Released in February - Bantamweight^[28]
• Tony Ferguson - Signed with [GFL - Welterweight^[67]
• Trevin Giles - Released in July - Welterweight^[12]
• Urijah Faber - Released in January - Bantamweight^[68]
• Victor Hugo - Released in January - Featherweight^[31]
• Victoria Dudakova - Released in January - Women's Strawweight^[42]
• Vinc Pichel - Retired in April - Lightweight^[69]
• Viviane Araújo - Released in July - Women's Flyweight^[12]
• Walt Harris - Released in March - Heavyweight^[70]
• Warlley Alves - Parted ways in February - Middleweight^[71]

Debut UFC fighters

The following fighters fought their first UFC fight in 2025:

• Alexia Thainara - UFC Fight Night 255^[62]
• Alvin Hines - UFC 317^[72]
• Andreas Gustafsson - UFC 316^[73]
• Andrey Pulyaev - UFC Fight Night 255^[74]
• Ateba Abega Gautier - UFC on ESPN 64^[75]
• Austin Bashi - UFC Fight Night 249^[76]
• Austin Vanderford - UFC Fight Night 252^[77]
• Azamat Bekoev - UFC 311^[78]
• Aleksandre Topuria - UFC 312^[79]
• Billy Elekana - UFC 311^[80]
• Bogdan Grad - UFC Fight Night 250^[81]
• Bruno Lopes - UFC Fight Night 249^[82]
• Colby Thicknesse - UFC 312^[79]
• Daniel Frunza - UFC on ESPN 65^[83]
• David Martinez - UFC on ESPN 64^[84]
• Diyar Nurgozhay - UFC Fight Night 254^[85]
• Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos - UFC 313^[86]
• Elijah Smith - UFC Fight Night 251^[87]
• Eric McConico - UFC Fight Night 252^[88]
• Gauge Young - UFC on ESPN 66^[89]
• Islam Dulatov - UFC 318^[90]
• Jacobe Smith - UFC Fight Night 249^[91]
• Jackson McVey - UFC 318^[92]
• Jonathan Micallef - UFC 312^[93]
• Jose Delgado - UFC Fight Night 251^[94]
• Josias Musasa - UFC Fight Night 254^[95]
• Julius Walker - UFC Fight Night 252^[96]
• Kevin Vallejos - UFC Fight Night 254^[97]
• Ko Seok-hyun - UFC on ABC 8^[98]
• Kody Steele - UFC 312^[99]
• Luis Gurule - UFC on ESPN 65^[100]
• Malcolm Wellmaker - UFC on ESPN 66^[101]
• Marco Tulio - UFC Fight Night 249^[102]
• Mário Pinto - UFC Fight Night 253^[103]
• Mark Choinski - UFC 316^[104]
• Matheus Camilo - UFC Fight Night 256^[105]
• Michael Aswell - UFC on ESPN 68^[106]
• Nick Klein - UFC Fight Night 252^[107]
• Nicolle Caliari - UFC Fight Night 249^[108]
• Patrício Pitbull - UFC 314^[109]
• Quillan Salkilld - UFC 312^[110]
• Rizvan Kuniev - UFC on ABC 8^[111]
• Tallison Teixeira - UFC 312^[112]
• Tofiq Musayev - UFC on ABC 8^[113]
• Torrez Finney - UFC on ESPN 65^[114]
• Uran Satybaldiev - UFC on ESPN 65^[115]
• Yadier del Valle - UFC Fight Night 256^[116]
• Yoo Joo-sang - UFC 316^[117]
• Yuneisy Duben - UFC Fight Night 254^[118]

Suspended fighters

The list below is based on fighters suspended either by (1) United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) or World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for violation of taking prohibited substances or non-analytical incidents, (2) by local commissions on misconduct during the fights or at event venues, or (3) by the UFC for reasons also stated below.

ISO	Name	Nickname	Division	From	Duration	Tested positive for / Info	By	Eligible to fight again	Ref.	Notes
	Walt Harris	The Big Ticket	Heavyweight	July 11, 2023	4 years	Drostanolone and its metabolites, exogenous testosterone, and Anastrozole	CSAD	July 11, 2027	[119]	Parted with UFC as of March 2025.
	Arman Tsarukyan	Akhalkalakets	Lightweight	April 13, 2024	9 months	Pre-fight altercation with spectator during UFC 300	NSAC	January 12, 2025	[120]	$25,000 fine; additionally, if he issued an anti-bullying public service announcement approved by the NSAC, sentence could have been reduced to six months with fight eligibility on October 12, 2024
	Hamdy Abdelwahab	The Hammer	Heavyweight	July 30, 2024	6 months	Exogenous testosterone	CSAD	January 30, 2025	[121]
	Azamat Murzakanov	The Professional	Light Heavyweight	November 1, 2024	6 months	LGD-4033 metabolites	CSAD	May 1, 2025	[122]	Second violation under the UFC.
	Dennis Buzukja	The Great	Lightweight	December 7, 2024	9 months	Altercation with a fan at UFC 310	NSAC	September 7, 2025	[123]	$2,500 fine with additional legal fees of $157.04; additionally, if he does community service executed by the NSAC, sentence can be reduced to six months with fight eligibility on June 7, 2025.
	Marcos Rogério de Lima	Pezão	Heavyweight	January 24, 2025	1 year	Anastrozole	CSAD	January 24, 2026	[124]	Second violation under the UFC. Parted with UFC as of March 2025.
	Danylo Voievodkin		Heavyweight	November 10, 2024	2 years	Meldonium	CSAD	November 10, 2026	[125]	Parted with UFC as of March 2025.
	Douglas Silva de Andrade	D-Silva	Bantamweight	February 28, 2025	6 months	Furosemide	CSAD	August 28, 2025	[126]

The Ultimate Fighter

The following The Ultimate Fighter season is scheduled for broadcast in 2025:

Season	Division	Winner	Runner-up	Ref
The Ultimate Fighter 33[127]	Flyweight
	Welterweight

Title fights

Title fights in 2025
Weight class				Method	Round	Time	Event	Notes
Bantamweight	Merab Dvalishvili (c)	def.[128]	Umar Nurmagomedov	Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46)	5	5:00	UFC 311	[a]
Lightweight	Islam Makhachev (c)	def.[129]	Renato Moicano	Submission (brabo choke)	1	4:05	UFC 311	[b]
Women's Strawweight	Zhang Weili (c)	def.[130]	Tatiana Suarez	Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 49–46, 49–45)	5	5:00	UFC 312	[c]
Middleweight	Dricus du Plessis (c)	def.[131]	Sean Strickland	Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 49–46)	5	5:00	UFC 312	[d]
Light Heavyweight	Magomed Ankalaev	def.[132]	Alex Pereira (c)	Decision (unanimous) (49–46, 48–47, 48–47)	5	5:00	UFC 313	[e]
Featherweight	Alexander Volkanovski	def.[133]	Diego Lopes	Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 49–46, 49–46)	5	5:00	UFC 314	[f]
Women's Flyweight	Valentina Shevchenko (c)	def.[134]	Manon Fiorot	Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 48–47)	5	5:00	UFC 315	[g]
Welterweight	Jack Della Maddalena	def.[135]	Belal Muhammad (c)	Decision (unanimous) (48–47, 48–47, 49–46)	5	5:00	UFC 315	[h]
Women's Bantamweight	Kayla Harrison	def.[136]	Julianna Peña (c)	Submission (kimura)	2	4:55	UFC 316	[i]
Bantamweight	Merab Dvalishvili (c)	def.[137]	Sean O'Malley	Submission (north-south choke)	3	4:42	UFC 316	[j]
Flyweight	Alexandre Pantoja (c)	def.[138]	Kai Kara-France	Submission (rear-naked choke)	3	1:54	UFC 317	[k]
Lightweight	Ilia Topuria	def.[139]	Charles Oliveira	KO (punches)	1	2:27	UFC 317	[l]
Middleweight	Dricus du Plessis (c)	vs.[140]	Khamzat Chimaev				UFC 319	[m]
Light Heavyweight	Magomed Ankalaev (c)	vs.[141]	Alex Pereira				UFC 320	[n]
Bantamweight	Merab Dvalishvili (c)	vs.[141]	Cory Sandhagen				UFC 320	[o]
Heavyweight	Tom Aspinall (c)	vs.[142]	Ciryl Gane				UFC 321	[p]

1. For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
2. For the UFC Lightweight Championship.
3. For the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
4. For the UFC Middleweight Championship.
5. For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
6. For the vacant UFC Featherweight Championship.
7. For the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship.
8. For the UFC Welterweight Championship.
9. For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
10. For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
11. For the UFC Flyweight Championship.
12. For the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.
13. For the UFC Middleweight Championship.
14. For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
15. For the UFC Bantamweight Championship.
16. For the UFC Heavyweight Championship.

Events list

Main article: List of UFC events

Scheduled events

Event	Date	Venue	City	Country	Ref.
UFC Fight Night 263	Nov 22, 2025	Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena	Al Rayyan	Qatar	[143]
UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane	Oct 25, 2025	Etihad Arena	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	[144]
UFC Fight Night 262	Oct 18, 2025	Rogers Arena	Vancouver, British Columbia	Canada	[145]
UFC Fight Night 261	Oct 11, 2025	Farmasi Arena	Rio de Janeiro	Brazil	[146]
UFC 320: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2	Oct 4, 2025	T-Mobile Arena	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	[147]
UFC Fight Night 260	Sep 28, 2025	RAC Arena	Perth, Western Australia	Australia	[148]
UFC Fight Night: Lopes vs. Silva	Sep 13, 2025	Frost Bank Center	San Antonio, Texas	United States	[149]
UFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho	Sep 6, 2025	Accor Arena	Paris	France	[150]
UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Zhang	Aug 23, 2025	Shanghai Indoor Stadium	Shanghai	China	[151]
UFC 319: du Plessis vs. Chimaev	Aug 16, 2025	United Center	Chicago, Illinois	United States	[152]
UFC on ESPN: Dolidze vs. Hernandez	Aug 9, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	[153]
UFC on ESPN: Albazi vs. Taira	Aug 2, 2025				[154]
UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs De Ridder	Jul 26, 2025	Etihad Arena	Abu Dhabi	United Arab Emirates	[155]

Past events

#	Event	Date	Venue	City	Country	Atten.	Ref.	Fight of the Night			Performance of the Night		Bonus	Ref.
740	UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3	Jul 19, 2025	Smoothie King Center	New Orleans, Louisiana	United States	18,138	[156]	Brendan Allen	vs.	Marvin Vettori	Ateba Abega Gautier	Islam Dulatov	$50,000	[157]
											Carli Judice	—
739	UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira	Jul 12, 2025	Bridgestone Arena	Nashville, Tennessee	United States	17,007	[158]	Morgan Charrière	vs.	Nate Landwehr	Valter Walker	Fatima Kline	$50,000	[159]
738	UFC 317: Topuria vs. Oliveira	Jun 28, 2025	T-Mobile Arena	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	19,800	[160]	Brandon Royval	vs.	Joshua Van	Ilia Topuria	Gregory Rodrigues	$50,000	[161]
737	UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr.	Jun 21, 2025	Baku Crystal Hall	Baku	Azerbaijan	14,424	[162]	Nazim Sadykhov	vs.	Nikolas Motta	Nazim Sadykhov	Nikolas Motta	$50,000	[163]
736	UFC on ESPN: Usman vs. Buckley	Jun 14, 2025	State Farm Arena	Atlanta, Georgia	United States	17,204	[164]	Kamaru Usman	vs.	Joaquin Buckley	Malcolm Wellmaker	Jose Ochoa	$50,000	[165]
735	UFC 316: Dvalishvili vs. O'Malley 2	Jun 7, 2025	Prudential Center	Newark, New Jersey	United States	17,343	[166]	—			Merab Dvalishvili	Kayla Harrison	$50,000	[167]
											Kevin Holland	Yoo Joo-sang
734	UFC on ESPN: Gamrot vs. Klein	May 31, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[168]	Rayanne dos Santos	vs.	Alice Ardelean	Ramiz Brahimaj	Jordan Leavitt	$50,000	[169]
733	UFC Fight Night: Burns vs. Morales	May 17, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[170]	Julian Erosa	vs.	Melquizael Costa	Michael Morales	Denise Gomes	$50,000	[171]
732	UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena	May 10, 2025	Bell Centre	Montreal, Quebec	Canada	19,786	[172]	Belal Muhammad	vs.	Jack Della Maddalena	Jasmine Jasudavicius	Marc-André Barriault	$50,000	[173]
731	UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo	May 3, 2025	Wells Fargo Arena	Des Moines, Iowa	United States	15,627	[174]	—			Cory Sandhagen	Reinier de Ridder	$50,000	[175]
											Azamat Bekoev	Quang Le
730	UFC on ESPN: Machado Garry vs. Prates	Apr 26, 2025	T-Mobile Center	Kansas City, Missouri	United States	15,984	[176]	Randy Brown	vs.	Nicolas Dalby	Zhang Mingyang	Malcolm Wellmaker	$50,000	[177]
729	UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes	Apr 12, 2025	Kaseya Center	Miami, Florida	United States	18,287	[178]	Alexander Volkanovski	vs.	Diego Lopes	Paddy Pimblett	Jean Silva	$50,000	[179]
728	UFC on ESPN: Emmett vs. Murphy	Apr 5, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[180]	—			Lee Chang-ho	Ode' Osbourne	$50,000	[181]
											Dione Barbosa	Rhys McKee
727	UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg	Mar 29, 2025	Arena CDMX	Mexico City	Mexico	19,731	[182]	—			Manuel Torres	Édgar Cháirez	$50,000	[183]
											David Martínez	Ateba Gautier
726	UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Brady	Mar 22, 2025	The O2 Arena	London	England	18,583	[184]	—			Sean Brady	Kevin Holland	$50,000	[185]
											Alexia Thainara	Shauna Bannon
725	UFC Fight Night: Vettori vs. Dolidze 2	Mar 15, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[186]	—			Carlos Vera	André Lima	$50,000	[187]
											Priscila Cachoeira	Carli Judice
724	UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev	Mar 8, 2025	T-Mobile Arena	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	18,869	[188]	Justin Gaethje	vs.	Rafael Fiziev	Ignacio Bahamondes	Maurício Ruffy	$50,000	[189]
723	UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev	Mar 1, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[190]	Nasrat Haqparast	vs.	Esteban Ribovics	Manel Kape	Mário Pinto	$50,000	[191]
722	UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song	Feb 22, 2025	Climate Pledge Arena	Seattle, Washington	United States	18,287	[192]	Alonzo Menifield	vs.	Julius Walker	Jean Silva	Ricky Simón	$50,000	[193]
721	UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues	Feb 15, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[194]	Jared Cannonier	vs.	Gregory Rodrigues	Edmen Shahbazyan	Gabriel Bonfim	$50,000	[195]
720	UFC 312: du Plessis vs. Strickland 2	Feb 9, 2025	Qudos Bank Arena	Sydney	Australia	18,253	[196]	Rong Zhu	vs.	Kody Steele	Tallison Teixeira	Quillan Salkilld	$50,000	[197]
719	UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov	Feb 1, 2025	anb Arena	Riyadh	Saudi Arabia	—	[198]	Said Nurmagomedov	vs.	Vinicius Oliveira	Nassourdine Imavov	Bogdan Grad	$50,000	[199]
718	UFC 311: Makhachev vs. Moicano	Jan 18, 2025	Intuit Dome	Inglewood, California	United States	18,370	[200]	Merab Dvalishvili	vs.	Umar Nurmagomedov	Jiří Procházka	Jailton Almeida	$50,000	[201]
717	UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2	Jan 11, 2025	UFC Apex	Las Vegas, Nevada	United States	—	[202]	Chris Curtis	vs.	Roman Kopylov	Mackenzie Dern	César Almeida	$50,000	[203]

See also

• List of UFC champions
• List of UFC events
• List of current UFC fighters
• 2025 in Professional Fighters League
• 2025 in ONE Championship
• 2025 in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
• 2025 in Legacy Fighting Alliance
• 2025 in Absolute Championship Akhmat
• 2025 in Rizin Fighting Federation
• 2025 in Oktagon MMA
• 2025 in Brave Combat Federation
• 2025 in Cage Warriors