5 insane UFC records that could get broken in 2025 feat. Islam Makhachev
2025 promises to be a big year for the UFC. There are countless matchups that have eager fans awaiting them with bated breath. Moreover, there is a chance for the MMA fandom to witness more records be broken this year, especially with so much potential ahead.
Amanda Nunes, the greatest women's fighter of all time and one of the greatest-ever mixed martial artists overall, is rumored to be considering a return to the octagon. If so, there is a chance for a particular record to be broken. Curiously, she isn't the only Brazilian who may find themselves in such a position.
With several records in a position to be broken this year, it begs the question. Who will be the fighters to do so?
#5. The fastest finish in UFC heavyweight history
At present, the fastest finish in the promotion's heavyweight history belongs to Todd Duffee, who knocked Tim Hague out cold in just seven seconds at UFC 102. The record has stood since 2009, but it may very well be broken in 2025 by none other than interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
Check out Todd Duffee's knockout:
The Englishman is a finisher, having never gone to a decision. His combination of explosiveness, speed, power, and a well-rounded game makes him lethal everywhere the fight takes place. Barely anyone survives more than a minute against him as is, so it isn't out of the realm of possibility.
While it will be difficult, anyone who finishes Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich, Marcin Tybura, and Alexander Volkov in a combined time of 6:17 has the chance to do so, especially in the prime of his youth.
#4. The fastest knockout in UFC history
This is a record that can happen at any given moment. No one could have expected that Jorge Masvidal, of all people, would have knocked Ben Askren out in just five seconds at UFC 239. It is a record that is up to the whims of fate and can be broken or left untouched, depending on the circumstances.
Check out Jorge Masvidal's knockout:
However, the presence of crushing knockout artists in the promotion, like Ilia Topuria, who has scored back-to-back knockouts of Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, the latter of whom had never even been knocked out prior, leaves room for the possibility of a four-second knockout.
After all, Volkanovski will likely never be the same and is facing Topuria again at a later date. Or at least he's expected to. Meanwhile, Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka, two power punchers coming off their own crippling knockouts, will square off at UFC 311, and fireworks are more than expected.
#3. Amanda Nunes could become the first three-time UFC women's champion
In the UFC, the current record for the most times any woman has captured a UFC title is twice, and it is held by Amanda Nunes, Rose Namajunas, Zhang Weili, Valentina Shevchenko, Carla Esparza, and Julianna Peña. However, there have been rumors of Nunes potentially returning.
Check out Amanda Nunes teasing her octagon return:
The possibility of her ending her retirement will be magnified if Kayla Harrison delivers on her promise to dethrone Peña as the promotion's women's bantamweight champion. If so, that could set up a super fight with a returning Nunes, who could become the first three-time UFC women's champion.
And if anyone can do so it is Nunes, the greatest female fighter of all time with the tools to beat anyone in the game.
#2. Alex Pereira could become the first three-division UFC champion
It is no secret that Alex Pereira wants to fight at heavyweight and capture the division's title. He has already conquered both middleweight and light heavyweight, so there is no reason for him not to aim higher, especially if he gets past Magomed Ankalaev in his expected light heavyweight title defense against him.
Unfortunately, this could prove a difficult task for Pereira. In fact, if Jones is still the champion by the time he commits to a heavyweight move, there is zero chance Pereira will beat 'Bones,' despite what some may say. His greatest chance comes if 'Bones' either retires or loses to Tom Aspinall.
Both scenarios end with Aspinall as the heavyweight champion, and while Aspinall could almost certainly take Pereira down and submit him with ease, he is also defensively irresponsible. He exposes his chin, never tucking it and rarely moving his head off the center line. Against Pereira, this is a death sentence.
#1. Islam Makhachev breaks the UFC lightweight title defense record
The lightweight title has been defended three times at most, with the record held by the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, the great B.J. Penn, gutsy underdog Frankie Edgar, the underrated Benson Henderson, and of course, the reigning lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev.
With UFC 311 coming up, Makhachev is set to defend his 155-pound crown against Arman Tsarukyan, a foe he has already beaten in the past. If he manages to get past Tsarukyan, he will have defended the title four times, making him the most decorated champion in the promotion's lightweight division.
No one has defended the belt that many times, and it would be quite the manner in which to open the promotion's pay-per-view calendar in 2025.