5 UFC fighters who can become champions in 2025 feat. Kayla Harrison
The UFC had enjoyed a year of surprises in 2024. Historic knockouts were seen, and championship fights transpired in ways that hardly anyone could have predicted. Several new champions were crowned, with Ilia Topuria dethroning Alexander Volkanovski at featherweight, before dusting Max Holloway.
Elsewhere, Merab Dvalishvili overwhelmed Sean O'Malley in typical fashion to capture bantamweight gold. While there were other title changes, 2025 promises to be a more pivotal year, with numerous potential matchups ready to shake up the title picture in multiple divisions.
So, with 2024 coming to an end, who could stake their claim to divisional supremacy in 2025?
#5. Magomed Ankalaev, UFC light heavyweight
Magomed Ankalaev may very well be the only hope for an end to Alex Pereira's stranglehold on the light heavyweight division. Unfortunately for him, 'Poatan' is among the most beloved and entertaining fighters on the roster, so few are in a hurry to see him hand the Brazilian his first loss at 205 pounds.
However, Ankalaev emerged as the definitive number one contender in the division after outclassing Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308. While the champion isn't too keen on facing him, UFC CEO Dana White has claimed that the surging Dagestani is next in line, and there's more than one reason to favor him against Pereira.
Ankalaev is an underrated striker with the kind of defensive striking that could make life difficult for Pereira's left hook counter. Moreover, his world-class wrestling and grappling is expected to be too much for Pereira, who has been outwrestled by lesser grapplers in Israel Adesanya and Jan Błachowicz.
#4. Tom Aspinall, UFC heavyweight
While Tom Aspinall is technically a champion, as he holds the interim heavyweight title, he is no undisputed champion. His true goal is to fight Jon Jones for the crown jewel of the division, but 'Bones' has exhibited no interest in doing so. That is, unless the UFC pays him an astronomical purse.
Fortunately for the Englishman, the matchup may come to fruition, as Dana White has claimed that the promotion will meet their champion's demands. Although the bout will likely be a difficult one for Aspinall, he is heavyweight's best chance at dethroning Jones, who recognizes the risk his rival poses.
Aspinall is as well-rounded as heavyweights get, with a slick one-two, smooth footwork, and elite-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Moreover, he is massive, incredibly strong, and more noticeably, freakishly fast and powerful, so much so that he has never gone to a decision. If anyone can beat Jones, it's him.
#3. Umar Nurmagomedov, UFC bantamweight
Unlike the previous entries, Umar Nurmagomedov actually has a fight scheduled with his division's reigning champion, Merab Dvalishvili. At UFC 311, the two men will settle their feud in the co-main event as they battle for the bantamweight belt. Much of the buildup to their fight has revolved around Dvalishvili.
Specifically, it has focused on the Georgian star's reluctance to fight Nurmagomedov, who he feels is undeserving of the bout. Nevertheless, many took Dvalishvili's stance as evidence of his supposed fear of facing an opponent of Nurmagomedov's skill.
He is, after all, among the few bantamweights who can match and perhaps even surpass Dvalishvili's wrestling and grappling skill, as he is part of the much-feared Dagestani elites of AKA. Moreover, Nurmagomedov is a much better striker than the champion, so many expect his well-rounded skill-set to be too much for him.
#2. Khamzat Chimaev, UFC middleweight
Khamzat Chimaev has finally lived up to the hype. At UFC 308, he annihilated former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, whose only other losses in the division have been to champions, within a round. Moreover, he did so in monstrous fashion, outwrestling 'The Reaper' and crushing his jaw with a face crank.
While Whittaker had a preexisting jaw injury, it hardly mattered. He wasn't going to beat Chimaev on that night, not after 'Borz' did to him what an Olympic silver medalist freestyle wrestler in Yoel Romero couldn't. The win puts the unbeaten Chechen next in line for the 185-pound belt.
Whoever wins between Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312 isn't expected to beat him. Strickland, while skilled, is a defensive boxer with a jab and little finishing ability. Meanwhile, the South African is a less skilled grappler and sloppier striker than Chimaev, who can match his physicality.
#1. Kayla Harrison, UFC women's bantamweight
It almost feels like Kayla Harrison is predestined to become the UFC women's bantamweight champion. She ran through the division's former champion, Holly Holm, with supreme ease, and the chances that she loses to the current titleholder, Julianna Peña, are slim. That is, at least, on paper.
'The Venezuelan Vixen' almost seems tailor-made for Harrison to beat. Her striking poses no significant threat, as she lacks power and flares her elbows before every punch, telegraphing her own strikes. Moreover, Peña lunges into range without moving her head off the center-line.
This makes her exceptionally easy to clinch, with even Raquel Pennington able to outmuscle her. This does not bode well for her against a two-time Olympic judo champion. Lastly, the champion's grappling is so poor that she was submitted by a Brazilian jiu-jitsu white belt and lifelong kickboxer in Germaine de Randamie.