10 MMA fights we want to see in 2025

As the UFC, PFL, and other top MMA promotions get ready for their 2025 campaigns, it's time to lay out some of our wishes for the new year.

Here are 10 realistic matchups we hope come to fruition sometime in the next 12 months.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

For the second year in a row, Jones-Aspinall is at the top of our list. (And, for the two years before that, it was Jones against Francis Ngannou ... you're probably starting to notice a trend.) There's no fight in MMA right now more intriguing than this one. Jones is, of course, the UFC heavyweight champion and arguably the greatest fighter of all time. Aspinall is the interim champ and the man virtually everyone believes will reign over the division once Jones is retired. Some already rank Aspinall above Jones, even though Jones holds the real title. They need to square off in the Octagon to truly crown the top heavyweight in the UFC.

Unfortunately, Jones doesn't seem too interested in fighting Aspinall. Here's hoping the UFC makes Jones an offer he can't refuse - the sport will be worse off if it doesn't happen.

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev

Talk about an immovable object versus an unstoppable force. Du Plessis can't seem to lose (no matter how hard he might try), and Chimaev practically only ever wins in dominant fashion. That's what makes this matchup so great; no outcome would be too shocking. If Du Plessis retains the UFC middleweight title in his Feb. 8 rematch with Sean Strickland, a fight against Chimaev is a must for the second half of 2025.

Sean O'Malley vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Many thought this fight was inevitable going into O'Malley's UFC bantamweight title defense against Merab Dvalishvili in September. As fate had it, Dvalishvilii dominated O'Malley and will face Nurmagomedov himself at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 in Los Angeles. But there are still multiple ways for the UFC to make O'Malley-Nurmagomedov happen this year. If Nurmagomedov loses to Dvalishvili, it'd make sense straight away. Or, if Nurmagomedov captures the title and O'Malley wins a fight in the meantime, they could square off with the belt on the line.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Deiveson Figueiredo 2

Pantoja is cleaning out the flyweight division at a surprisingly fast pace. The Brazilian has the fourth-longest active title reign and is tied with Alex Pereira and Islam Makhachev for the most defenses among current champions (three). There aren't many intriguing options for him out of the current crop of 125-pound contenders, so why not run it back with Figueiredo? The latter is a former flyweight champion who holds a 2019 win over Pantoja. Figueiredo is 3-1 since moving up to bantamweight in 2023, but he said he'd be open to going back down for a rematch with Pantoja.

Max Holloway vs. Michael Chandler

Holloway has a ton of options now that he's permanently moving to lightweight following a knockout loss to UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. A rematch with Charles Oliveira could be a Fight of the Year candidate, a third meeting with Dustin Poirier is always there, and even Dan Hooker would be a fun opponent. But as a measuring stick to see exactly where Holloway is at (up a weight class and after a brutal loss), a BMF title defense against Chandler makes the most sense.

Francis Ngannou vs. Vadim Nemkov

When Ngannou signed with the PFL in 2023, the biggest problem was the lack of top heavyweights available for him to fight - and that remains true. Renan Ferreira ended up being a worthy B-side for Ngannou's return to MMA, but then Ngannou ground-and-pounded him into smithereens in October. The one guy who could be competitive with Ngannou is former Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov, who now competes at heavyweight. If Ngannou decides to fight in MMA in 2025 (as opposed to boxing), this is his best option.

Leon Edwards vs. Ian Machado Garry

Garry proved he's one of the top welterweights in the UFC by narrowly losing to heavy favorite and impending title challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 in December. The Irishman deserves another top-five opponent, and a matchup with Edwards - who has yet to step into the Octagon since losing the title to Belal Muhammad last summer - could be very entertaining.

Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker

Gaethje and Hooker are two of the most exciting lightweights in the UFC. And who doesn't love a fresh matchup in the sport's deepest division? Gaethje + Hooker = fireworks.

Diego Lopes vs. Movsar Evloev 2

Evloev beat Lopes in the latter's UFC debut in May 2023, but this is a far different matchup than it was then. These days, Evloev and Lopes are two of the best featherweights in the world. Whether they run it back now in a No. 1 contender bout or wait until later in the year, this rematch is a must for 2025.

Joaquin Buckley vs. Carlos Prates

Buckley and Prates both had incredible, career-altering campaigns in 2024. Prates made his UFC debut in February and rattled off four straight knockout wins, including a main-event victory over Neil Magny in November. Buckley also won four fights, beating the likes of Colby Covington and Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson. Buckley and Prates are two of the most promising welterweight contenders heading into 2025, and a fight between the two would be thrilling and would move the winner further up the ladder.