Be sure to check out the previous article for more information on our 2025 predictions!
We revisit our crazy MMA predictions for 2025
1 -Tom Aspinall will end the year as undisputed heavyweight champion… after defeating Jon Jones in July
Can we consider this a success? Half of it is true: Tom Aspinall will end the year as the undisputed heavyweight champion… but not in the way he would have liked.
Aspinall was then upgraded to undisputed champion Jon Jones retired. It’s a fight everyone wanted to see, Aspinall versus Jones, but one person didn’t: Jon Jones.
Aspinall was scheduled to defend his title once in October against Ciryl Gane, but after an eye poke left the Brit unable to continue, the fight ended in a no contest. A year to quickly forget for Aspinall.
2 – Bellator will cease to exist
Our first success! On January 14, the PFL confirmed that Bellator would cease to exist and be completely overrun by the PFL. The rosters would be consolidated and no more Bellator belts would be contested.
It was always going to happen, but it still came as a shock. The PFL grabbed the bull by the horns in 2025 and started the year with big news. This has led to a number of former Bellator stars signing with the UFC, with limited success.
3 – Valentina Shevchenko will defend her title twice before retiring
Similar to our first bizarre MMA prediction, this one is half right. Valentina Shevchenko won 2-0, beating Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili, both convincingly. However, at the age of 37, she is not yet hinting at retirement.
We said: ‘She will beat Manon Fiorot in a boring, one-sided, wrestling decision‘ and we weren’t entirely wrong. It’s a forgettable performance, but it still adds a ruby to her belt.
4 – Kayla Harrison ends the year as UFC bantamweight champion
Another success! We claimed that Kayla Harrison would defeat former champion Juliana Pena in three rounds, which happened at UFC 316, and win the UFC bantamweight title.
We predicted she would face Norma Dumont in December, but it looks like her first title defense will come in January… against former champion Amanda Nunes. Maybe one of our crazy MMA predictions for 2026 will feature these women…
5 – Paddy Pimblett performs in London in March, wins and takes on Michael Chandler
Paddy Pimblett is set for a huge 2026 after just one appearance in 2025. He didn’t headline London in March, but he did get in a huge fight. He faced Michael Chandler, as we predicted, finishing the American in a five-round co-main event at UFC 314.
The Baddy is scheduled for an interim title shot against Justin Gaethje to kick off the UFC’s Paramount Plus era.
6 – Alex Pereira goes 2-0 in 2025, but still won’t fight Magomed Ankalev
Alex Pereira had his most inactive year since joining the UFC. He only competed twice, both times he faced Magomed Ankalaev. He lost a decision to the Russian at the first opportunity, leaving many wondering if he was ‘ready’ at the top level.
In the rematch, however Poatan Ankalaev blasted away in just 1:20, proving to everyone that he’s still elite at 205 pounds.
7 – Ilia Topuria retires a legend and continues to defend his title
Ilia Topuria’s 2025 didn’t go as we predicted. We thought he would stay around 145 pounds, but he gave up the featherweight belt at UFC 314 to pursue the vacant lightweight belt.
He would win the 155-pound title in devastating fashion, knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round, before being forced to sit out the remainder of 2025 and early 2026.
Alexander Volkanovski won the vacant title at UFC 314 and will make his first title defense in his second reign at UFC 325 at home in Australia in early 2026.
8 – Conor McGregor joins the UFC!
One word – Wrong. 2026? Who knows, he might be so unpredictable these days.
9 – The UFC Get some BIG names from ONE championship
This one did not happen in any way, shape or form. The UFC focused on signing big names from Bellator, as we mentioned earlier, bringing in some solid competitors through the Contender Series and signing talent from across Europe, rather than Asia.
10 – Dakota Ditcheva continues to dominate the PFL flyweight division, setting up a fight with Shanelle Dyer
Dakota Ditcheva’s 2025 didn’t go exactly to plan. Whether due to contract disputes, improper competition or injuries, she competed only once in a decision victory over Sumiko Inaba in 2025.
She will meet Denise Kielholtz in early 2026 in a fight that won’t be particularly competitive in Ditcheva’s favor.
However, she won’t be facing Shanelle Dyer anytime soon. Nightmare was on this year’s Contender Series and despite losing the fight, she fought so well that Dana White still offered her a contract.
Ironically, the younger Dyer could make a bigger impact than Ditcheva in the coming years.
Keep an eye on our crazy MMA predictions – 2026 edition – to see if we can be even more successful next year.
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