Islam makhachev e Joshua Van These were UFC highlights in 2025. Photo: SUPER LUTAS montage
As 2025 draws to a close, it provided MMA fans with unforgettable moments, including great octagon battles, spectacular events, and memorable knockouts and submissions. Given so many achievements, the question remains: when we look back, will we remember 2025 as the year of... Islam makhachev or Joshua Van?
To answer this question, the SUPER LUTAS team met to elect the top fighters of the season. Each member created an individual top 5, awarding five points to the first-place fighter, four to the second, and so on. At the end of the voting, the points were added up to determine the final ranking of the best fighters of the year. Check out the list.
Honorable mentions
Ilia Topuria poses with two UFC belts after victory against Charles of the Bronx. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
Before revealing the top 5, it's worth highlighting some names that had high-level seasons, were remembered by part of the team in the voting, but did not achieve a high enough score to make the final list.
Among them are Melquizael Costa, featherweight (up to 65,7 kg), who won four fights in 2025, the most recent against Morgan Charrière in ufc vegas 112, the last event of the year, in addition to Ilia Topuria, who stepped into the octagon only once this season, but knocked out Charles of the Bronx He won the title in the first round and secured his second belt in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
5 – Merab Dvalishvili
Despite ending the year with a defeat for Petr yan, a result that cost him the bantamweight title (up to 61,2 kg), Merab Dvalishvili He had a solid enough campaign to secure fifth place, with nine points. Before losing the title in UFC 323The Georgian defended the belt at UFCs 311, 316 and 320, against Umar Nurmagomedov, Sean O'Malley e Cory Sandhagenrespectively.
4 – Nassourdine Imavov
Even though he only fought twice this season, Nassourdine Imavov It shone brightly. The Frenchman knocked out. Israel adesanya No. UFC Saudi Arabia, in February, and then dominated Caio Borralho No. UFC Paris, a victory that solidified him as the number one contender for the middleweight belt, currently held by Khamzat Shimaev.
3 – Petr Yan
Yan celebrates his UFC victory. Photo: Reproduction/X/UFC
Executioner of Merab Dvalishvili No. UFC 323, Petr yan He couldn't be left out of the podium. The Russian secured third place in the SUPER LUTAS ranking after dominant victories over Marcus McGhee and Dvalishvili, results that earned him the bantamweight title and solidified his return to the top of the division.
2 – Joshua Van
Although winning the flyweight title (up to 56,7 kg) was considered 'lucky' by some fans, Joshua Van He did enough to secure second place. The representative from Myanmar fought four times in 2025 and won all of them, with two wins by decision, one by knockout, and the most recent one after his injury. Alexandre pantoja, which led him to the title.
1 – Islam Makhachev
Islam makhachev in victory against Jack Della Maddalena. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
Leading the vote by a wide margin, Islam makhachev He was elected the best fighter of the year with 29 points. After finishing Renato Moicano No. UFC 311 And to establish himself as one of the greatest champions in the history of the lightweight division (up to 70,3 kg), the Russian relinquished the belt and moved up to welterweight (up to 77 kg). Facing Jack Della Maddalena, delivered one of the most dominant performances of the season, securing his first place in the SUPER LUTAS ranking.
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