UFC Year in Review: 2025 – A Year of Unexpected Turns and New Champions
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2025 proved to be a year of dramatic shifts in the UFC landscape, marked by retirements, injuries, and the rise of new champions. From Alex Pereira‘s emphatic title reclamation to the turbulent heavyweight division, the year delivered both thrilling moments and frustrating setbacks for fans. This review details the key events and championship changes across the major weight classes.
Middleweight
Champion on Jan 1,2025: Dricus Du Plessis
Champion on Jan 1,2026: Alex Pereira
The middleweight division saw a changing of the guard in 2025,culminating in a stunning return to the top for Alex Pereira. Dricus Du Plessis began the year as champion, having defeated Robert Whittaker in January 2024. However, his reign was short-lived. Pereira avenged his previous loss to Du Plessis with a first-round TKO finish at T-Mobile Arena on December 14, 2025, reclaiming the title in just one minute, 20 seconds. UFC.com
“poatan” is officially back, and back to his best.
Heavyweight
Champion on Jan 1,2025: Jon Jones,Tom Aspinall (interim)
Champion on Jan 1,2026: tom Aspinall
The heavyweight division experienced notable turmoil in 2025. Jon Jones began the year as the undisputed champion, but announced his retirement from the sport in June 2025, citing a need to focus on family and other ventures. ESPN This prompted the promotion of Tom Aspinall, who had captured interim heavyweight gold in November 2023 with a knockout of Sergei Pavlovich, to undisputed champion.
Aspinall was scheduled to face fellow former interim champion Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. However, the bout ended in a no-contest due to an accidental double eye-poke from Gane in the first round, leaving Aspinall unable to continue. MMA Fighting
As of January 2026, Aspinall is recovering from the eye injuries sustained in the fight and is expected to return to defend his title later in the year. The heavyweight division remains in a state of anticipation, awaiting the return of its champion.
Key Takeaways from 2025
* Pereira’s Redemption: Alex Pereira demonstrated his championship caliber with a decisive victory over dricus Du Plessis,reclaiming the middleweight title.
* Heavyweight Uncertainty: The heavyweight division was plagued by injury and retirement,leading to a no-contest championship bout and leaving the future of the division uncertain.
* Rising Stars: Tom Aspinall’s journey to undisputed champion,despite the unfortunate circumstances surrounding his title win,highlights his potential as a dominant force in the heavyweight division.
Looking ahead to 2026
The new year promises to be another exciting chapter in the UFC’s story. With pereira firmly established as middleweight champion and Aspinall aiming to make a prosperous return in the heavyweight division, 2026 is poised to deliver compelling matchups and potentially usher in a new era of dominance. The focus will be on building momentum in the heavyweight division and seeing if Pereira can maintain his reign at middleweight against a hungry field of contenders.