Mid-Year Analysis of UFC Divisions: A Look at Champions and Challenges
We’ve reached the first week of July and with it, the midpoint of 2025. The UFC has presented seven pay-per-view events and fifteen Fight Night cards in eight US states and seven countries internationally. We have witnessed the crowning of six new champions (one of them without needing to fight), six title defenses, and countless knockouts, submissions, and decisions. But, despite the quality of many fights in these first six months of the year, we have also seen less exciting fights, especially in some divisions that are usually a guarantee of spectacle. We analyze the performance of each division to assess the quality of the fights and the activity of the fighters.Heavyweight: Qualification F
Best fight so far: Jailton Almeida defeats Serghei Spivac by knockout in the first round.Best fight to come: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (unofficial). The heavyweight division has been stagnant, in part, due to Jon Jones’ prolonged inactivity. The title fight between Jones and Stipe Miocic was more of an exhibition event. However, with Aspinall looking to stay active, there is hope for the future.Light Heavyweight: Grade B+
Best fight so far: Magomed Ankalaev defeats Alex Pereira by unanimous decision.Best fight to come: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 (unofficial). The 205-pound division has shown a good level in 2025. The change of champion, with Ankalaev dethroning Pereira, was a key point. The return of Dominick Reyes and the rise of Carlos Ulberg have added excitement. JiYí Procházka and Khalil Rountree Jr. have also had outstanding performances.Middleweight: Grade C
Best fight so far: Roman Kopylov defeats Chris Curtis by knockout in the third round.
Best fight to come: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 319, August 16). The title fight between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland at UFC 312 did not meet expectations. However, the match between Du Plessis and Chimaev in August promises to be one of the most interesting of the year. Big things are also expected from Reinier de Ridder and Robert Whittaker, as well as the fight between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho.Welterweight: Grade A
Best fight so far: Jack Della Maddalena defeats Belal Muhammad by unanimous decision.Best fight to come: Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev (unofficial). The welterweight division has been very entertaining in 2025. The fights between Ian Machado Garry and Carlos Prates, and Kamaru Usman against Joaquin Buckley, have been exciting. The title fight between JDM and Muhammad was excellent. With Makhachev moving up from lightweight to challenge for the title, this division could be the most outstanding at the end of the year.Lightweight: C- Rating
Best fight so far: Rongzhu defeats Kody Steele by unanimous decision.Best fight to come: Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett (unofficial). The lightweight division has room for improvement. The first card of the year was disappointing, with the withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan and the cancellation of the fight between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. The absence of Dustin Poirier and Max Holloway has also had an impact. The UFC 317 main event between Topuria and Charles Oliveira was spectacular, but brief. The fight between Poirier and Holloway, with the BMF belt on the line, and Topuria’s title defense, could change the course of the division.Peso Pluma: Grade B
Best fight so far: Alexander Volkanovski defeats Diego Lopes by unanimous decision.Best fight to come: Lopes vs. Jean Silva (UFC Fight Night, September 13th). The first half of the featherweight division was solid, with Volkanovski reclaiming the title. Patricio Pitbull’s UFC debut was a highlight. The continued appearance of Silva and other emerging talents like Lerone Murphy, Youssef Zalal, and David Onama is also well-received. The division promises great emotions. The arrival of Aaron Pico in July, and the fight between Silva and Lopes in September, along with the match between Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling in August, augur an incredible second half of the year.Men’s Bantamweight: B- Ranking
Best fight so far: Merab Dvalishvili defeats Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous decision.Best fight to come: Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen (unofficial). Dvalishvili has been the leader of this division in 2025, with outstanding performances. The rest of the division has been less exciting. The fight between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong in February was interrupted by an eye poke. Petr Yan has not yet fought. The division could improve thanks to Dvalishvili.Men’s Flyweight: B Rating
Best fight so far: Joshua Van defeats Brandon Royval by unanimous decision.
Best fight to come: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Van (unofficial). Joshua Van has been the big surprise of the division. Pantoja’s next fight will be closely followed thanks to Van, but Pantoja is consolidating himself as one of the best of all time. Brandon Moreno also deserves mention. Van will have the opportunity to become UFC champion in his next fight.
Women’s Bantamweight: Ranking F
Best fight so far: Kayla Harrison defeats Julianna Peña by submission in the second round.
Best fight to come: Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes (unofficial). This division barely exists in the UFC right now. Harrison is incredible, and despite the situation, the fight between Harrison and Nunes could be one of the most important of the year. Outside of Harrison, the situation is bleak. The lack of activity of the fighters in the ranking is worrying.Women’s Flyweight: C Ranking
Best fight so far: Jasmine Jasudavicius defeats Jessica Andrade by submission in the first round.
Best fight to come: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Natalia Silva (unofficial). Flyweights have had good and bad moments in 2025. Shevchenko remains dominant, though not spectacularly. Silva seems like a promising contender, and her victory over Alexa Grasso was outstanding. Erin Blanchfield’s inactivity and the cancellation of the fight between Maycee Barber and Blanchfield, detract from the excitement of the division. We expect an improvement in the second half of the year.Women’s Strawweight: Grade D+
Best fight so far: Alice Ardelean defeats Rayanne dos Santos by unanimous decision.
Best fight to come: Zhang Weili vs. Virna Jandiroba (unofficial). In the first half of the year, this division contributed only three fights to UFC pay-per-view events. The title fight of Zhang against Tatiana Suarez was disappointing. Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo was boring. The intrigue in this division centers on Zhang, who needs help to improve her performance in the second half of the year.
