3 UFC World Title Fights Fans Are Desperate To See

As we enter a new year in the world of the UFC, 3 world title fights have already been scheduled to take place in early 2025. With 2024 having brought us 19 title contests, it’s safe to assume there are plenty more exciting match ups still in the works for the new year.

Let’s take a look at 3 UFC world title fights that fans need to see in 2025.

Must-See UFC World Title Fights For 2025

Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev, Light Heavyweight

What a year Alex Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) had in 2024. “Poatan” carried the UFC on his back at times, stepping up to the plate on two occasions to save the day when the promotion needed a star name to place at the top of a pay-per-view fight card.

After Dana White promised UFC 300 would be one of the greatest UFC cards of all time, his search for an appropriate headline act brought him to the doorstep of his newly-crowned light heavyweight champion Pereira, and a former holder of the 205 lb title, Jamahal Hill.

As the star-studded fight card delivered a litany of exceptional moments (not least Max Holloway’s jaw-dropping KO of Justin Gaethje), Pereira ended the night in spectacular fashion by finishing Hill with his patented left hook in one of the most dominant of UFC world title fights of the year.

The Brazilian returned just eleven weeks later to replace Conor McGregor at UFC 303 during International Fight Week and another knockout finish followed, this time via headkick against another former champion, Jiri Prochazka.

Pereira rounded off a fantastic first year as champion by finishing Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 in October and now looks to have one clear contender left to face at 205 lbs.

Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) won both his fights inside the Octagon in 2024, knocking out Johnny Walker in January before dominating Aleksandar Rakic over three rounds at UFC 308 in October. The Dagestani’s lack of star power has perhaps counted against him in his bid to get a title shot to date, but with Pereira having finished every other viable contender in the division, now is the time for Ankalaev to challenge for championship gold.

Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria, Lightweight

Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) is set to headline the first pay-per-view event of 2025 when he defends his lightweight strap against Armen Tsarukyan at UFC 311 on January 18th. Makhacehev competed just once in 2024 (submitting Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June) but should he overcome Tsarukyan at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles next month, the prospect of a superfight with 145 lb champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) could be a viable option.

Topuria, who knocked out two featherweight greats in 2024 (Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway), hinted at a move up to lightweight during a recent interview on Spanish radio, something his coach Jorge Climent seemed to be on board with.

“Yeah, the real thing, I think, is he hates to cut weight,” Climent told Submission Radio. “He does it a lot of times, and it’s very hard every time we do it. He doesn’t want to do this anymore, and that’s why he wants to go up to the next weight class, you know, because he thinks his normal weight is in that weight class.”

Topuria has denied rumors he will vacate his featherweight title and his future remains unclear, but should Makhachev successfully defend his belt against Tsarukyan in January, we can expect the topic of a superfight between the two champions to dominate headlines over the next few months.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, Heavyweight

The most talked-about among UFC world title fights that never happened in 2024. The potential heavyweight unification bout between reigning champion Jon Jones (28-1-1NC MMA, 22-1-1NC UFC) and interim champion Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) seemed to hog all of the media attention in the lead up to Jones’ return to action at UFC 309 in November, where he beat Stipe Miocic to successfully defend his belt.

That fight happened more than a year after Aspinall won his interim title by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. The Brit also defended that belt when he took just one minute to finish Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July.

With Jones repeatedly stating he has no plans to face Aspinall, there is still uncertainty as to whether UFC President Dana White can get this one over the line in 2025. Speaking at the post-fight press conference following the final UFC event of 2024 in Tampa, earlier this month, White confirmed his interest in getting both of his heavyweight champions into the Octagon together for the biggest of UFC world title fights.

“100 percent,” White said when asked if the heavyweight unification bout is the biggest he can make in 2025. “I think it’s probably the biggest fight in heavyweight history and it’s a massive fight in the history of the company, too. It’s a big fight.”