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MMA’s Biggest Storylines for 2025: Change, Opportunity, and Uncertainty
So much changes in a year. This is especially true in combat sports, where the life cycles of fighters, feuds, and trends are all accelerated to a mayfly’s pace. The business landscape of MMA, always dynamic, is poised for another seismic shift in 2025.
While we’ve spent weeks reflecting on the highlights and chaos of 2024, it’s time to turn our gaze forward. As the UFC schedule kicks off another action-packed year, here are the five biggest MMA stories to watch in 2025—and why each could define the sport’s future.
1. UFC’s Looming Broadcast Rights Deal
Change is in the air, and nowhere is that more evident than in the UFC’s broadcast rights negotiations. The current deal with ESPN expires this year, and parent company TKO is gunning for a colossal payday—reportedly eyeing a $1 billion annual figure.
This isn’t just a business decision; it’s a potential reshaping of how fans consume the sport. The idea of splitting the UFC’s content across multiple platforms—à la the NFL or NBA—is gaining traction. Netflix, fresh off its successful foray into fight sports with the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson bout, is rumored to be in the mix.
The implications are massive. Will fans be required to juggle multiple subscriptions? Will the UFC’s reach grow or shrink as a result? And, most importantly, how much will it cost to remain a die-hard MMA fan in this new era?
2. Jon Jones and the Heavyweight Division’s Future
Jon Jones spent 2024 as both champion and bottleneck for the heavyweight division. Insisting on fighting a semi-retired Stipe Miocic while ignoring the interim titleholder, Tom Aspinall, Jones brought progress to a standstill.
With Miocic retired and Jones’s options dwindling, the UFC faces a pivotal question: Will Jones finally accept a fight with Aspinall, or will the company be forced to strip him of the title? The outcome will dictate the division’s direction and could cement Aspinall’s status as the new face of heavyweight MMA—or push the UFC into yet another cycle of stalled momentum.
3. PFL’s Make-or-Break Year and the Bellator Conundrum
The PFL enters 2025 with mounting pressure. After acquiring Bellator, the organization faces criticism for sidelining fighters and slashing payouts in its marquee million-dollar tournaments. Reducing the prize to $500,000 signals trouble, especially in a landscape where standing out against the UFC juggernaut demands bold moves.
Meanwhile, Bellator’s future within the PFL ecosystem remains unclear. Will the acquisition create synergy, or will it further dilute the brand? And with a potential UFC-ESPN split, can the PFL position itself as a viable alternative? These are existential questions for an organization fighting to stay relevant.
4. Ilia Topuria’s Crossroads
Few fighters had a better 2024 than Ilia Topuria. Capturing the featherweight title and dominating the division, he became a dual-nation hero for Spain and Georgia. But 2025 brings tough decisions.
Topuria has hinted at moving up to lightweight, but the featherweight champ insists he won’t leave his title behind. However, the jump to 155 pounds has historically humbled even the most dominant 145ers. If he stays, the featherweight division remains in his iron grip; if he moves, it could open the door for new contenders while challenging Topuria to prove his dominance at a higher weight.
5. Conor McGregor: Does He Still Matter?
Once the sport’s undeniable superstar, Conor McGregor now feels like MMA’s problem child. His promises to return to the cage in 2024 ended in disappointment after a broken toe and a string of legal and public relations disasters. Even his whiskey brand and video game partnerships have distanced themselves from him.
Now, the question is whether the sport still needs McGregor—or if his time in MMA is over. Rumors of a potential boxing match with Logan Paul suggest he might already be eyeing the exit. But with the UFC thriving without him, McGregor’s relevance to the organization and the sport itself may finally be fading.
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2025 promises to be a transformative year for MMA, with high-stakes decisions shaping the sport’s business, fighters, and fans. From broadcast rights negotiations to the evolving careers of stars like Jon Jones and Ilia Topuria, this year will test MMA’s resilience and adaptability.
The only certainty in combat sports is uncertainty—and for fans, that’s part of the thrill. Buckle up; it’s going to be a wild ride.
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