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2025 in UFC

From Alfawiki
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Company typePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded1993; 33 years ago (1993)
Headquarters
United States
,
United States
Key people
Dana White (CEO)
ParentTKO Group Holdings

The year 2025 represents the 33rd anniversary of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a premier mixed martial arts organization headquartered in the United States.

Le v. Zuffa

On August 9, 2023, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware certified a class action on behalf of more than 1,200 former UFC fighters who competed from December 2010 through June 2017. These fighters are pursuing claims for $800 million to $1.6 billion in unpaid wages, asserting that Zuffa engaged in monopolistic conduct to suppress their earnings. Under antitrust statutes, plaintiffs may seek treble damages, which could result in liabilities for UFC reaching several billion dollars. The trial was originally set for April 8, 2024. On March 20, 2024, UFC’s parent firm, TKO Group Holdings, agreed to a $335 million settlement with tax-deductible provisions. Nevertheless, on July 31, 2024, Judge Boulware declined to grant preliminary approval of the settlement and postponed the trial to October. Ultimately, on February 6, 2025, final approval was granted for a $375 million settlement. Of this amount, roughly $240 million to $260 million will be distributed over the following year to qualifying fighters from the relevant timeframe, with $40 million earmarked for legal fees and administrative expenses.

Johnson v. Zuffa

As per court documents filed in July 2025, the Johnson v. Zuffa antitrust lawsuit initiated in 2021 remains ongoing, with a status conference planned for August 2025.

Cirkunovs v. Zuffa and Davis v. Zuffa

In May 2025, two additional antitrust suits were brought against the UFC. The first, led by former competitor Misha Cirkunov, contests the validity of arbitration agreements and class action waivers contained in UFC contracts. The second lawsuit, filed by ex-fighter Phil Davis, alleges that UFC’s anticompetitive behavior has hindered non-UFC fighters’ ability to secure equitable compensation.

Paramount and CBS media agreement

On August 11, 2025, UFC finalized a seven-year media rights contract with Paramount Skydance Corporation valued at $7.7 billion. Starting in 2026, all UFC events will be exclusively streamed on Paramount+, including thirteen premier events and thirty Fight Nights annually; select numbered events will also be broadcast on CBS. This arrangement transitions UFC away from pay-per-view models toward streaming access without additional fees. Dana White, UFC’s CEO, confirmed that four major annual cards will air on CBS, featuring an event scheduled for June 27, 2026 at the White House.

Departures and retirements

The following fighters have either been released from their UFC contracts, announced retirement, or signed with other promotions:

  • Abdul Razak Alhassan – Released March – Middleweight
  • Ahmad Sohail Hassanzada – Released April – Lightweight
  • Alex Caceres – Signed with Dirty Boxing May – Featherweight
  • Andrea Lee – Released March – Women’s Flyweight
  • Alvin Hines – Released August – Heavyweight
  • André Muniz – Released October – Middleweight
  • Ange Loosa – Released July – Welterweight
  • Anthony Smith – Retired April – Light Heavyweight
  • Antonina Shevchenko – Retired March – Women’s Flyweight
  • Ariane da Silva – Released June – Women’s Flyweight
  • Armen Petrosyan – Contract expired March – Middleweight
  • Austin Hubbard – Released September – Lightweight
  • Azat Maksum – Released October – Flyweight
  • Bill Algeo – Retired February – Featherweight
  • Brad Katona – Released June – Bantamweight
  • Brogan Walker – Released October – Women’s Flyweight
  • Bryan Battle – Released August – Welterweight
  • Caolan Loughran – Released April – Bantamweight
  • Bruno Silva – Released May – Middleweight
  • C.J. Vergara – Released April – Flyweight
  • Carlos Hernandez – Released May – Flyweight
  • Chris Barnett – Released November – Heavyweight
  • Choi Seung-woo – Released April – Featherweight
  • Cheyanne Vlismas – Retired June – Women’s Strawweight
  • Chris Weidman – Retired January – Middleweight
  • Clay Guida – Released January – Lightweight
  • Cody Stamann – Released February – Bantamweight
  • Connor Matthews – Released June – Featherweight
  • Cortavious Romious – Released April – Bantamweight
  • Daniel Argueta – Retired April – Bantamweight
  • Danny Barlow – Released October – Middleweight
  • Danny Roberts – Released January – Welterweight
  • Diana Belbiţă – Retired April – Women’s Flyweight
  • Dominick Cruz – Retired February – Bantamweight
  • Don'Tale Mayes – Released May – Heavyweight
  • Dustin Poirier – Retired July – Lightweight
  • Dylan Budka – Released February – Middleweight
  • Felipe dos Santos – Released July – Flyweight
  • Gabriel Miranda – Released April – Featherweight
  • Guram Kutateladze – Released April – Lightweight
  • Hamdy Abdelwahab – Released October – Heavyweight
  • Hakeem Dawodu – Released June – Featherweight
  • Holly Holm – Voluntarily released January – Women’s Bantamweight
  • Ihor Potieria – Released January – Middleweight
  • Irina Alekseeva – Released October – Women’s Bantamweight
  • Isaac Dulgarian – Released November – Featherweight
  • Istela Nunes – Released April – Women’s Flyweight
  • Ivana Petrović – Released May – Women’s Flyweight
  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik – Released February – Heavyweight
  • Jalin Turner – Retired March – Lightweight
  • Jamal Pogues – Released February – Heavyweight
  • Jimmy Flick – Released May – Flyweight
  • Joe Solecki – Retired February – Lightweight
  • Jon Jones – Retired June – Heavyweight
  • Jonathan Pearce – Released February – Featherweight
  • Jordan Vucenic – Released July – Lightweight
  • José Johnson – Released January – Flyweight
  • José Aldo – Retired May – Featherweight
  • Josefine Lindgren Knutsson – Signed with GFL — Women’s Strawweight
  • Joshua Culibao — Released February — Featherweight
  • Julia Avila — Retired February — Women’s Bantamweight
  • Julian Marquez — Released March — Middleweight
  • Julija Stoliarenko — Released August — Women’s Flyweight
  • Julio Arce — Signed with GFL — Featherweight
  • Justin Tafa — Released October — Heavyweight
  • Kang Kyung-ho — Retired January — Bantamweight
  • Kevin Jousset — Released April — Welterweight
  • Kiefer Crosbie — Released November — Welterweight
  • Kron Gracie — Released June — Featherweight
  • Kurt Holobaugh — Released November — Lightweight

Landon Quiñones — Released March — Lightweight

Lucas Alexander — Released April — Featherweight Magomed Gadzhiyasulov — Released January — Light Heavyweight Maheshate Hayisaer —Released September—Lightweight

  • Marcos Rogério de Lima —Released March—Heavyweight
  • Marina Rodriguez —Retired May—Women’s StrawWeight
  • Martin Buday —Released July—HeavyWeight
  • [Maryna Moroz]—Released September—Women’s FlyWeight
  • [Matthew Semelsberger]—Released February—WelterWeight
  • Michał Figlak—Released January—LightWeight

Melissa Martinez—Released September—Women’s StrawWeight

  • [Molly McCann]—Retired March—Women’s StrawWeight
  • [Montana De La Rosa]—Released March—Women’s FlyWeight
  • Natan Levy—Released February—LightWeight
  • Nikolay Veretennikov—Released February—WelterWeight
  • [Paul Craig]—Retired September—Light HeavyWeight

Preston Parsons—Released September—WelterWeight Pedro Falcão—Released April—BantamWeight Quang Le—Released November—BantamWeight Rolando Bedoya—Released November—LightWeight

  • [Roosevelt Roberts]—Released February—LightWeight
  • [Taylor Lapilus]—Released February—BantamWeight
  • [Tony Ferguson]—Signed with GFL—WelterWeight
  • [Trevin Giles]—Released July—WelterWeight
  • [Urijah Faber]—Released January—BantamWeight

Victor Hugo—Released January—FeatherWeight Victoria Dudakova—Released January-Women’s StrawWeight

  • [Vinc Pichel]—Retired April-LightWeight
  • [Viviane Araújo (fighter)]—Released July-Women’s FlyWeight
  • [Walt Harris (fighter)]—Released March-HeavyWeight
  • [Warlley Alves]—Departed February-MiddleWeight

Westin Wilson—Released September-FeatherWeight Yanal Ashmouz—Released November-LightWeight

UFC Debutants

The fighters listed below entered the UFC for the first time during 2025:

Fighters Under Suspension

The table below enumerates fighters currently suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), regional regulatory bodies, or the UFC itself due to doping infractions, disciplinary issues, or other violations.

"|Template:Country data 'BRA'Template:Namespace detect showall" "|Template:Country data 'USA'Template:Namespace detect showall" "|Template:Country data 'USA'Template:Namespace detect showall" "|Template:Country data 'UZB'Template:Namespace detect showall" "|Template:Country data 'UKR'Template:Namespace detect showall"
ISO Name Nickname Weight Class Start Date Suspension Length Violation / Details Authority Return Eligibility Ref. Additional Notes
United States Walt Harris The Big Ticket Heavyweight
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 4 years Use of Drostanolone, synthetic testosterone, and Anastrozole CSAD
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 Released from UFC as of March 2025.
Template:Country data ARMTemplate:Namespace detect showall Arman Tsarukyan Akhalkalakets Lightweight
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 9 months Involved in pre-fight conflict with spectator at UFC 300 Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC)
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 Fined $25,000; suspension may be reduced to six months upon completion of an approved anti-bullying PSA.
Template:Country data EGYTemplate:Namespace detect showall Hamdy Abdelwahab 'The Hammer' Heavyweight
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 6 months Detected exogenous testosterone use CSAD
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
Template:Country data IRETemplate:Namespace detect showall "Conor McGregor" "Notorious" "Lightweight" "2024-09-20" "18 months" "Three missed drug whereabouts notifications in the year" "CSAD" "2026-03-20" "" ""
"Template:Country data RUSTemplate:Namespace detect showall" "Azamat Murzakanov" "The Professional" "Light Heavyweight" "2024-11-01" "6 months" "Presence of LGD-4033 metabolites" "CSAD" "2025-05-01" "Second violation within the UFC." ""
"United States" "Dennis Buzukja" "The Great" "Lightweight" "2024-12-07" "9 months" "Altercation with fan at UFC 310 event" "NSAC" "2025-09-07" "Fine of $2,500 plus legal fees; community service may reduce suspension." ""
"Template:Country data BRATemplate:Namespace detect showall" "Marcos Rogério de Lima" "Pezão" "Heavyweight" "2025-01-24" "1 year" "Use of Anastrozole" "CSAD" "2026-01-24" "Second offense in the UFC; parted ways in March of this year." ""
"Template:Country data UKRTemplate:Namespace detect showall" "Danylo Voievodkin" "" "Heavyweight" "2024-11-10" "2 years" "Meldonium detected" "CSAD" "2026-11-10" "Departed organization in March." ""
'Douglas Silva de Andrade' 'D-Silva' 'Bantamweight' '2025-02-28' '6 months' 'Furosemide detected' 'CSAD' '2025-08-28'
'Sean Strickland' 'Tarzan' 'Middleweight' '2025-06-29' '6 months' 'Involved in altercation at Tuff-N-Uff event' 'NSAC' '2025-12-29' '$5,000 fine plus legal fees; anger management program may reduce suspension.'
'Alvin Hines' 'Goozie' 'Heavyweight' '2025-07-11' '1 year' 'Anabolic steroid Drostanolone usage' 'CSAD' '2026-07-11' 'Left the organization in August.'
'Ramazan Temirov' 'Temurlan' 'Flyweight' '2025-07-05' '1 year' 'Trimetazidine detected' 'CSAD' '2026-07-05'
'Maryna Moroz' 'The Iron Lady' 'Women's Flyweight' '2025-07-17' '1 year' 'Meldonium presence' 'CSAD' '2026-07-17' 'Exited the promotion in September.'

The Ultimate Fighter

The season of The Ultimate Fighter broadcasted in the year was:

Season Weight Class Champion Runner-up
The Ultimate Fighter 33 Flyweight Joseph Morales Alibi Idiris
Welterweight Daniil Donchenko Rodrigo Sezinando

Championship Bouts

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Template:MMAtitle bout (c) ||def. ||Zhang Weili}} ||Decision(unanimous)(50–45,50–45,50–45) ||5 ||5:00 ||[ [ U F C _322 ]] ||For the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship. }}

       

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

Upcoming Events

Event Date Venue City Country Reference
UFC on ESPN: Royval vs. Kape
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 UFC Apex Las Vegas, Nevada United States [1]
UFC 323: Dvalishvili vs. Yan 2
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 T-Mobile Arena [2]

Historical Events

...
# Event Date Venue City Country Attendance Reference Fight of the Night Performance of the Night Bonus Amount Reference
756 UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 Ali Bin Hamad al-Attiyah Arena Al Rayyan Qatar data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — [3] — Arman Tsarukyan Waldo Cortes-Acosta $50,000 [4]
Kyoji Horiguchi Luke Riley
755 UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev
  1. REDIRECT Template:Date table sorting
 Madison Square Garden New York City United States 20,664 [5] — Michael Morales Carlos Prates $50,000 [6]
Benoît Saint Denis Bo Nickal

(Note: The table continues with additional past UFC event entries, including event number, title, date, location, attendance figures, references, and awarded bonuses.)

Related Topics

External links

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