With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best fights from August 2025: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Month award for August.
At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting on your choice.
Nominee: Esteban Ribovics def. Elves Brener at UFC on ESPN 71
In a strikers’ delight lightweight slugfest, Esteban Ribovics (15-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Elves Brener (16-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) somehow each landed 123 total strikes.
But where Brener tried to make a difference was in takedowns – and Ribovics stuffed all nine of them in a highly entertaining scrap.
Nominee: Steve Erceg def. Ode Osbourne at UFC on ESPN 72
Former UFC flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg (13-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) got a much-needed win against Ode Osbourne (13-9 MMA, 5-7 UFC), but it wasn’t without experiencing a shaky moment at first.
Erceg overcame being rocked by Osbourne in the first round, but then he managed to rally back, have moments of his own and get his hand raised by unanimous decision against a short-notice opponent at bantamweight.
Nominee: Alfie Davis def. Gadzhi Rabadanov at 2025 PFL 9
English fighter Alfie Davis (20-5-1) was crowned champion of the 2025 PFL lightweight tournament after outpointing Gadzhi Rabadanov (26-5-2) as a sizeable underdog,
Although he didn’t do a ton of damage on Rabadanov, Davis clearly landed the better shots of the fight and was far more active than Rabadanov on the feet. Rabadanov made the fight close by pressuring Davis and controlling him at times with his wrestling. Unfortunately for Rabadanov, he didn’t do enough damage with his control, ultimately losing a close decision.
Nominee: Lazaro Dayron def. Bryce Meredith at 2025 PFL 10
Lazaro Dayron (9-0-1) built his status as a dangerous bantamweight to watch when he ended Meredith’s (7-1) unbeaten run in MMA by third-round finish.
There were several back-and-forth exchanges highlighted by dramatic moments in the opening round and beyond. Each side was fatigued from the battle, but Dayron had more in the tank and landed one final big punch that floored his opponent and led to the TKO at the 4:06 mark of Round 3.
The winner: Chris Duncan def. Mateusz Rebecki at UFC on ESPN 71
American Top Team teammates and occasional training partners Chris Duncan (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Mateusz Rebecki (20-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) put on an absolute banger.
The lightweights had a tough act to follow right after Ribovics vs. Brener one fight prior, and somehow did so with a Fight of the Year candidate.
Rebecki was about a 2-1 favorite in the fight, but left disappointed as Duncan was awarded the unanimous decision victory. Both fighters left the cage a bloody mess and had to be transported to an area hospital following the bout.
