Changing of the guard: Every new UFC champion crowned in 2025

UFC title fights in 2025 produced iconic moments, multiple bonus-earning performances, and the birth of new reigns.

Titles changed hands often over the past 12 months, creating a new record and a brand new landscape for the majority of the divisions heading into the new year.

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Take a look at the names and numbers of the new champions (in order of lightest to heaviest weight class) who enter 2025 with UFC gold around their waist:

Inside the numbers

• UFC titles changed hands 11 times during 2025. The record in a single calendar year is 12, which occurred in 2016. Titles changed hands 11 times in 2017 and 2024.

• Nine out of 11 weight classes across men’s and women’s divisions crowned a new champion, a new UFC record. The previous highest total was eight, which occurred in 2016 and 2017.

• Three fighters became two-time champions in 2025. The record is four, which occurred in 2022.

• Two fighters became two-division champions in 2025.

• One fighter defended a title in one weight class and won a title in another.

• Two fighters became champions and lost their title in 2025.

• One fighter was elevated from interim to undisputed status without competing.

Zhang Weili, who was attempting to chase two-divisional greatness, created an opportunity for someone to capture the vacant women’s strawweight title, and that person would be Mackenzie Dern.

Dern (16-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) began her year with a third-round submission win over Amanda Ribas in January. In October at UFC 321, a vacant title opportunity presented itself, and Dern faced Virna Jandiroba for a career-defining chance. After 25 minutes, Dern was declared the winner unanimously in Abu Dhabi.

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While it may not have been in the manner he wanted, Joshua Van made good on his championship promise.

At UFC 323, Van (16-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) faced long-reigning flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight lasted only 26 seconds and ended abruptly due to an injury to Pantoja. Regardless of how it happened, Van exited 2025 with the UFC flyweight title, riding a six-fight winning streak.

Kayla Harrison, women’s bantamweight

Once she entered the UFC, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Kayla Harrison would get her hands on the UFC women’s bantamweight title. It only took her three fights in the UFC to make that a reality.

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At UFC 316, Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) took on Julianna Peña in the co-main event. The Olympic gold medalist Harrison took the title from Peña with a second-round kimura, adding another trophy to her case, and setting up a massive fight to start 2026 against UFC Hall of Famer Amanda Nunes.

Petr Yan, men’s bantamweight

Petr Yan is once again back on top of the men’s bantamweight division.

Merab Dvalishvili was on the verge of making history, attempting a fourth title defense in a calendar year. Yan (20-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC) had other ideas, though, and stopped “The Machine’s” incredible run by winning their rematch by unanimous decision. The fight looked much different than the first, which took place in 2023.

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Yan first won the UFC bantamweight title by stopping Jose Aldo at UFC 251. He would lose it by DQ against Aljamain Sterling in his first attempt at defending. He then won the interim title at UFC 267, but failed to unify in a rematch against Sterling at UFC 273.

Yan enters 2026 with gold around his waist, on a four-fight winning streak.

Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed the UFC featherweight title in his only appearance of 2025.

The title was left vacant due to Ilia Topuria moving up to challenge for the 155-pound title, and Volkanovski (27-4 MMA, 14-3 UFC) capitalized. At UFC 314 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Volkanovski took on Diego Lopes in the main event. Volkanovski pushed through a tough Fight of the Night battle to reclaim the title by unanimous decision.

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Volkanovski recorded four title defenses during his first reign. He then attempted to win the lightweight title twice, but came up short in both opportunities. In his featherweight title return, he dropped the title to Topuria, but was able to capture it again in his absence.

Ilia Topuria, lightweight

Ilia Topuria joined elite company by becoming a two-division champion in 2025.

After recording a title defense at featherweight last October, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) decided it was time to move up to lightweight to chase a second title. His opportunity came at UFC 317 against former champion Charles Oliveira, as they challenged for the title Islam Makhachev left vacant in his move up to welterweight.

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Topuria was nearly flawless, knocking out Oliveira midway through the first round.

Through just nine UFC fights, Topuria has reached the pinnacle of two divisions and has teased the desire to go after a third.

Islam Makhachev, welterweight

Jack Della Maddalena won the UFC welterweight title by winning a unanimous decision over Belal Muhammad at UFC 315, but would lose his throne by the end of the year.

Islam Makhachev became a two-division champion, winning title fights in the lightweight and welterweight divisions in 2025.

Starting his year at UFC 311 in January, Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) submitted Renato Moicano to record his fourth lightweight title defense. He then moved up to welterweight to face Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November. Makhachev won the fight by unanimous decision to get his infamous picture with two UFC titles over his shoulders.

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Khamzat Chimaev finally got his opportunity to fight for a UFC title in 2025, and made the most of it.

Chimaev was instantly labeled as a future champion after his debut in the promotion, and reached gold in his ninth UFC fight. At UFC 319 at United Center in Chicago, Chimaev faced Dricus Du Plessis in the main event. Chimaev completely dominated the fight on the mat to begin his championship reign.

Alex Pereira, light heavyweight

Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira at UFC 313, winning by unanimous decision. However, the title would return to Pereira a few months later.

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At UFC 320, Pereira got his revenge against Ankalaev, in a fight that was vastly different than their first meeting. This time around, Pereira was able to connect early with his powerful striking ability, resulting in a first-round knockout in just 80 seconds.

Pereira first tasted UFC gold in the middleweight division. He then became a two-division champion in 2023, and defended the title three times before losing to Ankalaev. He enters 2026 on his third UFC title reign.

And still

These fighters entered the year as champion, and maintained their position heading into 2026.

• Valentina Shevchenko – Women’s flyweight

  • Shevchenko fought twice in 2025, winning unanimous decisions against Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili. The results were the first and second title defenses of her second reign.

• Tom Aspinall – heavyweight

  • Aspinall began the year as interim champion, but was elevated to undisputed when Jon Jones retired in June. Aspinall made one appearance, although it was a no contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Changing of the guard: Every new UFC champion crowned in 2025