The illusive UFC megafight. The one that gets all fans, whether they are casual fans, experts, hardcore, journalists or, in fact, the UFC brass excited, hypothesizing, predicting and anticipating the bout itself. 2024 was a good year for a UFC megafight. We had UFC 300, where arguably the most anticipated fight was Max Holloway vs Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 and Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic. In previous years we’ve had megastars such as Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal competing multiple times a year.
This year, however, the UFC seems devoid of megastars or megafights. Outside of Alex Pereira, Ilia Topuria, Makhachev and the unreliable, aging, near retirement, Jon Jones, no one drives huge numbers.
Simply put, there is now a UFC megafight on the horizon, but it comes at a cost.
Forgotten Stars of the UFC Megafight scene
Let’s take a look at some of the former UFC megafight stalwarts that we’ve had in recent years.
Conor McGregor is not going to fight in the UFC in 2025. He’s wrapped up in promoting Bare Knuckle, battling legal cases and attempting to stay relevant. Having not picked up a win of any type since 2020, it’s fair to say ‘The Mac’ will not be back.
Nate Diaz would still bring in huge numbers and, unlike McGregor, has been active in combat sports since leaving the UFC. Yes, he’s been a part of the Jake Paul circus, however, he did pick up a win against Masvidal. Don’t expect to see him in a UFC octagon any time soon though.
Another guaranteed megastar came in the form of Jorge Masvidal, however, the 40 year old hasn’t tasted victory in any form of combat sports since his 2019 win over Diaz in New York. There isn’t a huge pull to see him back in the UFC.
Unfortunately for The Last Stylebender, Israel Adesnaya is no longer deemed a huge star that could substantiate a UFC megafight. He’s on a three fight losing run and has only won one of his last four. Having headlined 12 PPVs, he’s a huge loss to the megafight scene.
Topuria vs Makhachev – The only option
Dana White has backed himself into a corner after allowing former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria to move up to lightweight. There is clearly only one fight to make.
Ilia Topuria will vacate his undisputed UFC featherweight title with plans to move up to lightweight, Dana White announced.
Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes will fight for the vacant featherweight title at UFC 314 in Miami on April 12. pic.twitter.com/36OYhxKdzk
— ESPN (@espn) February 20, 2025
Makhachev vs Topuria for lightweight gold is the old megafight that the UFC can make at the current time. It’s an interesting clash of styles between two men who are in the best form of their lives. With his last fight being the exception, Makhachev has fought a whos who of champions and former champions and dominated in each and every fight. Last time out he took on a new opponent on short notice, only to dominate him in 4:05 to retain his title. He holds the record for most consecutive UFC lightweight title defences with four and, aside from a man who the UFC have said won’t be next (Arman Tsarukyan), there isn’t a clear contender.
Enter, El Matador, the hard-hitting, undefeated featherweight kingpin, Topuria. He’s scored two of the biggest wins in recent history by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski before knocking out Max Holloway in an epic battle to not only capture, but to retain the 145lbs gold. Despite huge knockouts in his last two bouts, he’s recorded more submission victories during his career, eight in 16 wins.
Or are the UFC holding out for UFC 315?
UFC 315’s main event sees Makhachev’s teammate, Belal Muhammad look to make the first defence of his welterweight title against Jack Della Maddalena. It’s been an unwritten rule that members of Team Khabib and American Kickboxing Academy won’t meet each other in the octagon, so Muhammad is standing in the way of Makhachev and the 170lbs title shot. The Russian is certainly big enough to make a run at 170lbs and wouldn’t be undersized at all at the weight, despite the 15lbs jump.
If, and it’s a very big if Maddalena can defeat Muhammad in Canada in May, the UFC could look at booking Makhachev for the welterweight title shot. If he can’t get past Chicago native, Makhachev vs Topuria is far more likely.
