By delivering electrifying knockouts over former champion Alexander Volkanovski and the legendary Max Holloway in the span of eight months, UFC featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria can count himself among the top MMA fighters in the world, with him residing at number four on the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings as of this writing. Now a cemented champion with one title defense over the aforementioned Holloway in 2024, Topuria will look to improve upon his budding reign and legacy with an even more spectacular 2025.
This endeavor will not come without its challenges, however. From more former title holders to divisional dark horses, the Spaniard will have a lot on his plate heading into the new year. Given his track record of following through on his predictions, though, it wouldn’t come as a major surprise if the Spaniard ends next year with gold still firmly wrapped around his waist.
Now, let’s take a look at who UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria could defend his title against in 2025.
Alexander Volkanovski
Back in February at UFC 298, Topuria secured the 145-lb strap with a positively vicious second knockout of former five-time defending champion Alexander Volkanovski. The defeat marked “The Great”’s first ever loss in the division, and also his second KO setback in a row following being finished with a head kick by lightweight champion Islam Makhachev earlier that October. Taking the first round on all three judges’ cards, Volkanovski looked to be getting the better of “El Matador” on the feet until Topuria skillfully weaved his way inside and clipped the champion with a solid right hook in the clinch.
In the wake of his triumph over Max Holloway at UFC 308, the Spaniard was greeted in the cage by an eager Volkanovski who cordially congratulated his usurper on his performance. In his post-fight interview, Topuria lobbied for another chance to fight the Aussie in what will easily become one of the most anticipated title rematches in some time, and with CEO Dana White seemingly on board, the matchup looks all but confirmed.
At 36 years of age, and after suffering two disastrous knockout losses in quick succession, the sun may have just set on the glory days of Volkanovski’s storied UFC career. Though, given his reputation as a company man, and considering his lengthy time as champion, he is more than deserving of receiving an immediate rematch to once again regain his throne.
Diego Lopes
Other than dropping his promotional debut to the undefeated Russian grappler, Movsar Evloev, Diego Lopes has looked nothing short of impeccable over the course of his run in the UFC. Since the defeat, the Brazilian phenom has competed five times (making him one of the most active fighters on the roster), winning all five bouts over some stiff opposition like Sodiq Yusuff and Dan Ige. In his last outing to the Octagon at UFC 306, Lopes notched the biggest win of his career by dominating previous two-time title challenger Brian Ortega by unanimous decision, likely earning himself a shot at the strap in the process.
A slight roadblock stands between him and the championship, however, as Topuria and former champion Alexander Volkanovski appear to be on a collision course in a runback from their encounter earlier in the year. Regardless of who comes out on top, Lopes has all but earned his chance to face the winner in a high-profile main event sometime in 2025.
Unlike most of the other contenders in the weight class, Lopes presents a different kind of challenge to either Topuria or Volkanovski. While his boxing isn’t anything to scoff at, his bread and butter is his superb Jiu-Jitsu ability, being possibly the top grappler in the division. Should the Brazilian manage to bring the Spaniard or the Aussie to the canvas, then it is a strong possibility that fans will see the emergence of the first South American UFC Featherweight champion since José Aldo.
The winner of Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling
Coming up in December at UFC 310 is a pivotal 145-lb. pairing between Movsar Evloev and former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling. Whoever gets their hand raised at this event might find themselves being bumped into consideration for the next shot at the belt.
Embarking on a quiet but successful rise up the featherweight rankings over the past five years, Evloev has compiled a laundry list of wins against the best the division has to offer such as Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, and Arnold Allen. Although he isn’t recording any finishes in most of his bouts, the Russian grappler has remained a perfect dominant force. In a hypothetical meeting with Topuria, the stalwart wrestling of Evloev could give the champion a challenge should he manage to steer clear of his sharp boxing.
With a pedigree such as Sterling’s, coming out of the world-famous Serra-Longo Fight Team and having been a three-time defending champion in the past, he is no stranger to tussling with some of the most elite fighters on the planet. In a matchup with Topuria, however, the former 135-lb. king will have his work cut out for him, as “El Matador” will likely hit much harder than anyone Sterling has met before. To avoid a repeat of his defeat to Sean O’Malley in 2023, the New Yorker’s Jiu-Jitsu game will be paramount for negating the surgical offense of the Spaniard.
