Overview
- Multiple outlets released multi-part roundups and awards lists that revisit all 42 UFC events, selecting one defining moment per card and naming 2025’s top submissions and knockouts.
- Championship storylines featured Alexander Volkanovski reclaiming featherweight gold at UFC 314, Ilia Topuria securing a second division title at UFC 317, and Khamzat Chimaev winning middleweight gold at UFC 319.
- Islam Makhachev’s short-notice first-round submission of Renato Moicano at UFC 311 stood out after Arman Tsarukyan withdrew the day before the event.
- Technique trends and records dominated coverage, with Valter Walker breaking the mark for consecutive heel-hook wins and a wave of spectacular spinning elbows and head kicks highlighted by Lerone Murphy and Mauricio Ruffy.
- Submission and KO honors coalesced around Anthony Hernandez’s choke of Roman Dolidze and Costello Van Steenis’ last-minute rear-naked choke of Johnny Eblen, as the year closed with UFC’s final ESPN-era card on Dec. 13 and Dustin Poirier’s retirement noted among the year’s milestones.