Overview
- Islam Makhachev set the lightweight defense record in January and won the welterweight title in November, earning Fighter of the Year from MMA Fighting and other outlets.
- Petr Yan was CBS Sports’ Fighter of the Year after outclassing Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 323 to reclaim the bantamweight crown, stopping Dvalishvili’s bid for a fourth defense in one year.
- Joshua Van’s short-notice thriller against Brandon Royval at UFC 317 was CBS Sports’ Fight of the Year, and Van later took the flyweight title when Alexandre Pantoja was injured early in their bout.
- MMA Junkie named UFC 317 its Event of the Year, highlighted by Ilia Topuria’s first-round knockout of Charles Oliveira to claim the lightweight championship and a slate of notable finishes.
- Opinion writers urged clearer policies before the UFC’s January move to Paramount+, including a proposed “three-fight rule” that would require champions to log three defenses before changing divisions.