Ultimate Insider UFC awards as fighter, knockout, battle and submission of 2025 determined
ULTIMATE INSIDER UFC COLUMN: Our UFC expert Gary Hitchcock looks back on a red-hot year inside the Octagon with the fighter, knockout, fight and submission of 2025 decided
Yes the full list has finally been released for the 2025 Insider Awards as I look back on another red-hot year in the Octagon. Unlike the General Election, there won’t be any buyer’s remorse as we highlight the standout, knockout and tap-out moments of the year. And the winners are…
Fighter of the Year: Islam Makhachev
The new king of the welterweight division seems to be playing 4D chess while his rivals are still asking, ‘How does the horse move again?’. Starting the year by retaining his lightweight title against late-change opponent Renato Moicano, the Dagestan star relinquished the belt in the summer, having made a record four successive defences.
Bulking up to 170lbs, and on the back of a 15-fight winning streak, was granted a shot at champion Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November. For cricket fans, it was nice to see an Aussie on the wrong end of a one-sided beating as Makhachev got the best of ‘JDM’ in every department. Former champ Kamaru Usman looks likely to be his first challenger in 2026, but is unlikely to be his last title defence.
Honourable mention: In a category that was far from black and white, it is fitting that ‘The Dalmatian’ Melquizael Costa gets a nod. The Brazilian featherweight went the year undefeated, going 4-0, with his last an eye-catching headkick KO of Morgan Charriere.
Knockout of the Year: Lerone Murphy
I have had carpet laid that has gone down less flat than Aaron Pico at UFC 319 in August. Manchester’s Murphy was the former Bellator champion’s welcoming committee to the Octagon, but his launch went about as well as the Metaverse. ‘The Miracle’ hit a perfect spinning back elbow on the American in round one that while it didn’t quite shatter his jaw, it did do that to any illusions Pico might be shot to the top.
On the back of such a spectacular win, many, including featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, expected unbeaten Murphy to land the next title shot. While Diego Lopes will rematch with the Aussie next month, the Brit is set to headline UFC London in March against Movsar Evloev.
Honorable mention: Ilia Topuria established himself as an all-time great with his knockout – using a right-hand, left-hook combo – of Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 in June to land the vacant lightweight belt.
Fight of the Year: Chris Duncan v Mateusz Rebecki, UFC Vegas 108, August
Scot Duncan has had the biggest year of his career and sandwiched between submission wins over Jordan Vucenic and Terrance McKinney was his absolute war with Polish lightweight Rebecki. Both men finished the fight at the Apex with cuts and bruises that would make Rocky blush, with ‘The Problem’ getting his hand raised after three brutal rounds of all-out action. An instant classic.
Honourable mention: Merab Dvalishvili could have won every category as he chased immortality in 2025, only falling at the final hurdle against Petr Yan. His five-round battle with Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January, as he defended his bantamweight title, was ultimately the high point.
Submission of the Year: Mackenzie Dern
With Ronda Rousey’s signature armbar helping to draw many people into MMA, Dern’s tap-out of Amanda Ribas in January was a fantastic throwback as the Brazilian earned a shot at the strawweight title.
Dern, having joined the UFC in 2018, finally fulfilled the potential many saw in her in November when she won the vacant crown against fellow countrywoman Virna Jandiroba.
Honourable mention: Anthony ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez’s absolutely dismissive rear-naked choke on Roman Dolidze in August earmarked him as a middleweight on the rise.
