This is my fourth instalment of these, and I am doing my best to make them a yearly thing.
From the list in 2022, two fights happened that year with one happened in 2025. From my 2023 list, seven of the ten fights became a reality. From my 2025 list, four fights came to fruition.
1. Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett
My original list in 2022 had this fight as a “no-brainer,” and looking back, maybe it was too soon. Both have elevated their statuses in the last four years, but their trajectory never really aligned or crossed at the right time.
Until now! Both of their last defeats have come at the hands of Justin Gaethje, and both are pinning for a rematch. Recently, with Gaethje stating he would not grant Topuria an immediate rematch, there is no better opportunity for the UFC to pitch this fight.
With their past bad blood, both outspoken, both seemingly having a nation behind them. The story really does write itself, and with an added incentive of a title eliminator, I will say again, it’s a “no-brainer”.
2. Islam Makhachev vs Ian Garry
Like him or loathe him, Ian Garry seems the last hope for the welterweight division. Islam Makhachev has held the division ransom since he won the title in October 2022, with five defences mostly relatively easy.
Garry has made “haters” with his outspoken nature, but he can fight and proved it time and again racking up 10 wins from 11 in his UFC career. However, the one stumbling block was that his one defeat was in a title eliminator against Shavkat Rakhmonov.
But since that defeat, Garry has won two straight against the dangerous Carlos Prates and former champion Bilal Muhammed and Shavkat has not fought since. In sport, if you snooze, you lose, so I am campaigning for a Garry title shot, if only for the build up.
3. Sean Strickland vs Nassourdine Imavov 2
In my eyes, Strickland was fortunate to become a two-time middleweight champion when he dethroned Chimaev on May 9th. Since the victory, there have been all sorts of variables. However, with rumours of Chimaev moving up to light heavyweight, there is no rematch.
So, who next? Admittedly, there is a strong case for Dricuss du Plessis, who has beaten Strickland twice in 2024 via split decision and in 2025 via unanimous decision. But then lost his title to Chimaev on points, but would deserve another title shot.
However, although Imavov lost to Strickland on points in 2023, since then he has been reeling off wins against names such as Cannonier, Allen, Adesanya, and Borralho. I doubt anyone in the division has a last four record like that, and for that alone, he would deserve a shot.
4. Valentina Shevchenko vs Natalia Silva
In the very complicated women’s flyweight division where the UFC had to get a dominant champion to move up to give Valentina some competition, which turned out to be no competition, Shevhcenko is fast running out of challengers and getting no younger.
However, a young upstart has unexpectedly emerged, never really convincing but earning victory after victory, rising to the occasion with every fight and now just cannot be denied. Natalie Silva is unbeaten in her UFC career with eight straight wins.
Her last three came against former champions in Andrade, Grasso and Namajunas. There is literally nobody else and nobody more deserving; this is a more of a “no brainer” than “no brainers” come. Whether you think Silva is no competition, she deserves her shot.
5. Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane 2
We are midway through the year, and Gane has just surprised by stopping, albeit moving up a weight Alex Pereira in two rounds. So, I am not sure, but I am hoping he would be open to his next fight before the year ends in late December.
Regardless, it will still depend on the condition of Tom Aspinall, who sustained his eye injury in the first round of his title defence against Gane in October 2025. As euphoric as the win against Pereira was, I am sure Gane will not be content with being interim.
I am also sure Aspinall will be itching to get back in there and finish what was started in his title defence against Gane. Even more so now, seeing Gane parading around with the title and being on the historic White House card. What do they say about revenge?
6. Kamzat Chimaev vs Jiri Prochazka
If the rumours are true and that is a big IF, Chimaev will be moving up to light heavyweight and that opens open so many exciting possibilities, With new champ Ulberg sidelined with an ACL injury, it may give the UFC a good time to determine a challenger.
Although others may want UFC to go to their traditional interim route, I think there should be a mini tournament, and who better to kick it off with than Jiri, the former champ who has won one and lost three title fights, welcoming the new man moving up.
Jiri seems a good gatekeeper for the title. Chimaev, moving up, will pose a superb problem and could be a more relaxed, comfortable and dangerous fighter at a natural weight. Both have awkward styles, both could punch and wrestle, and it will be a great watch.
7. Mackenzie Dern vs Zhang Weili
In the “not so deep” women’s division, Weili moved up to flyweight in an attempt to challenge Shevchenko and become only the second two-weight women champion, but realised there levels to this and weight classes for a reason.
After Weili vacated, Dern surprisingly got a world title fight and surprised everyone by easily beating Jandiroba to become the new strawweight champion. Although there has been no info about Weili moving back down, I am expecting her to want her title back.
So, naturally, for me, it is a “no-brainer” that these two will fight for the title. Unless Weili wants to stay up and flyweight, or the UFC do the unthinkable to order Weili to fight for a title eliminator. But after not losing her title, that decision will be very harsh for Weili.
8. Alexander Volkanovski vs Movsar Evloev
After Topuria vacated the belt allowing Volkanovski to become a two-time featherweight champion, there are questions about challengers following Volkanovski’s first run, as he defended his title five times while moving up in two failed lightweight title fights.
Now, after two fights to win and defend his featherweight title against Diego Lopes, there have been some new challengers who have emerged. Namely Movsar Evloev, who is on a 20-fight winning streak and has beaten the likes of Murphy, Sterling, Allen, Lopes and Ige.
Evloev has the kind of durability that could match Volkanovski, who is known for his durability and the skills to give problems. That is aside from the fact that his incredible unbeaten MMA record has seen him rise to number two in the rankings.
9. Dominick Reyes vs Paulo Costa
Earlier in this list, I spoke about new light heavyweight champ Ulberg being out due to an ACL injury, and instead of the UFC going the interim route, a mini tournament would be a good idea. Will, this would be the other fight of that mini tournament.
Two seasoned UFC fighters, who have had their fair share of mishaps in the UFC. Both have fought a who’s who in the UFC and have recently reinvented themselves, coming off wins in their last fights, and given how the division is playing out, this makes sense.
Costa recently moved up to light heavyweight after one fight at that weight. Reyes’ only defeat in his last five came against the current champion. This fight brings intrigue, knockout power, excitement and most importantly, a title eliminator.
10. Julianna Pena vs Joselyne Edwards
Although we have not seen Pena since she lost her bantamweight title to Kayla Harrison just over a year ago, she is still a big draw in this division. If she were to come back, I am guessing it would only be for a title fight or, at the very least, a title eliminator.
There are not many in the division yet worthy of a title shot, especially as we patiently wait for the Harrison vs Nunes’ fight. Though Pena would see herself in the mix, until that time, a very worthy challenger would be Edwards, who is on a five-fight winning streak.
Edwards has shot up the rankings and moved ahead of Pena. However, Pena has an exemplary history as a two-time champ in the division. So, with Edwards’ recent run and Pena’s history, if she were to come back, this would be a perfect title eliminator.
Honorable Mentions
Sean Strickland vs Dracus du Plessis 3
Petr Yan vs Marab Dvalishvili 2
Alexa Grasso vs Manon Fiorot
Joshua Van vs Alexandre Pantoja 2
Carlos Prates vs Michael Morales
Luana Santos vs Ailin Perez
