Midyear grades: UFC divisions run the gamut from A to F

We now have formally hit the primary week of July and the midway level of 2025. To date, the UFC has placed on seven pay-per-view occasions and 15 Struggle Evening playing cards in eight U.S. states and 7 worldwide nations. We have seen six new champions topped (one among whom did not even should combat for it), six title defenses and numerous knockouts, submissions and selections.

However for as many good fights as there have been the primary six months of the 12 months, there have additionally been some stinkers — significantly in a couple of often dependable divisions. Proper now, it is laborious to disclaim that some UFC divisions are simply much more enjoyable to observe than others.

On the midway level of the UFC calendar, ESPN took inventory of each combat at each division and graded every group primarily based on combat high quality and the exercise of fighters ranked in ESPN’s divisional rankings. We additionally appeared forward to the fights that would enhance every standing by 12 months’s finish.

Heavyweight grade: F

Greatest combat up to now: Jailton Almeida defeats Serghei Spivac by first-round knockout

Greatest combat to come back: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (unofficial)

Blame Jon Jones for this one. Look, should you caught my thoughts about Jones during the week of his retirement, I do not blame him for selecting to retire. I do blame him for dragging it out and stalling this division for so long as he did. There was nothing to observe at heavyweight … and admittedly, it has been that manner even past the primary half of this 12 months. The Jones versus Stipe Miocic “title combat” was extra of a legacy exhibition match. However as Aspinall has mentioned, that is all previously now, and he is seeking to be as lively as attainable. There’s hope for the long run.

Mild heavyweight grade: B+

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Magomed Ankalaev defeats Alex Pereira to grow to be new gentle heavyweight champ

Magomed Ankalaev quiets the Las Vegas crowd as he beats Alex Pereira by way of unanimous determination to grow to be the brand new UFC gentle heavyweight champion.

Greatest combat up to now: Magomed Ankalaev defeats Alex Pereira by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 (unoffical)

It has been a surprisingly good exhibiting by the 205-pound division in 2025. You would not have anticipated that going into the 12 months as a result of Pereira had cleaned out a whole lot of the division whereas champion from November 2022 to March 2025. It is a little bit little bit of an older division. Guys close to the highest of the rankings aren’t as lively. However the championship shakeup from Pereira to Ankalaev in March was a significant storyline of the 12 months to date.

The resurgence of Dominick Reyes, whose win over Nikita Krylov in April was his third straight by knockout, can also be value listening to. Carlos Ulberg is doing his job as an thrilling, new contender. JiYí Procházka and Khalil Rountree Jr. every appeared sensational in bounce-back wins this 12 months. Mild heavyweight is definitely cruising.

Middleweight grade: C

Greatest combat up to now: Roman Kopylov defeats Chris Curtis by third-round knockout

Greatest combat to come back: Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev (UFC 319 on Aug. 16)

This division has been robust as a complete, however the UFC 312 title combat between Du Plessis and Sean Strickland drags the grade down. That was an unpleasant combat, and a lot of the blame for that goes to Strickland. For all his discuss that he felt he was robbed on scorecards within the first title combat in opposition to Du Plessis, he gave a reasonably uninspiring effort within the rematch.

Anticipate a a lot completely different title combat at UFC 319 in August. Du Plessis is scheduled to face Chimaev in some of the intriguing matchups of the 12 months. There’s additionally the surging Reinier de Ridder, who takes on Robert Whittaker on July 26, and a banger of a matchup between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho scheduled for Sept. 6.

Welterweight grade: A

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Jack Della Maddalena impresses to grow to be new UFC welterweight champ

Jack Della Maddalena stuns Belal Muhammad in the primary occasion of UFC 315 to grow to be the brand new welterweight champion.

Greatest combat up to now: Jack Della Maddalena defeats Belal Muhammad by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Della Maddalena vs. Islam Makhachev (unofficial)

Welterweight has been extremely entertaining in 2025. Like gentle heavyweight, this grade is a little bit of a shock, contemplating among the expertise on the prime is growing old and the “boogeyman” of the division, Shavkat Rakhmonov, hasn’t made an look. However among the larger contender fights — Ian Machado Garry versus Carlos Prates; Kamaru Usman versus Joaquin Buckley — have been excessive drama. And the title combat between JDM and Muhammad was wonderful.

Now, with Makhachev shifting up from light-weight to problem for the title sooner or later this 12 months, this division would possibly show to be essentially the most compelling by 12 months’s finish.

Light-weight grade: C-

Greatest combat up to now: Rongzhu defeats Kody Steele by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett (unofficial)

Some would possibly view this as a harsh grade, however there’s room for light-weight to enhance. The primary pay-per-view of the 12 months proved disastrous, when Arman Tsarukyan pulled out of a title combat in opposition to Makhachev on someday’s discover. One other large combat for the division, Justin Gaethje versus Dan Hooker initially scheduled for March, fell via due to harm. Dustin Poirier hasn’t made an look this 12 months. Neither has Max Holloway. As wonderful because the UFC 317 main event was between Topuria and Charles Oliveira, it was brief and one-sided. I am actually not hating on this division. It was a down first half, and it’ll flip round.

A very good place to begin is New Orleans, the place Poirier and Holloway will meet for the third and last time with the BMF belt on the road. Topuria can also be anticipated to make his first title protection later this 12 months — presumably in opposition to Pimblett, whom he exchanged phrases with after he knocked out Oliveira.

Featherweight grade: B

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Alexander Volkanovski wins featherweight title for second time

Alexander Volkanovski defeats Diego Lopes by way of unanimous determination to grow to be a two-time featherweight champion within the UFC.

Greatest combat up to now: Alexander Volkanovski defeats Diego Lopes by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Lopes vs. Jean Silva (Noche UFC on Sept. 13)

It was a stable first half for the featherweights. Volkanovski reclaimed the throne in a really entertaining bout and set the tempo for the 145-pound division. On prime of that, longtime Bellator MMA champion Patricio Pitbull made his UFC debut. He did not win, nevertheless it was good to see him be a part of the UFC. The continued emergence of Silva and different newer expertise comparable to Lerone Murphy, Youssef Zalal and David Onama was additionally welcomed. This division is a powder keg ready to blow.

The UFC debut of one other former Bellator star, Aaron Pico, is on deck for July 26. Silva versus Lopes in September will likely be pure fireplace. And Brian Ortega versus former males’s bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling was simply introduced for August. The second half of the 12 months already appears unbelievable.

Males’s bantamweight grade: B-

Greatest combat up to now: Merab Dvalishvili defeats Umar Nurmagomedov by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen (unofficial)

Credit score Dvalishvili for completely carrying this division up to now in 2025. He has fought twice, and delivered top-notch performances in every bout. The remainder of the division has been a little bit underwhelming. A primary occasion between Henry Cejudo and Song Yadong at a Struggle Evening in February went sideways due to a watch poke. Petr Yan hasn’t but fought (although he’s scheduled in opposition to Marcus McGhee on July 26. The UFC, fairly frankly, gave José Aldo some questionable matchmaking for his comeback, and he ended up retiring once more. This grade could be a lot decrease had been it not for the champ, who has emerged as some of the entertaining figures in your entire sport.

Nothing official has been introduced, however Dvalishvili has mentioned he desires to combat two extra occasions this 12 months, and Sandhagen appears to be the obvious choice for him next.

Males’s flyweight grade: B

Greatest combat up to now: Joshua Van defeats Brandon Royval by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Van (unofficial)

How about this Van child, huh? He is a 23-year-old flyweight model of Holloway. Simply swag and abilities for days. Pantoja’s subsequent title combat in all probability will likely be his most-watched, and that is due to Van. However let’s ensure Pantoja additionally receives acknowledgement. He’s solidifying himself as an all-time nice and a must-watch each trip.

Brandon Moreno is value mentioning as nicely. He appears as if he is placing all of it collectively in a manner he did not whilst a champion. However the huge story of the half-year at flyweight is Van. He’ll have his likelihood in his subsequent bout to grow to be a UFC champion.

Girls’s bantamweight grade: F

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Amanda Nunes, Kayla Harrison face off after Harrison wins belt

Kayla Harrison beats Julianna Peña and calls out Amanda Nunes, who declares within the Octagon she’s coming again.

Greatest combat up to now: Kayla Harrison defeats Julianna Peña by second-round submission

Greatest combat to come back: Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes (unofficial)

Abysmal. Let’s be actual, this division barely exists proper now within the UFC. Harrison is unbelievable. She alone is an A-plus, and it really says one thing about her that this division, as unhealthy as it’s, may produce one of many greatest fights of the 12 months within the upcoming Harrison versus Nunes bout. Outdoors of Harrison, it will get fairly bleak fairly quick. Simply take a look at the rankings.

No. 3 Raquel Pennington hasn’t fought this 12 months. No. 5 Norma Dumont hasn’t fought. No. 6 Irene Aldana hasn’t fought. Ketlen Vieira (No. 4) and Macy Chiasson (No. 7) fought one another in Could, however not at bantamweight as a result of Vieira had weight-cutting points. Ailin Perez (No. 8) had a very tedious combat in opposition to Karol Rosa (No. 9) in January. It isn’t nice.

Girls’s flyweight grade: C

Greatest combat up to now: Jasmine Jasudavicius defeats Jessica Andrade by first-round submission

Greatest combat to come back: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Natalia Silva (unofficial)

There was some good and a few unhealthy from the flyweights to date in 2025. Shevchenko is again to her dominance however not essentially in a highlight-reel form of manner. What she’s doing is exceptional, churning out wins in opposition to a brand new era after chewing up the one earlier than it. However the pleasure and curiosity stage round her title reign is decrease than it has been in earlier years. Silva appears like a compelling challenger, and her win over Alexa Grasso on Could 10 was a spotlight of the primary half. It units up some stylistic intrigue round her seemingly title combat in opposition to Shevchenko. In a chunk of robust luck, Erin Blanchfield has registered zero appearances up to now, as Maycee Barber was deemed medically uncleared for his or her scheduled title combat at, actually, the final minute. It wasn’t the worst opening half for this division, however we’ll all hope for higher within the second half.

Strawweight grade: D+

Greatest combat up to now: Alice Ardelean defeats Rayanne dos Santos by unanimous determination

Greatest combat to come back: Zhang Weili vs. Virna Jandiroba (unofficial)

Within the first half, this division contributed solely three fights to UFC PPVs. Zhang’s title combat in opposition to Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 on Feb. 8 was a letdown, as a result of Suarez did not provide the problem many figured she would. Amanda Lemos versus Iasmin Lucindo on the following PPV in March turned out to be a snoozefest. Yan Xiaonan versus Jandiroba at UFC 314 in April was high-level however nothing further memorable. The intrigue round this division begins and ends with Zhang, and she or he’s doing her half. She was spectacular in that victory over Suarez, even when the competitors was missing. This division goes to want some assist from sources aside from Zhang if it is to enhance on this ranking within the second half.