5 UFC champions who might lose their belts in 2025 feat. Jon Jones

For the UFC, 2024 was a year of memorable championship performances. Some dethroned long-reigning titleholders before firmly staking their claim as their division's undisputed king with a crushing title defense. Others used the year as a launching pad for their growing championship legacies.

However, 2025 looks to be a year that will be defined by new champions emerging. Unfortunately, for that to take place, current belt-holders will have to taste defeat. Given the trend that the sport is on, it may very well happen, and in some cases it's expected.

So of the promotion's champions, who are expected to lose their belts come 2025?

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#5. Belal Muhammad, UFC welterweight champion

Belal Muhammad fulfilled his dream this year when he dethroned Leon Edwards as welterweight champion in a long-awaited rematch. His title reign just began, but he may not end 2025 with the belt in his possession. That isn't due to a perceived lack of skill compared to the rest of the division, though.

Instead, it is Father Time. Muhammad turns 37 on July 9, 2025. That is around the age that even all-time great welterweights started taking losses to foes they could have beaten. Muhammad's skill-set depends strongly on physicality and pace, both athletic attributes that are sure to decline as he nears his 40s.

Combined with his lack of finishing ability and the slew of younger, faster hyper-skilled welterweights, particularly the well-rounded and unbeaten Shavkat Rakhmonov, who may look like a different fighter come fight night if he's injury-free, it could spell an early end for Muhammad's championship stint.

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#4. Alex Pereira, UFC light heavyweight champion

Similar to Belal Muhammad, Alex Pereira is getting up there in age. Fortunately for him, age isn't as much of a factor in the heavier divisions. Unfortunately, his UFC light heavyweight title reign will face its stiffest challenge yet once he faces Magomed Ankalaev like UFC CEO Dana White alluded to.

Pereira is the most devastating striker in the promotion, possessing thunderous knockout power and elite-level striking skill. Where he falls short is his defensive wrestling and grappling, with even relatively poor wrestlers like Israel Adesanya and Jan Błachowicz outclassing him on the mat.

Ankalaev, who is a much better wrestler and grappler than both, having proved as much when he easily outwrestled Błachowicz, who outwrestled both Pereira and Adesanya, is favored to beat him. And if Pereira loses, that will be the end to his thrilling championship reign at light heavyweight.

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#3. Julianna Peña, UFC women's bantamweight champion

Despite being a two-time UFC women's bantamweight champion, Julianna Peña has never been the most skilled fighter in her division. She hasn't even been the most effective. She is, after all, 12-5. To make matters worse, Peña was never pegged as a future champion despite defying the odds.

While her heart was forged from smoldering iron, and her chin of steel, she isn't exceptional in any facet of MMA. She doesn't move her head off-the center-line when striking, leads with her chin, and has a nasty habit of lunging in with her eyes closed and elbows flaring before every punch.

In short, she is exceptionally easy to counter. Furthermore, her grappling is nothing to write home about, as a lifelong kickboxer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu white belt in Germaine de Randamie managed to submit her. This does not bode well for her when she eventually faces Kayla Harrison, who may very well dominate her.

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#2. Merab Dvalishvilii, UFC bantamweight champion

Merab Dvalishvili isn't happy about having to defend his bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. He feels that the undefeated Dagestani star is undeserving, having just two ranked wins in the division. Unfortunately for him, he has no choice in the matter and many expect him to lose.

Dvalishvili isn't a polished striker, just an overwhelming one. He puts a pace on his opponents like no other. But even his wrestling isn't as unstoppable as it seems. It's his workrate. Petr Yan defended 78% of the Georgian's takedowns. It's more-so that Dvalishvili never stops shooting, as he doesn't tire.

However, against a son of the feared Dagestani school of wrestling, he may find himself unable to implement his game. Without takedowns, Dvalishvili is not nearly as effective. Additionally, Nurmagomedov is a far better striker with an exceptional gas tank. If Dvalishvili fails to outwrestle him, a loss is almost certain.

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#1. Jon Jones, UFC heavyweight champion

Jon Jones doesn't have many fights left, perhaps one or two. UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly assured fans that 'Bones' will defend his heavyweight strap against interim titleholder Tom Aspinall, who many favor to beat him. If that does indeed come to pass, it may be Jones' first true loss in the octagon.

Aspinall is a genetic freak, with a combination of size, strength, speed, and power that is rarely ever seen at heavyweight. Moreover, he is well-rounded, as apt at shutting his foes lights out with a speedy one-two as he is choking them out with a rear-naked choke.

While Jones is arguably the greatest fighter ever, he is almost 40, has had several injuries and typically struggles with opponents who either match or exceed him in size. The Englishman is young, hungry, and has echoes of Chris Weidman before he ended Anderson Silva's historic reign at the top of the sport.