MMA insider and crew debate how many new champions the UFC will have by the end of 2025

The UFC saw a new champion crowned in six of the 11 divisions in 2024 as Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Islam Makhachev, Alexandre Pantoja and Zhang Weili were the only fighters to hold their title for the entire year. Dricus du Plessis, Belal Muhammad, Ilia Topuria, Merab Dvalishvili, Julianna Pena, Valentina Shevchenko and Raquel Pennington all were crowned as champions, although the latter lost her belt later in the year.

Ariel Helwani and his guests recently debated how many of the divisions will see a new champion crowned in 2025. Conner Burks was the first to share his prediction, picking that seven champions will be dethroned without listing the names. Petesy Carroll chimed in next, stating:

"Six new champions. Merab, Belal, DDP, Jones, Zhang and Pena lose their titles... [Umar] Nurmagomedov, Shavkat [Rakhmonov], Khamzat [Chimaev], [Tom] Aspinall, [Tatiana] Suarez, Kayla [Harrison] [will become champions]."

Eric Jackman revealed that he has four champions being dethroned, stating:

"I think there will be a new welterweight champion. I think Shavkat's going to hold that title. I think there will be a new middleweight champion. I think it's obvious which one I pick on that one after the start of the show [Chimaev]. Heavyweight, there will be a new champion because at some point they're going to have to stop waiting. Either Jon's going to fight and it'll be Tom or Jon will relinquish so we'll have a new heavyweight champion and I think Tatiana's going to win at strawweight."

Check out the full discussion between Ariel Helwani and his guests below:

Helwani was the last to weigh in, predicting that five new champions will be crowned in 2025. The host of the show declined to reveal who he believes will lose their titles.

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MMA analyst shares which fight he hopes the UFC makes in 2025

Ariel Helwani recently revealed the one bout that he believes must take place in 2025. The mixed martial arts analyst shared that he hopes to see Jon Jones defend his heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall in the upcoming year.

Speaking on the latest episode of his self-titled show, Helwani said:

"There is only one choice at the top of the list and of course, it is the heavyweight unification bout in the UFC. It is Jonny 'Bones' Jones versus The Pride of Manchester, the one and only Tom Aspinall."

Check out Ariel Helwani's full comments on which fight must happen in 2025 below:

Jones defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last month. While he had hinted at retirement leading up to the bout, he has since revealed that he plans to continue his mixed martial arts career for the right price.

Although he declined to reveal a dollar figure, he did share that he has begun negotiations with the promotion. UFC CEO Dana White guaranteed that the two will share the octagon during his post-fight press conference following UFC on ESPN 63, the final card of 2024.