Across the MMA scene, from the UFC to PFL and past, 2025 has delivered a whirlwind of elite matchups, with fighters risking all of it contained in the cage. While blockbuster primary occasions dominate headlines, a number of unimaginable bouts flew below the radar regardless of delivering world-class talent, drama, and depth. For each followers and bettors, these fights proved that hype doesn’t all the time equal greatness.
Below are three underrated MMA fights from 2025 that deserved way more consideration than they acquired
Alexander Volkanovski vs Diego Lopes – UFC 314 (April 12, 2025)
UFC 314 in Miami delivered a featherweight basic that reminded followers why Alexander Volkanovski is amongst MMA’s all-time greats. Returning to title competition, the previous champion confronted surging Brazilian contender Diego Lopes in a grueling five-round warfare.
Volkanovski relied on expertise, composure, and relentless stress to outlast Lopes, reclaiming the title and making historical past as the primary fighter over 35 to regain a UFC championship. His capability to regulate mid-fight and keep tempo showcased elite championship IQ.
Despite the loss, Lopes proved he belongs among the many division’s elite. His toughness, hanging versatility, and refusal to fade below stress marked him as a future title menace. For followers and bettors, this bout was a masterclass in resilience, technique, and coronary heart.
Cris Cyborg vs Sara Collins – PFL Lyon (December 13, 2025)
Women’s MMA continues its meteoric rise, and the PFL Lyon headliner between Cris Cyborg and Sara Collins represents one in every of 2025’s most compelling clashes. Scheduled for December 13, this featherweight showdown pits legendary expertise in opposition to red-hot momentum.
Cyborg enters with a championship pedigree throughout a number of promotions, treating every battle as one other chapter in her historic profession. Collins, in the meantime, rides a robust successful streak and sees this bout as her probability to shock the world.
With energy, aggression, and legacy on the road, this battle has all of the substances of a year-defining second, but it stays criminally under-hyped.
Merab Dvalishvili vs Petr Yan 2 – UFC 323 (December 6, 2025)
The long-awaited rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan lastly arrives at UFC 323 in Las Vegas. Their rivalry dates again to 2023, when Dvalishvili’s relentless wrestling tempo overwhelmed Yan over three rounds.
Since then, each males have advanced their sport and playstyles. Dvalishvili now reigns as bantamweight champion, averaging an elite 6.5 takedowns per quarter-hour. Yan, recognized for surgical boxing and composure, guarantees a much more aggressive method this time round. Fans can anticipate a tactical chess match that includes pace, energy, and elite-level changes.
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