Merab Dvalishvili is currently considered the leading candidate for the 2025 Fighter of the Year award, though a specific upcoming matchup could alter this projection.
Known as `The Machine,` Dvalishvili recently stretched his impressive UFC winning streak to 14 fights, placing him just two victories shy of matching Anderson Silva`s historic record.
His latest triumph saw Dvalishvili defeat Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision on Saturday night, marking his third successful bantamweight title defense this year.
The Georgian champion is widely regarded as the top contender to conclude 2025 as the undisputed Fighter of the Year.
Although Dvalishvili has already expressed interest in a specific opponent for December, a crucial upcoming bout has the potential to introduce significant competition for the year-end accolade.
Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena Emerge as Key Rivals in Fighter of the Year Race
Merab Dvalishvili made history by breaking UFC records on October 4th. Should he achieve his goal of a fourth title defense this year, his claim to the award would be formidable.
Nevertheless, two other formidable competitors are also vying for the Fighter of the Year title.
While 2024 favorites Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira have secured some of 2025`s most significant victories, their inconsistent schedules this year temper their chances. With Pereira’s defeat at UFC 313 and Topuria’s next fight slated for 2026, their campaign lacks the sustained consistency demonstrated by `The Machine,` despite individual standout performances.
Next month, two fighters, each currently holding a single win this year, will have the chance to add a monumental achievement to their records when they face off.
Should Islam Makhachev successfully claim the welterweight title at UFC 322 after moving up a weight class, the sheer magnitude of such a victory would elevate his standing considerably.
Conversely, Jack Della Maddalena, who unexpectedly secured the 170-pound gold in May, would present an even more compelling argument for the award if he could put an end to Makhachev`s impressive 15-fight winning streak.
Fan polls on Tapology for the 2025 MMA Fighter of the Year underscore this dynamic, suggesting that only Makhachev or `JDM` could truly challenge Dvalishvili, given the significant boost one of them will receive in November.
Although these rankings were last updated on October 4th, they may not yet fully reflect the impact of UFC 320, as indicated by Magomed Ankalaev`s current position.
| Tapology’s Fan-Voted 2025 MMA Fighter of the Year Rankings | |
|---|---|
| Rank | MMA Fighter |
| #1 | Merab Dvalishvili |
| #2 | Jack Della Maddalena |
| #3 | Ilia Topuria |
| #4 | Islam Makhachev |
| #5 | Reinier de Ridder |
| #6 | Magomed Ankalaev |
| #7 | Joshua Van |
| #8 | Alexander Volkanovski |
| #9 | Jiri Prochazka |
| #10 | Nassourdine Imavov |
Merab Dvalishvili Recognized as UFC`s Mid-Year Fighter of the Year
On July 5th, UFC.com announced its 2025 mid-year awards, celebrating achievements across various categories including newcomers, fights, knockouts, and, prominently, fighters.
At that point, Merab Dvalishvili held the top position, having already secured impressive victories over Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley.
His closest challengers were identified as two fighters who had delivered significant wins at UFC 317.
| UFC’s Best Fighters of the First Half of 2025 Rankings | |
|---|---|
| Rank | UFC Fighter |
| #1 | Merab Dvalishvili |
| #2 | Ilia Topuria |
| #3 | Joshua Van |
| #4 | Jean Silva |
| #5 | Alexandre Pantoja |
Following Jean Silva’s defeat by Diego Lopes last month, his standing in the rankings has likely dropped considerably.
The year-end positions for Joshua Van and Alexandre Pantoja will largely hinge on a potential December matchup between them and the result of that flyweight title contest.
Neville Whittle