As the 2025 mixed martial arts season reaches its midpoint, fans have witnessed numerous memorable moments despite some challenges in the sport. While the PFL has hosted exciting events, UFC athletes prominently feature in the discussions for the year`s top honors so far. Contributors from MMA Fighting share their selections for the best fighter, knockout, submission, and fight of the year at the halfway point.
Best Fighter: Merab Dvalishvili
According to one expert, Merab Dvalishvili is the standout fighter of the year so far. The bantamweight champion started 2025 by defeating the previously undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov in a five-round fight, earning Fight of the Night honors. Less than five months later, Dvalishvili headlined UFC 316 and secured another victory, submitting Sean O’Malley with a choke in the third round. With a 2-0 record and two successful title defenses in a highly competitive division, Dvalishvili`s performance earns him the top spot.
Honorable mentions:
- Waldo Cortes-Acosta
- Magomed Ankalaev
- Jack Della Maddalena
- Kayla Harrison
- Terrance McKinney
- Jesus Pinedo
- Gadzhi Rabadanov
- Jean Silva
- Ilia Topuria
- Joshua Van
Best Knockout: Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira
Another contributor highlights Ilia Topuria`s knockout of Charles Oliveira as potentially one of the sport`s transcendent moments. Comparing it to pivotal events in MMA history, this expert argues Topuria`s finish felt like a significant shift. Aside from its visual appeal, the KO allowed Topuria to become only the 10th fighter in UFC history to claim titles in two weight classes, and the first to do so undefeated. At just 28, this victory cemented Topuria as a potential face of MMA.
Honorable mentions:
- Gregory Rodrigues KOs Jack Hermansson
- Juan Archuleta flying knees Dennis Linton
- Yoo Joo-Sang KOs Jeka Saragih
- Randy Brown KOs Nicolas Dalby
- Jaron Lathrop ninja kicks Yevgeni Shinkarevsky
- Mauricio Ruffy spinning heel kicks Bobby Green
Best Submission: Kayla Harrison vs. Julianna Peña
The magnitude of the moment is emphasized when selecting Kayla Harrison`s kimura submission of Julianna Peña for the UFC title. Despite the kimura not being the rarest technique, Harrison`s successful dethroning of Peña was highly anticipated. As a two-time Olympic judo gold medalist, her ultimate aim was UFC gold, which she achieved at UFC 316. Harrison dominated the ground exchanges and secured the finish in the second round by violently twisting Peña`s arm against the cage, forcing the tap and causing a potential shoulder injury. This expert chooses Harrison`s dominant, title-winning submission as the best of the first half of 2025 due to its overall impact.
Honorable mentions:
- Jean Silva’s ninja choke over Bryce Mitchell
- Mackenzie Dern with a last-second armbar to finish Amanda Ribas
- Sean Brady’s mounted guillotine choke to become the first person to ever finish Leon Edwards
Best Fight: Joshua Van vs. Brandon Royval
The fight between Joshua Van and Brandon Royval at UFC 317 is selected as the best so far. Despite Van stepping in as a late replacement, their styles perfectly complemented each other—Royval`s constant pressure against Van`s youthful energy. The 15-minute battle was a back-and-forth affair with potential flyweight title implications. Van matched Royval`s intensity but proved more accurate, particularly in the final moments where a knockdown secured his victory on the scorecards. His composed post-fight interview and subsequent face-off with the champion added to the overall impact of what was a star-making performance and a highly entertaining fight.
Honorable mentions:
- Nazim Sadykhov vs. Nikolas Motta (UFC Baku)
- Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes (PFL Dubai)
- Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill (UFC 311)
- Merab Dvalishvili vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (UFC 311)
Oliver Croft