Welcome to MMAmania’s 2025 Mid-Year Awards! Can you believe 2025 is already half done?
With six months of jaw-dropping action behind us, it’s time to celebrate the fighters, fights, and moments that have lit up the MMA world. From stunning upsets and bone-crunching knockouts to rising stars and masterful submissions, 2025 has delivered some good highlights.
Let’s dive into the breakout fighter of the year so far.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Joshua Van
At the start of 2025, Josh Van was an unranked Flyweight who had a very good UFC run. Fast forward to now, and he’s the No. 1 Flyweight contender and will be fightingAlexandre Pantoja for the title later this year.
He clinched a title shot by going to war with Brandon Royval at UFC 317, snatching his ranking and turning heads. Before defeating Royval, he stopped Bruno Silva at UFC 316 three weeks prior.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Malcolm Wellmaker
UFC rookie Malcolm Wellmaker has fought twice this year and has produced two brutal one-punch knockouts that have MMA fans buzzing.
He made his UFC debut against a highly regarded prospect in his own right, Cameron Saaiman, and finished him in under two minutes. Two months later, he flatlined Kris Moutinho(watch it).
It’ll be interesting to see who the UFC matches him with next.
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
Jean Silva
Brazilian sensation Jean Silvahad a stellar year in 2024, and while he may not belong on this list, there’s no doubt that in 2025, he holds the MMA world in the palm of his hand and he’s one fight away from a UFC Featherweight title shot if he can get past Diego Lopesin his first UFC main event.
He earned the title eliminator fight by knocking out Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC Seattle and then dominating Bryce Mitchell two months later (watch highlights).
Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC
Reinier de Ridder
After Reinier de Ridder’s sloppy UFC debut last year, expectations weren’t high for “RDR,” but that has significantly changed in 2025.
He kicked off the year by quickly submitting Kevin Holland at UFC 311, but his next fight was the one that shocked everyone—he stopped Bo Nickal with a brutal knee (watch highlights).
Now, he’s got a main event against No. 5-ranked Robert Whittaker, and with a win, he will insert himself into the title picture.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jasmine Jasudavicius
At 36 years old,Jasmine Jasudavicius might be Canada’s only hope to win UFC gold since Georges St-Pierre walked away from the sport.
Jasudavicius scored a dominant victory over Mayra Bueno Silva to kick off her 2025 campaign. In her most recent outing, she defeated the former Strawweight champion Jessica Andrade in under three minutes (watch highlights).
Riding a four-fight win streak, Jasudavicius is poised for a major fight in her next outing.
Are any of these fighters the breakout fighter of the year? Let us know below!
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