The year 2025 has been a wild ride for fight fans. Honestly, if you told me back in December that we’d see a flyweight title change hands in the final weeks of the year or that a brand-new venue like the Intuit Dome would host one of the most chaotic short-notice replacements in history, I might’ve called you crazy. But here we are. The ufc ppv schedule 2025 wasn't just about the fights; it was about the shift in how the promotion handles its massive stars and its global footprint.
It’s January 2026 now. Looking back at the 2025 slate is like looking at a highlight reel of high-stakes gambling by Dana White and the matchmakers. We saw the end of the traditional pay-per-view model as we knew it, right before the massive Paramount+ shift that’s hitting us this month.
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The Winter Heat: How the UFC PPV Schedule 2025 Kicked Off
The year started with a bang in Inglewood. UFC 311 was supposed to be the massive rematch between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. Then, reality happened. Injuries are the shadow that follows this sport, and Tsarukyan had to step out. Enter Renato Moicano. "Money" Moicano stepped up on short notice for the January 18th card at the Intuit Dome, and while he didn't leave with the belt, that event set a frantic tone for the rest of the winter.
Then came Australia. Sydney always shows up, and UFC 312 on February 8th was a masterpiece of tension. Dricus du Plessis and Sean Strickland had their long-awaited sequel. It was grimy. It was loud. It was exactly what the ufc ppv schedule 2025 needed to prove that the middleweight division was the most entertaining shark tank in the world.
Spring Breakups and Breakthroughs
By the time we hit March, the narrative shifted to the "Light Heavyweight Savior," Alex Pereira. UFC 313 took place on March 8th at T-Mobile Arena, featuring Pereira against Magomed Ankalaev. For a long time, people said Ankalaev was the kryptonite for "Poatan." He wasn't. Pereira’s run in 2025 was basically a victory lap for anyone who loves leg kicks and terrifying left hooks.
The schedule just kept rolling:
- UFC 314 (April 12): Miami got a dose of nostalgia and new-school violence with Alexander Volkanovski taking on the surging Diego Lopes.
- UFC 315 (May 10): Montreal saw Belal Muhammad defend his welterweight strap against Jack Della Maddalena in a fight that silenced a lot of Belal's remaining critics.
Why the Summer UFC PPV Schedule 2025 Mattered
If you’re a fan who travels for fights, June was your month. UFC 316 in Newark gave us the rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. Merab’s cardio is honestly terrifying. He just doesn't stop. Watching him chase "Suga" Sean for 25 minutes in Jersey felt like watching a guy try to outrun a relentless machine.
Then came International Fight Week. This is always the crown jewel of the ufc ppv schedule 2025. On June 28th, UFC 317 featured Ilia Topuria defending his featherweight title against Charles "Do Bronx" Oliveira. It was a clash of eras. T-Mobile Arena was vibrating. Topuria proved he wasn't just a flash in the pan, though Oliveira made him work for every single second of that fight.
We also can't ignore the Holloway vs. Poirier 3 fight at UFC 318 in July. New Orleans was the perfect backdrop for two legends to just... go at it. No belts were needed for that one, even though the fans treated it like the biggest title fight of the decade.
The Late Year Surge and the Flyweight Shock
As the leaves started turning, the UFC went back to its second home: Abu Dhabi. UFC 321 on October 25th saw Tom Aspinall finally unify the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane. It was quick. It was clinical. Aspinall essentially cemented himself as the best heavyweight on the planet, regardless of what the old guard had to say.
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But the real shocker? That happened in December.
UFC 323 on December 6th was headlined by a bantamweight rematch between Merab Dvalishvili and Petr Yan. But the undercard featured a flyweight title fight that nobody—and I mean nobody—expected to end the way it did. Joshua Van, the young phenom, stepped into the cage against Alexandre Pantoja and did the unthinkable. He took the belt. Pantoja had been a monster for years, but the "Takeover" was real.
Navigating the 2025 Chaos
Looking back, the ufc ppv schedule 2025 was characterized by a few things:
- Geography: The UFC moved away from the Apex more than in previous years, hitting London, Paris, Perth, and even Baku.
- Short Notice Stars: Guys like Moicano and Dan Hooker (who fought Tsarukyan in a late-year Fight Night) saved multiple cards.
- Title Fluidity: We saw belts move in the Flyweight, Bantamweight, and Heavyweight divisions.
It wasn't always perfect. We had the disappointment of the Kayla Harrison vs. Amanda Nunes fight falling through right at the edge of the year, which left a bit of a "what if" hanging over the women's bantamweight division. But as a whole, the 2025 calendar was a bridge to the new era we're entering now with the Paramount+ deal.
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Actionable Insights for the New Season
If you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season based on what we learned from the 2025 schedule, here is how you should prep:
- Audit Your Subscriptions: The era of buying individual PPVs through ESPN+ is fading. Ensure your Paramount+ setup is ready for the UFC 324 debut this month.
- Watch the Flyweights: After Joshua Van’s upset in December, the 125-pound division is wide open. Keep an eye on the Royval vs. Kape winner for the next title shot.
- Plan Travel Early: The UFC’s 2025 international success means 2026 will likely see more cards in the UK and Australia. If you want to go, tickets are selling out faster than ever—usually within minutes of the pre-sale.
- Follow the Prospects: 2025 showed that the "old names" are being hunted. Guys like Payton Talbott and Tatsuro Taira are the future; don't wait until they're in title fights to start paying attention.
The ufc ppv schedule 2025 taught us that the only constant in MMA is change. Whether it's a champion falling in Las Vegas or a massive corporate broadcasting shift, the sport never stands still. Grab your popcorn; 2026 is already looking just as hectic.