In June 2025, Jon Jones shocked the UFC world by announcing his retirement, but nobody was betting on him reversing his decision less than one month later and ‘unretiring’ from UFC.
However, the 38-year-old is rapidly approaching the end of his career, and he will soon have to retire when his age and physical abilities finally get the better of him. The question being asked here is, what does Jon Jones’s retirement mean for the UFC?
Let’s dive straight in to find out.
At UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs Teixeira, Derrick ‘The Black Beast’ Lewis extended his record for most KO/TKO stoppages in UFC history to 16. The fight ending was not without some controversy: though Tallison Teixeira absorbed numerous unanswered punches to the head, he did manage to make it back to his feet at the moment when the referee stepped in to stop the bout. Minor controversy aside, we got vintage Lewis from the post-fight celebration to the interview: Taking off his shorts, pretending to mark his territory on his opponent’s corner, mooning the crowd, and talking about ground-and-pounding his wife when asked ‘who is next’?’.
With the rise of popularity in sports betting and online casino games, Derrick Lewis is certainly one of the fan favorites to wager on, and win or lose, you can usually count on his fights not going the distance. Or when visiting the online gambling sites you could opt to playing casino games instead, at online casino Ontario. Either way, let’s take a closer look at the Black Beast’s life and at times glorious UFC career.
The UFC’s landscape is shifting as a new wave of athletes steps into the spotlight, blending raw skill with relentless ambition. In a sport where fortunes can change with a single punch or submission, identifying the next breakout star is both art and science.
This year, several fighters have not only strung together impressive wins but have also demonstrated the technical depth and mental resilience needed to climb the rankings.
Their stories, marked by decisive victories, rapid development, and the ability to adapt under pressure, signal a changing of the guard. As 2025 unfolds, these six competitors stand poised to redefine their divisions and captivate fans worldwide. Here’s why each merits close attention as the year progresses.
After Georges St-Pierre retired and Rory MacDonald faded from the spotlight, Canada’s MMA presence slowed. A few others made brief appearances but didn’t stay in the spotlight for long. Training continued in local gyms, but media attention dropped. There were no major interviews, no highlight clips. The work didn’t stop, but it happened without an audience. Fighters kept training, focusing on each session with no expectations. Now, that period appears to be over. A number of familiar names are showing up again. Not with marketing or headlines, but through consistent presence in major events.
Real Fight Promotion (RFP) has served as a launchpad for numerous talented athletes who have gone on to compete in some of the most prestigious MMA promotions worldwide.
Below is a ranking of standout fighters who have competed in Real Fight Promotion (RFP), sorted by their career accomplishments, level of competition in international promotions, and overall consistency in performance. This ranking aligns with both FightMatrix CIRRS metrics and official UFC panel rankings.
MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst
Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.
The MMA network, especially the UFC is a very interesting sport and brings out some raw emotions when watching.
Almost every fight night, we get new crop of fighters from every corner of the globe. Either boxers making a transition to the MMA or a committed young fighter determined to prove himself on tour.
Some of the most exciting fighters we’ll be highlighting to watch out for this year include:
UFC 317 promises an electrifying night of mixed martial arts action in Las Vegas. The event, held at the T-Mobile Arena, is set for Saturday, June 28, at 10:00 PM EDT. This card features a compelling main event and a high-stakes co-main event.
Additionally, a crucial title eliminator bout will shape the future of the Flyweight division. This guide highlights key fighters whose journeys and recent performances make them compelling watches for an informed audience.
This article was originally published on https://www.flashscore.com/
Hulme has already made an impact on the European scene
Europe’s OKTAGON MMA has been growing steadily to become one of the big players in the global combat sports market, and is therefore becoming a target for fighters from all over the globe. As a result fans have become accustomed to frequent appearances from new faces, but few have made as good an impression in their first outing in the cage as Mark Hulme. The fighter from South Africa revealed more about himself in an interview with Flashscore News…
Hulme became a sensation in OKTAGON literally overnight. He made his debut at the number 67 tournament in Trinec and showed that he is a force to be reckoned with in the Tipsport Gamechanger pyramid. Six years older than Andreas Michailidis of Greece, he finished off Michailidis in just 2:20 of the first round via submission.
The UFC returns on June 7, 2025, with a high-stakes rematch in the bantamweight division as reigning champion Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili defends his title against former champ “Sugar” Sean O’Malley at UFC 316 inside Prudential Center, Newark, New Jersey.
Their first meeting at UFC 306 was a one-sided display of grappling pressure, where Dvalishvili neutralized O’Malley en route to a dominant unanimous decision. However, with both men claiming full health and renewed preparation, the rematch promises fresh dynamics.
FightMatrix & UFC Stats
According to FightMatrix.com, the current bantamweight rankings are:
MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst
Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.
Quartey in Action
Joshua Quartey made light work of Togolese southpaw, Kokou Vinyo De Souza, in Lome on May 17, to make it three straight wins to begin the year. He sets sights on accomplishing his big career dreams. Significantly, the win puts him number one in Ghana’s national middleweight ratings, ahead of very good contenders like Henry Malm, Derrick “Show Love” Quaye, Shakul Samed, Mustapha Kamoko and Ebenezer Sowah.
The 6th round KO victory, at the Terrain du Lycee Agoe in the Togo capital. It followed two previous stoppage wins, in the same city in February and April, marking a perfect rebound from a disappointing end to 2024. That was when he caved into a first career defeat.
Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for decades. Judo is the martial art that I most admire. At different periods in my life, I have practiced Judo. This piqued my interest in MMA since 2001. I had a 25 year career in healthcare, and now I am pursuing my hobby. I enjoy writing about combat sports and martial arts for FightMatrix.
Result: Mateusz Gamrot def. Ľudovít Klein via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Fight Recap
In a high-stakes lightweight clash at UFC Vegas 107, #8-ranked (#7 UFC) Mateusz Gamrot (25-3) reasserted his top-tier status with a clinical unanimous decision victory over Slovakia’s Ludovit Klein (23-5-1), ranked #42 in the Fight Matrix global standings.
Gamrot entered the Octagon as a moderate favorite, and while the betting line suggested a competitive affair, the former KSW champion delivered a composed and technically superior performance, highlighting the gap between top-10 experience and emerging talent.
MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst
Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.
Brazilian UFC star Charles Oliveira takes on Ilia Topuria in the big fight at UFC 317 on June 28th in Nevada, and the 35-year-old, who saw off Michael Chandler last November to secure his 35th win, believes he’ll make light work of his unbeaten Georgian-Spanish opponent.
It’s now 17 years since the former undisputed Lightweight champion made his UFC debut in Sao Paulo, and he will hope that he can take care of a fighter seven years his junior.
UFC fans who want to bet on this fight, or indeed any of the other bouts on the undercard, can make the most of the key info here that helps bettors identify the best sportsbook app to use for their wager, thereby helping to maximize any potential payout.
Widely regarded as one of the most dominant figures in women’s boxing, Claressa has formally rang the bell on her stint in mixed martial arts after three appearances with the Professional Fighters League (PFL). The 30-year-old athlete confirmed her decision during an interview, stating that although the experience was worthwhile, she will no longer pursue MMA due to the pressure on her training schedule and the toll it has taken on her body.
Shields, who boasts an undefeated record in professional boxing and has held undisputed titles across five weight classes, entered MMA in 2021 with significant attention. Her debut resulted in a technical knockout victory over Brittney Elkin, followed by a narrow split-decision loss to Abigail Montes. After taking a break from the cage for over two years, she returned to win a tightly contested bout against Kelsey De Santis by decision in early 2024.
A former two-division KSW champion, Gamrot has compiled a 7-3 record in the UFC since his debut in 2020. His victories include wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Rafael Fiziev, and Jalin Turner. His most recent bout was a split decision loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 305 in August 2024, snapping a three-fight winning streak.
Klein enters this fight on a four-fight winning streak, with recent victories over Roosevelt Roberts, Thiago Moises, Ignacio Bahamondes, and AJ Cunningham. Since moving up to lightweight, he has gone 6-0-1, showcasing his adaptability and growth in the division.
MMA Promoter | Event Organizer | Analyst
Founder & President of Real Fight Promotion (RFP) – one of the longest-running and most recognized MMA organizations in Ukraine. Organizer of 100+ MMA events. Contributor, analyst, and Trusted Promoter collaborating with leading global MMA platforms.
At the moment, Tom Aspinall is one of the biggest names in the UFC. His MMA record is so good that today there is no fighter willing to stand against him. Even the legendary Jon Jones is being shy of fighting Tom with the UFC heavyweight title on the line. So, while Aspinall is waiting for a worthy opponent to come his way, let’s talk about other things going on in his career.
The business side of UFC was always kind to fighters. Superstars such as Tom Aspinall are always able to attract top sponsorship deals. These days, it became public that Tom has signed a deal with the game developing company called Spribe. This game provider specializes in software development in online casino gaming. Keep Reading
