Source: Unsplash
The octagon has seen its fair share of historic clashes, moments that leave fans breathless and set the sport’s trajectory for years to come. We all remember Conor McGregor’s iconic slugfest opposite Nate Diaz, as well as Anderson Silva’s thrilling back-and-forth affairs against the brash Chael Sonnen. Right now, there is a pool of elite talent across divisions and the matchmaking possibilities feel endless, but there can be no denying that the UFC lacks the star power it once had.
It seems like the Notorious One’s return to the cage will never materialize, while the days of a superstar such as Ronda Rousey are long gone. Add to that the fact that perhaps the most popular fighter in the company recently lost his title, namely Alex Pereira with that disappointing defeat to Magomed Ankalaev, and it’s reasonable to conclude that those big show-stopping fights that make the earth stand still may well be a thing of the past.
But they don’t have to be. Yes, the stars have dried up somewhat, but there are still some blockbuster fights that could be made if all parties can come to an agreement. Here are the two that we feel have the biggest drawing power in 2025.
Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall
It’s the fight that makes the most sense. It’s the fight that everyone wants to see. It’s perhaps the biggest fight in the world… So why hasn’t it happened yet?
When the conversation turns to greatness, Jon Jones is the name that is at the front of most people’s lists, especially Dana White’s. After ruling over the light heavyweight division with an iron fist for what felt like an eternity, beating a who’s who of superstars such as Quinton Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, and Daniel Cormier in the process, Jonny Bones finally made the move up to heavyweight in 2023. He claimed the title in his first bout at the weight with a ruthless first-round submission against Cyril Gane, before defending his title against veteran former champ Stipe Miocic in his most recent fight last year.
However, his inactivity has allowed another contender to rise to the fore, one with genuine skills that may well be able to solve the unsolvable Jon Jones puzzle. Enter Tom Aspinall.
The charismatic British star moves like a middleweight stuck in a 6’5” frame, and he has been searching for opponents left, right, and center. Three straight first-round knockouts have taken the 31-year-old to the interim heavyweight championship, and now surely a mouthwatering unification clash with the GOAT awaits, right? Well, not yet.
So far, Jones has avoided a clash with Aspinall like his life depends on it. He opted to wait around for a year for a fight with Miocic even though most fight fans wanted to see him get in the cage with the Brit. He has repeatedly stated that he doesn’t want to fight Aspinall and most importantly, doesn’t need to fight Aspinall. Well, to prove he is the best heavyweight in the world right now, he certainly does.
Most recently, Jones stated that he wants a six-month training camp to prepare for any marquee showdown, even though he has already been out of action for almost five months. Aspinall recently taunted Jones again, this time at UFC London, holding a rubber duck up to the camera to suggest that the all-time great is ducking him.
The fan enthusiasm is heating up and UFC betting sites seemingly think that a deal between the two could be penned in the not-so-distant future. Even though nothing has yet been agreed, online UFC betting odds providers already have prices lined up on their sites ahead of a potential blockbuster showdown. They surprisingly make the younger Aspinall a narrow -117 betting favorite, with the veteran Jones a -103 underdog. If the Brit is to live up to the billing, he will have to do something no fighter has ever done before… hand Jonny Bones his first-ever defeat.
Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria
The lightweight division thrives on chaos, and right at the center of it is Islam Makhachev. The reigning champion has been steadily carving his name into the history books with victories against the likes of Dustin Poirier, Alexander Volkanovski (twice), and Charles Oliveira. He – much like friend, teammate, and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov – is as dominant as they come.
His suffocating wrestling game, paired with his increasingly polished striking, has left a trail of elite fighters in his wake. But while Makhachev remains the king, a new challenger is emerging, and he’s making noise.
That challenger is Ilia Topuria. The undefeated Georgian-Spanish phenom has been tearing through opponents over the last two years and is seemingly the heir apparent to Conor McGregor’s trash-talking throne. He has already cleared out the featherweight division with back-to-back knockout victories against Alexander Volkanovski and Max Holloway, victories that led him to the 145-pound title.
He has since vacated the gold and is now gunning for a title shot, at lightweight, the division in which Makhachev is king. The Dagestani supremo is seemingly unwilling to fight Topuria at present, insisting that he must pick up a statement win at 155 pounds before he gets the shot. However, a clash between the two is highly anticipated and would do huge box office numbers, and that could be enough for head honcho Dana White to book the contest, regardless of how Makhachev feels.