UFC 2025 Year in Review: Fighter of the Year Debate, Alex Pereira’s Redemption, and 2026’s Troubling Start
The UFC 2025 year in review proved one thing: this sport has never been deeper. Alex Pereira lost to Ankalaev, looked finished at 38, then knocked him out cold in 80 seconds to reclaim the light heavyweight throne. Islam Makhachev went to welterweight and dominated Jack Della Maddalena for his second belt. Joshua Van went 4-0 and captured flyweight gold at just 24. Valentina Shevchenko continues crushing opponents at 37. Dave Simon, AJ D’Alesio, and Fred Garcia break down who truly deserves Fighter of the Year honors—and why the early 2026 schedule filled with BMF title fights and interim belts already has fans concerned.
UFC 323 Results: Why Our Merab Pick Was Dead Wrong (And AJ Called Van)
UFC 323 closed out 2025 with two title changes that will reshape the bantamweight and flyweight divisions. Petr Yan reclaimed the championship he lost four years ago with a decisive decision over Merab Dvalishvili — a result that proved the Ringside Report crew wrong on their biggest pick of the night. Meanwhile, Joshua Van became the second-youngest UFC champion in history after Alexandre Pantoja suffered a devastating arm injury just 26 seconds into their fight — a result AJ D’Alesio called on Thursday’s preview. Here’s the full breakdown plus our predictions report card.
UFC 323: Merab’s Historic Fourth Title Defense Against Undefeated Umar
UFC 323 goes down tomorrow night with Merab Dvalishvili attempting something no UFC champion has ever done – defending his title four times in a single calendar year. The Georgian champion faces former champion Petr Yan in a highly anticipated rematch at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, marking the UFC’s last pay-per-view event before the new Paramount+ deal takes effect in 2026.
The co-main event features Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight championship against 24-year-old rising star Joshua Van. Plus Brandon Moreno vs Tatsuro Taira, Henry Cejudo’s potential retirement fight, and Jan Błachowicz vs Bogdan “The Goose” Guskov.
Ringside Report MMA hosts Dave Simon and AJ D’Alesio provide expert predictions including Dave’s three-fight parlay: Merab, Payton Talbott, and “The Goose” Guskov.
UFC 317 Preview: Topuria vs Oliveira Title Fight Predictions and Betting Picks
UFC 317 preview and predictions from Ringside Report hosts Dave Simon and AJ D’Alesio. Complete breakdown of Topuria vs Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title, betting picks, parlay strategies, and analysis of the full International Fight Week card.
Joshua Van’s Bold Move: Accepting Brandon Royval UFC 317 Challenge
In the ever-dynamic world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where competition is fierce and opportunities can be fleeting, rising star Joshua Van is making headlines for his audacious decision to accept a fight against seasoned competitor Brandon Royval. Van’s decision is not just a career-defining moment; it’s a testament to his tenacity and ambition […]