The MMA world will remember 2025 for a number of crazy moments and breakout stars — as well as one of the most controversial voting moments in MMA awards history.
2025 Year-End Awards Show: Wild controversy caps off celebration of best in MMA after another wild year
MMA Fighting presents the 2025 awards for Fighter of the Year, Knockout of the Year, and more
Mike Heck Has been covering combat sports since 2015 and is the host for BTL and watch parties.
Join the MMA Fighting staff as we look back at the biggest highs, surprises, and most unbelievable moments of 2025 in a special year-end retrospective. We’re honoring all the nights that defined a rollercoaster of a year this sport has seen in quite some time — and handing out plenty of hardware in celebration of the knockouts, submissions, fights, fighters, and breakthrough competitors who made sure 2025 was a year that will be remembered.
This year, the categories seemed tougher than ever in regards to determining a winner, along with figuring out who belonged in the top-five overall. We invite you to stick around for the final award, which features controversy like never before in the history of MMA Fighting award shows.
Check out MMA Fighting’s 2025 year-end award show above, hosted by our own Mike Heck and featuring a panel of Alexander K. Lee and Jed Meshew.
Watch the full show in the video above. An audio-only version of the show can be listened to below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you find your favorite podcasts.
