The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is closing out 2025 with a bang, stacking back-to-back pay-per-view cards brimming with high-stakes matchups, title fights, and the return of some of the sport’s most compelling names. As anticipation builds for UFC 322 at Madison Square Garden on November 15 and UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 6, fans are buzzing about the storylines, rivalries, and risks that define this season’s final stretch.
Let’s start with UFC 322, where the Welterweight division takes center stage amid a swirl of drama and opportunity. Sean Brady, ranked No. 2 at 170 pounds, seemed destined for a title shot after his dominant finish over former champion Leon Edwards earlier this year. "By all accounts, Brady seemed to be next in line for a Welterweight title shot after dominating and finishing former champion Leon Edwards earlier this year," reported MMA Latinoamérica. But the division’s plans were thrown into chaos when Islam Makhachev, former Lightweight king, vacated his belt to challenge reigning Welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena—on the very same UFC 322 card.
With the title picture suddenly in flux, Brady didn’t wait around. He called out heated rival Ian Garry, aiming to headline UFC Vancouver, but according to Brady, Garry "ducked" him, and that fight never materialized. Instead, Brady found himself matched with undefeated No. 8 contender Michael Morales—a high-risk, high-reward scenario that could either cement his status or derail his championship ambitions.
Morales, the 26-year-old Ecuadorean phenom, comes into the bout with a spotless 18-0 record, including six wins inside the UFC Octagon. His most recent outing was nothing short of spectacular: a knockout of Gilbert Burns in under four minutes. With a 78 percent finish rate and 14 knockouts, Morales is a dangerous opponent for anyone, let alone a contender with so much at stake. "Morales has an 18-0 record, six UFC wins, and recently knocked out Gilbert Burns in under four minutes," confirmed Home of Fight.
Brady, riding a three-fight win streak, is risking it all by accepting this matchup. If he wins, he keeps his title dreams alive. If he loses, the Welterweight pecking order could be upended yet again. As the MMA world watches closely, the stakes couldn’t be higher for both fighters.
The rest of the UFC 322 card is equally loaded. In addition to the Welterweight showdown between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev, fans will see Valentina Shevchenko square off against Zhang Weili, Leon Edwards face Carlos Prates, Beneil Dariush meet Benoit Saint Denis, and rising stars like Erin Blanchfield, Bo Nickal, and Fatima Kline in action. Madison Square Garden is set for another historic night.
But the action doesn’t stop there. Just three weeks later, UFC CEO Dana White took to Instagram Live to announce the blockbuster matchups for UFC 323, the promotion’s final numbered event of the year. Topping the bill is a Bantamweight title rematch between champion Merab Dvalishvili and former champion Petr Yan—a collision of styles, history, and redemption.
Dvalishvili enters the fight on a tear, having recently notched a unanimous decision win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320. That victory marked his third title defense, and he’s eager to add a fourth before the year is out. The champion’s relentless pace and wrestling acumen have powered him to decision wins over Umar Nurmagomedov and a submission over Sean O’Malley earlier in 2025. "His historic activity level matches his efforts inside the Octagon," noted UFC.com, underscoring Dvalishvili’s reputation as one of the sport’s hardest workers.
Petr Yan, meanwhile, is hungry for revenge. The Russian’s last defeat came at the hands of Dvalishvili in 2023, a grueling five-round decision. Since then, Yan has rebuilt his momentum, stringing together wins over Song Yadong at UFC 299, Deiveson Figueiredo in November 2024, and Marcus McGhee at UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs de Ridder in July. "He is adamant that he wasn’t at his best when he first fought Dvalishvili," reports UFC.com, and now the 32-year-old gets a shot at redemption against the dominant champion.
The co-main event at UFC 323 brings the Flyweight title into the spotlight, as champion Alexandre Pantoja defends against the surging Joshua Van. Pantoja has been unstoppable since capturing the belt from Brandon Moreno in December 2023, racking up four successful defenses, including a recent submission of Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. Van, who just turned 24 on October 10, has been one of the UFC’s busiest and most exciting prospects. He earned his title shot by defeating Brandon Royval in a "Fight of the Night" performance and had previously bested Bruno Silva at UFC 316—his second victory in just four weeks.
Van’s meteoric rise is the talk of the division. Since joining the UFC in June 2023, he’s amassed an 8-1 record and rides a five-fight winning streak into his first title challenge. The matchup between the experienced Pantoja and the youthful, relentless Van promises fireworks.
Also on the UFC 323 card, former two-division champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo returns for his second fight of 2025, taking on the popular Payton Talbott. Cejudo, who came out of retirement in May 2023, is looking to bounce back after decision losses to Dvalishvili and Song. Talbott, a high-profile prospect, suffered his first professional loss to Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311 but rebounded with a decisive win over Felipe Lima at UFC 317.
Light heavyweight action is set as former champion Jan Błachowicz faces Bogdan Guskov. Błachowicz is searching for his first win since May 2022, having endured a split draw and two decision losses in his last three outings. Guskov, meanwhile, is on a tear, riding a four-fight finishing streak and coming off a knockout of Nikita Kyrlov.
With such a packed schedule and so many narratives converging, the end of 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic periods in UFC history. From title implications to redemption arcs and the emergence of new contenders, every bout carries weight—and every fighter has something to prove.
As the calendar winds down, all eyes are on Madison Square Garden and T-Mobile Arena. Will Sean Brady defend his place atop the Welterweight heap, or will Michael Morales shock the world? Can Merab Dvalishvili continue his reign, or will Petr Yan reclaim the gold? And will the new generation—fighters like Joshua Van and Payton Talbott—usher in a changing of the guard? Fight fans won’t have to wait long to find out, as the UFC’s year-end fireworks are just around the corner.
