ESPN MMA 2025 Midyear Awards: Topuria's UFC 317 Triumph Headlines Best of First Half

The year 2025 marks a significant shift in the UFC, with more than half of its championships changing hands midway through the year. This period has been characterized by the rise of new champions and the unexpected departure of established ones.

Title Changes and Unexpected Vacancies

Interestingly, three champions relinquished their titles outside the confines of the Octagon. Islam Makhachev vacated the lightweight title to pursue a welterweight title shot. Ilia Topuria, already slated to vacate his featherweight title, seized Makhachev's vacant 155-pound title at UFC 317. Furthermore, Jon Jones' retirement led to Tom Aspinall's promotion from interim to undisputed heavyweight champion, without a fight.

Beyond these title shifts, the UFC has witnessed spectacular performances and memorable moments, setting the stage for future clashes. Here's a breakdown of ESPN's top picks for the year's highlights thus far:

Note: These awards were determined by a poll of 13 MMA experts.

Event of the Year So Far: UFC 317

UFC 317 stands out, largely due to Topuria's dominant performance.

The UFC's International Fight Week event was strong from beginning to end, but will be most remembered for its main event. Topuria's victory over Charles Oliveira, solidifying his status as the UFC's first two-weight champion with an unblemished record, was a defining moment.

This performance alone makes UFC 317 the leading contender for best event, supported by Alexandre Pantoja's successful title defense against Kai Kara-France and Joshua Van's impressive showing against Brandon Royval. Additionally, Payton Talbott reaffirmed his status as a promising prospect, while the prelims delivered high-energy fights.

Fight of the Year So Far: Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van at UFC 317

Prior to UFC 317, Joshua Van was relatively unranked. However, his performance against Brandon Royval propelled him to the top, positioning him just below champion Pantoja.

Van stepped in as a late replacement against Royval. Both fighters fought with title aspirations.

The fight was a back-and-forth battle, with Van landing 204 of 305 significant strike attempts (66%) and Royval connecting with 215. Their combined total of 419 significant strikes set a new record for a three-round UFC fight. Van secured a unanimous decision, solidifying this bout as the fight of the year.

Male Fighter of the Year So Far: Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili and Ilia Topuria were neck and neck in this category. Dvalishvili received a slight edge due to his two title defenses within six months, including a victory over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311, followed by a dominant rematch against Sean O'Malley at UFC 316.

Currently ranked No. 3 in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings, Dvalishvili is preparing for his third title defense against Cory Sandhagen.

Female Fighter of the Year So Far: Kayla Harrison

Kayla Harrison has finally reached the pinnacle, becoming a UFC champion.

After transitioning from Olympic gold medalist in judo to MMA in 2018, Harrison quickly secured two PFL championships. Joining the UFC last year, she earned a title shot with two dominant wins.

Harrison's victory over Julianna Peña at UFC 316, marked by a first-round kimura submission, solidified her position. The subsequent face-off with former champion Amanda Nunes has set the stage for a monumental clash in women's MMA.

Breakout Fighter: Joshua Van

Van's rise has been nothing short of meteoric, earning a title shot at just 23 years old.

He is the only fighter in UFC history to land 100 or more strikes in six of his first nine appearances. Van's success in the overlooked flyweight division is particularly noteworthy, making him a household name. This pick for breakout fighter was unanimous.

Knockout of the Year So Far: Mauricio Ruffy's Spinning Wheel Kick

While Ilia Topuria's KO of Charles Oliveira to win the lightweight championship was consequential, Mauricio Ruffy's spinning wheel kick against King Green at UFC 313 was the most visually stunning. Ruffy's first-round finish overshadowed Alex Pereira and Justin Gaethje.

Malcolm Wellmaker's knockout of Kris Moutinho also garnered significant attention.

Submission of the Year So Far: Jean Silva's Ninja Choke

Jean Silva's ninja choke against Bryce Mitchell at UFC 314 was a standout moment. Silva dominated the fight, overwhelming Mitchell and securing the submission.

Silva's victory, part of the Fighting Nerds' success, has positioned him for a high-profile fight against Diego Lopes.

Moment of the Year So Far: Harrison and Nunes Face-Off

Post-fight face-offs have become increasingly common. However, the face-off between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes after UFC 316 stood out.

Following Harrison's title win, Nunes entered the Octagon and bowed to Harrison, setting the stage for a highly anticipated showdown between the two.

Most Improved Fighter: Payton Talbott

Payton Talbott's improvement has been remarkable. After a loss to Raoni Barcelos at UFC 311, Talbott addressed his defensive wrestling weaknesses.

His performance against Felipe Lima at UFC 317 demonstrated a well-rounded skill set and the ability to bounce back from a loss, restoring his hype.