UFC Fantasy Draft, Season 2: Which 60 UFC fighters will begin 2025 the strongest?

We’re again!

For the again half of 2024, the MMA Preventing crew debuted a enjoyable undertaking we’d been planning for a while: a UFC Fantasy League.

As a substitute of fantasy MMA the place you choose groups forward of a selected occasion, this was extra like conventional fantasy sports activities, drafting a staff for a full season (or in our case, the ultimate 13 occasions of 2024). The esteemed Alexander Ok. Lee grew to become our inaugural champion — thanks largely to drafting Khamzat Chimaev, Jon Jones, and Ilia Topuria — and it was a lot enjoyable that we wished to run it again, in order that’s precisely what we’re doing. It’s time to Fantasy Draft UFC fighters!

We’ve tweaked the principles barely to make issues just a little less complicated, and we’ve added just a few extra individuals to the occasion, however in any other case, issues are the identical as the primary go round: each contestant drafts fighters to fill out an MMA roster, with slots in every of the 11 UFC weight lessons, plus one wild card spot that may go to anybody. Every fighter earns factors for his or her staff primarily based on the scoring standards under, and fighters can earn factors for a number of fights. This season runs by June 30, after which we’ll transfer on to Season 3!

SCORING CRITERIA

• +100 factors for a win
• +50 factors for a end
• +50 factors for a Efficiency of the Evening or Battle of the Evening bonus
• +50 factors for beating an opponent within the UFC rankings
• +25 factors for being in a title struggle
• +25 factors for being in a most important occasion struggle

Simple sufficient? We positive hope so.

This season Guilherme Cruz, E. Casey Leydon, and Damon Martin be a part of the returning champion Alexander Ok. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew to fill out our six-man league, and after spinning the Wheel of Justice, Lee has the primary total choose, adopted by Meshew, Cruz, Leydon, Martin, after which Heck taking the wheel on this snake draft format.

So with out additional ado, let’s get drafting!

Spherical 1

Lee — Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight)

Primarily based on the scoring standards, there’s an enormous premium on fighters who compete greater than as soon as and on fighters who win titles/large fights. Provided that he’ll be competing for the bantamweight title in just a little over every week, Nurmagomedov has alternative to attain main factors after which get again within the cage earlier than July.

Meshew — Tatiana Suarez (strawweight)

Do you see a theme creating? Suarez fights Zhang Weili for the strawweight title at UFC 312 subsequent month. Granted, betting on Suarez to compete greater than as soon as in a yr is dangerous, a lot much less six months, however there aren’t loads of strawweight fights booked but and Suarez presents the largest upside.

Cruz — Alex Pereira (gentle heavyweight)

The primary total choose within the 2024 draft falls to No. 3 this yr, partially as a result of he doesn’t have something on the books in the intervening time. Pereira was extremely lively in 2024 so it’s potential he slows down some this yr, but when he does compete will probably be both a lightweight heavyweight title protection or a shot at one of many heavyweight belts, which may very well be big.

Leydon — Dricus du Plessis (middleweight)

The shock of the draft occurs on simply the fourth choose as recognized DDP hater Casey Leydon swerves everybody by taking the middleweight champion. Du Plessis is scheduled to defend his title in opposition to Sean Strickland at UFC 312 subsequent month, so if he does retain the title, he might get again in there in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev earlier than Worldwide Battle Week.

Martin — Islam Makhachev (light-weight)

If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it. Makhachev is the highest pound-for-pound fighter in MMA at present and is about to make the fourth protection of his light-weight title in opposition to Arman Tsarukyan subsequent week at UFC 311. Given his dominance, it’s laborious to really feel dangerous about deciding on the P4P champ, and although he isn’t essentially the most lively, he’s received loads of time to slot in a second bout for this fantasy season.

Heck — Ilia Topuria (featherweight)

Unsurprisingly it’s all champs or potential champs off the board in Spherical 1 and Heck completes that by taking the 145-pound king. Topuria delivered large factors for Lee final season and whereas he’s not at present booked, most count on him to defend his title in a rematch in opposition to Alexander Volkanovski someday this yr.

Spherical 2

Heck — Payton Talbott (bantamweight)

A savvy choose from Heck right here. Talbott is a well-liked selection for the potential breakout fighter of 2025, and he’s an enormous favourite in his bout in opposition to Raoni Barcelos subsequent weekend at UFC 311. Assuming the undefeated prospect picks up the win and avoids damage, it’s nearly a certainty he’ll get again within the cage once more quickly.

Martin — Brandon Royval (flyweight)

The flyweight division is fairly skinny of scheduled fights in the intervening time, so Martin swoops in and takes one of many few fighters that’s booked. Royval faces Manel Kape in the principle occasion of an APEX card on March 1, which means Martin is a minimum of locking in some factors, and probably an enormous bump if Royval will get the win and cements himself as a title challenger.

Leydon — Charles Oliveira (light-weight)

A wholly speculative selection from Leydon right here. The previous light-weight champion doesn’t at present have something booked, although he’s been hooked up to rumors of a struggle with Max Holloway and Dan Hooker. If he does compete although, you could possibly do loads worse than having the UFC chief in bonuses earned.

Cruz — Renato Moicano (light-weight)

Moicano takes on Beneil Dariush subsequent weekend at UFC 311, which means the surging light-weight has an amazing likelihood to earn double factors if he can get previous Dariush. Add in {that a} win over Dariush might put Moicano on the shortlist for a light-weight title shot and this choose has loads of upside to it.

Meshew — Jailton Almeida (heavyweight)

Ruthless drafting right here from Meshew, who snipes one among Lee’s favourite fighters proper from beneath his nostril. Almeida faces Serghei Spivac subsequent weekend at UFC 311, and given how usually he scores fast finishes, there’s a excessive potential for Almeida to attain large factors and get one other chew on the apple quickly.

Lee — Jean Silva (featherweight)

One good steal deserves one other, I suppose. Silva is one among Meshew’s favourite up-and-comers and Lee nabs him right here to fill out his featherweight spot, which is doubly useful contemplating the relative lack of depth within the weight class proper now. Silva faces Melsik Baghdasaryan at UFC Seattle on Feb. 22, the place he’s anticipated to attain a pleasant end as he continues climbing the ranks.

Spherical 3

Lee — Jiri Prochazka (gentle heavyweight)

Now AK is simply twisting the knife. Prochazka is one among Jed’s favourite fighters, in order that’s two he’s sniped. It’s additionally an incredible choose as Prochazka faces Jamahal Hill subsequent weekend at UFC 311. Given his type, Prochazka might be locked in for a bonus of some sort with a win, and should even nab Battle of the Evening honors ought to he lose.

Meshew — Sergei Pavlovich (wild card)

Mr. Meshew discovered just a few classes from Season 1; specifically, that profitable is crucial factor. Few heavyweights do this higher than Pavlovich, and when he wins it’s with authority. His scheduled struggle in opposition to Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC Saudi Arabia ought to be a fast win, setting him up for one more outing within the close to future. Plus, this choose has the additional benefit of actually monopolizing the most effective heavyweights on the market.

Cruz — Nassourdine Imavov (middleweight)

Imavov faces former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the principle occasion of UFC Saudi Arabia subsequent month, so he actually has the potential to attain large if he can preserve using his present wave of momentum.

Leydon — Tom Aspinall (heavyweight)

One other speculative choose from Mr. Leydon. If Aspinall competes, he’s clearly a sensible choice given all of his fights finish in first-round finishes, however the query is, will he? It’s unclear how shut the UFC is to creating a struggle between Aspinall and Jon Jones, so there’s a world the place the interim champion spends the following six months caught in limbo.

Martin — Jamahal Hill (gentle heavyweight)

Our first head-to-head struggle and it is available in the identical spherical! Lee has Prochazka and now Martin has Hill, which means their 205-pound struggle subsequent weekend may have double the intrigue for the MMA Preventing employees. Can the previous champion get again on observe? We’ll discover out.

Heck — Anthony Hernandez (middleweight)

One of many least stunning picks potential. Mike Heck has a model and that model is supporting Arman Tsarukyan and “Fluffy” Hernandez till the cows come house. Hernandez rematches Brendan Allen at UFC Seattle subsequent month (Hernandez received their first matchup for the LFA title in 2018) and appears poised to ship a minimum of one large win.

Spherical 4

Heck — Kayla Harrison (ladies’s bantamweight)

Fairly probably essentially the most troublesome weight class to draft, Heck makes the primary ladies’s bantamweight choice and does so by taking the percentages on favourite to say the 135 title. It stays to be seen whether or not Harrison can really make 135 kilos, but when she does, she’ll be a prohibitive favourite over champion Julianna Peña, at any time when that struggle will get booked.

Martin — Shara Magomedov (middleweight)

One other middleweight competing at UFC Saudi Arabia off the board! That occasion options loads of marquee middleweight matchups, and this one appeals to Damon Martin, particularly as he’s by no means been an enormous believer in Michael “Venom” Web page. MVP’s transfer as much as middleweight is actually a dangerous one and “Shara Bullet” has a historical past of violent wins.

Leydon — Zhang Weili (strawweight)

One other head-to-head matchup! Jed drafted Tatiana Suarez within the first spherical and now Casey takes the defending champion within the fourth. In opposition to anybody aside from Rose Namajunas, Zhang has seemed dominant, so if that continues, this shall be an enormous win for Casey in a weaker weight class.

Cruz — Shavkat Rakhmonov (welterweight)

Many individuals’s option to turn into the following welterweight champion at any time when he will get the chance, the query with Rakhmonov is timing. The undefeated No. 1 contender suffered some kind of damage in his UFC 310 struggle and so it’s unclear when he’ll really get to face Belal Muhammad for the welterweight title.

Meshew — Macy Chiasson (ladies’s bantamweight)

Once more, arguably essentially the most troublesome weight class to draft for, Meshew grabs Chiasson off the board, leaving not loads of nice choices for everybody else. Chiasson is surging proper now and faces Ketlen Vieira at UFC Seattle subsequent month. She’s pretty much as good a choose as anybody for ladies’s 135 kilos.

Lee — Reiner de Ridder (middleweight)

OK, now that is beginning to appear private. AK has drafted a staff nearly solely of fellows that Jed Meshew loves. Happily, there’s a minimum of cause to take action this time round. “RDR” takes on Kevin Holland subsequent weekend at UFC 311 in a matchup that ought to favor his grappling skills. Ought to he get the win, “The Dutch Knight” will then be arrange for a fast turnaround later this season.

Spherical 5

Lee — Carlos Prates (welterweight)

The reigning champion selects the reigning Rookie of the Year to kick off the fifth spherical of this draft. Prates doesn’t at present have something booked, however the Preventing Nerds product competed 4 instances in 2024 and it appears sure he’ll struggle a minimum of as soon as this season if not a number of instances.

Meshew — Austin Bashi (featherweight)

Our first choice that shall be utterly unknown to many. Bashi is an undefeated prospect coming off the newest season of Contender Collection where he was one of Jed’s favorite prospects. This weekend he fights Christian Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 101, and whereas it’s a tricky check, the 23-year-old is favored to win. From there, he’ll doubtless step again within the cage sooner somewhat than later.

Cruz — Amanda Ribas (strawweight)

It took some time, however now among the UFC Vegas 101 fighters are coming off the board. Ribas headlines this weekend’s struggle card in a rematch in opposition to Mackenzie Dern. Their first struggle was in 2019 and Ribas received a large unanimous choice, so there’s likelihood historical past repeats itself and Ribas will get one other chew on the apple quickly.

Leydon — Belal Muhammad (welterweight)

Casey is basically going heavy on champions and speculative picks. Muhammad was alleged to face Shavkat Rakhmonov at UFC 310 till a toe damage pressured him out of motion. The damage is all healed up now for the welterweight champion and a date with Rakhmonov nonetheless looms, however nothing is official but, and even when it does occur, that’s an enormous check for “Bear in mind the Title.”

Martin — Curtis Blaydes (heavyweight)

Jed took all the nice heavyweights already, however Martin snags the following best choice. Blaydes takes on former PFL fighter Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Seattle subsequent month, which most likely means Martin is locking up some win factors if nothing else.

Heck — Jasmine Jasudavicius (ladies’s flyweight)

The primary ladies’s flyweight off the board! Jasudavicius has been on a tear currently and he or she hopes to maintain that going in opposition to former ladies’s bantamweight title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva once they face off at UFC Saudi Arabia.

Spherical 6

Heck — Molly McCann (strawweight)

A shameless little bit of genius right here from Mike Heck. McCann faces Istela Nunes at UFC London in March in an nearly clear setup struggle for “Meatball.” Nunes joined the UFC in 2021 and has misplaced 4 consecutive fights, three of these by stoppage. McCann appears extraordinarily more likely to make that 5 in a row and hand Nunes her strolling papers.

Martin — Michael Morales (welterweight)

This can be a very speculative choose, displaying loads of moxie. Solely 25 years previous, Morales broke by to the highest 15 at welterweight final yr and appears poised for an enormous 2025, however he’s not at present booked and there’s no telling who he may even get paired in opposition to subsequent. Actually loads of upside right here, but in addition a good bit of threat.

Leydon — Carlos Ulberg (gentle heavyweight)

A lot much less threat for Casey who takes a person already booked and who shall be a large favourite. Ulberg seems like he could be a lightweight heavyweight title challenger eventually and he will get the chance to make his case for that when he fights former champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC London in March.

Cruz — Deiveson Figueiredo (bantamweight)

Again to the speculative picks. Figueiredo isn’t at present booked however Guilherme Cruz makes a savvy choose right here as there are loads of choices for “Figgy Smalls” proper now. In fact, there are many viable bantamweight for Figueiredo to face, however there’s additionally some discuss of the previous champion dropping again right down to flyweight to rematch Alexandre Pantoja. Factors are factors, regardless of the burden class so Gui might have snuck one in right here.

Meshew — Bogdan Guskov (gentle heavyweight)

Have we talked about how dangerous gentle heavyweight is? Except for being a foul weight class, there additionally aren’t many nice fights already lined up, so Jed takes the low-hanging fruit and selects Guskov, who fights Johnny Walker subsequent weekend at UFC 311. If Guskov wins, it’ll be by knockout, and if he loses, effectively, nonetheless time for one more struggle this season.

Lee — Joshua Van (flyweight)

Sneaky nice choose from Lee right here. Van fights Bruno Silva at UFC 313, and he’s a person who likes to be lively. Van fought 4 instances in 2024, so there’s an actual likelihood he tries to make a fast turnaround once more, win or lose in March.

Spherical 7

Lee — Jacqueline Cavalcanti (ladies’s bantamweight)

Not each choose can transfer the needle. Cavalcanti faces Julia Avila at an APEX card in February and he or she’s on run proper now, going 3-0 within the UFC. Certain, these have all been choice wins, however as Dominic Toretto as soon as stated, winning is winning.

Meshew — Rei Tsuruya (flyweight)

Equally, Jed takes a flyweight super-prospect right here that fails to get anybody that excited. Tsuruya is 22 years previous, undefeated, and appears like the true deal. Additionally, he’s scheduled to struggle Stewart Nicoll at UFC 312, so there may be some risk the Japanese prospect can double dip.

Cruz — Diego Lopes (featherweight)

Lopes has an distinctive 2024, going 3-0 within the UFC with wins over Sodiq Yusuff, Dan Ige, and Brian Ortega. The Ortega win set Lopes as much as probably struggle for the title, besides he seems to be caught behind Alexander Volkanovski for the second. Will Lopes wait it out or keep busy with a matchup in opposition to Movsar Evloev? I suppose we’ll discover out.

Leydon — Ailin Perez (ladies’s bantamweight)

A fowl within the hand is price two within the bush. Perez isn’t essentially the most thrilling selection however she’s combating Karol Rosa at UFC 311, making her a ladies’s bantamweight with a struggle booked and the potential for extra fights to return.

Martin — Steve Garcia (featherweight)

A sneaky good choose from Damon right here. Garcia is a terrific finisher and faces the getting older Edson Barboza at UFC Seattle in February. May be the steal of the seventh spherical.

Heck — Ronaldo Rodriguez (flyweight)

Rodriguez has a robust debut yr within the UFC in 2024, choosing up two wins within the flyweight division. Now he hopes to make it 3-0 when he faces Kevin Borjas at UFC Mexico City in March.

Spherical 8

Heck — Arman Tsarukyan (light-weight)

Mike lastly did it. The remainder of the group believes Islam Makhachev will efficiently defend his light-weight title at UFC 311, making Tsarukyan a dangerous choose; however Mike is backing his boy. If Tsarukyan does win, this is able to be a steal of a choose from Mike so late.

Martin — Cory Sandhagen (bantamweight)

When unsure, draft good fighters. Sandhagen doesn’t have something booked in the intervening time however he’s probably the greatest bantamweights on the planet and has not competed since August so likelihood is good that he will get some kind of struggle within the subsequent six months.

Leydon — Manel Kape (flyweight)

Casey has been excessive on Kape for the reason that RIZIN days and now it seems like his help may lastly receives a commission off. Kape faces Kai Kara-France in the principle occasion of an APEX card in March, probably setting him up for a flyweight title shot subsequent.

Cruz — Alexandre Pantoja (flyweight)

If Kape does get a flyweight title shot, it doubtless comes in opposition to this man. Pantoja is the reigning flyweight champion and has crushed nearly everybody within the weight class already. He simply headlined UFC 310 so he’s not booked but, however whoever he does get paired with, Pantoja shall be a strong betting favourite.

Meshew — Rafael Fiziev (light-weight)

Fiziev has not competed since September of 2023, however when lively he’s probably the greatest lightweights on the planet. Fiziev was additionally linked to a potential rematch with Mateusz Gamrot in February, however that appears to not be the case so this may very well be a disastrous choose for Jed.

Lee — Natalia Silva (ladies’s flyweight)

AK’s staff is nearly completely comprised of different individuals’s favourite fighters. Mike Heck has been the “Natty Ice” bandwagon driver, however AK sneaks her away within the eighth spherical. Silva isn’t at present booked however she final competed in September so it’s doubtless she’s going to struggle quickly.

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Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photographs

Spherical 9

Lee — Leon Edwards (wild card)

The previous welterweight champion isn’t at present booked however rumors proceed that “Rocky” will return to the cage for the UFC’s upcoming return to London in March, probably in opposition to Jack Della Maddalena.

Meshew — Cody Haddon (bantamweight)

Jed clearly has a plan right here. Haddon is one other Contender Collection product that Jed was fairly excessive on, however in contrast to others, this one already made his UFC debut. Haddon beat Dan Argueta in October and now faces Aleksandre Topuria at UFC 312.

Cruz — Karol Rosa (ladies’s bantamweight)

One other head-to-head matchup! Rosa faces Ailin Perez subsequent week at UFC 311, making her pretty much as good a selection as some other for the factor ladies’s bantamweight division.

Leydon — Wang Cong (ladies’s flyweight)

Wang suffered an enormous upset in opposition to Gabriella Fernandes in November however the UFC is clearly nonetheless excessive on her as she now has a positive matchup with Bruna Brasil on deck for UFC 312.

Martin — Paddy Pimblett (wild card)

Although not formally booked but, rumors are that Pimblett might face off with Michael Chandler, maybe for the promotion’s return to London.

Heck — Jan Blachowicz (gentle heavyweight)

Blachowicz faces Carlos Ulberg at UFC London and whereas he’ll doubtless be an underdog, his “Legendary Polish Energy” has led to quite a lot of upsets in his time.

Spherical 10

Heck — Shamil Gaziev (heavyweight)

So that is what it’s come to. Gaziev faces Thomas Petersen in a heavyweight matchup at UFC Saudi Arabia that everybody will most likely neglect as quickly because it ends.

Martin — Virna Jandiroba (strawweight)

Jandiroba seems subsequent in line for a strawweight title shot, however the query is will she get it? If Zhang Weili beats Tatiana Suarez perhaps, but when Suarez wins, Jandiroba may very well be caught ready for a rematch to go down.

Leydon — Merab Dvalishvili (bantamweight)

Discuss no respect. The reigning males’s bantamweight champion defends his title subsequent weekend and nobody was keen to take a flyer on him till the tenth spherical. Dvalishvili has an uphill process in opposition to Umar Nurmagomedov, but when he wins, this would be the greatest choose of the whole draft.

Cruz — Gregory Rodrigues (wild card)

“Robocop” has an enormous alternative to leap into the rankings when he takes on former middleweight title challenger Jared Cannonier in the principle occasion of a Battle Evening card subsequent month.

Meshew — Valentina Shevchenko (ladies’s flyweight)

Extraordinarily dangerous choose given how sometimes Shevchenko’s competed the previous few years, however she is the 125-pound champion and has an affordable matchup in opposition to Manon Fiorot subsequent.

Lee — Terrance McKinney (light-weight)

McKinney is a boom-or-bust choose as he delivers epic finishes or will get epically completed each outing. Hopefully, for AK it’s the previous when he takes on Damir Hadzovic at UFC Saudi Arabia.

Spherical 11

Lee — Amanda Lemos (strawweight)

For his penultimate choose, AK takes the previous strawweight title challenger who faces Iasmin Lucindo at UFC 313 in March.

Meshew — Jacobe Smith (welterweight)

Once more, Jed stays on model by taking a Contender Collection product combating this weekend in opposition to Preston Parsons.

Cruz — Luana Carolina (ladies’s flyweight)

Carolina is on a reasonably good run proper now, having received three in a row contained in the octagon. She seems to make it 4 in a row when she faces Montana de la Rosa at a Battle Evening occasion on March 1.

Leydon — Bryce Mitchell (featherweight)

Mitchell defeated Kron Gracie at UFC 310 to get again on the profitable observe, however the High-15 featherweight isn’t at present booked for something.

Martin — Norma Dumont (ladies’s bantamweight)

Undefeated over her previous 5 bouts, Dumont is out of the blue a participant within the bantamweight division, although she isn’t at present booked.

Heck — Sean Brady (welterweight)

You’ll discover because the draft nears its finish, the picks are getting rather more speculative. Brady is a type of as he has nothing booked for the second, however since he’s a High-10 welterweight, his subsequent struggle will doubtless be an enormous one.

Spherical 12

Heck — Youssef Zalal (wild card)

“The Moroccan Satan” is undefeated since returning to the UFC, with two Efficiency Bonuses to his identify. He faces Calvin Kattar at an APEX card on Feb. 15.

Martin — Manon Fiorot (ladies’s flyweight)

The girl who ostensibly will problem Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title subsequent, Fiorot is 7-0 contained in the UFC.

Leydon — Zhang Mingyang (wild card)

“Mountain Tiger” is 2-0 with two first-round finishes and two Efficiency Bonuses in his quick UFC tenure. He’s not booked, however ought to he struggle, there’s loads of upside.

Cruz — Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)

The previous Glory kickboxer suffered his first MMA defeat in opposition to Marcin Tybura at UFC 309 however seems to rebound with a win over Vitor Petrino at UFC 313 in March.

Meshew — Israel Adesanya (middleweight)

It’s not daily you get a former champion within the closing spherical of the draft. Adesanya faces Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia in what seems to be a positive matchup, a minimum of on paper.

Lee — Jon Jones (heavyweight)

It’s actually not daily that you just get *places on Dana White voice* THE GREATEST FIGHTER WHO EVER WAS OR WILL BE AND THE POUND-FOR-POUND GOD OF FIGHTING!! Jon Jones was arguably the MVP of AK’s league-winning staff in Season 1 and he trusts the heavyweight champion as soon as extra, however this time as Mr. Irrelevant.

And there you’ve it! The second MMA Preventing UFC Fantasy Draft is within the books! Fewer notable names have been left off this time round, although just a few nonetheless have been (Julianna Peña was the one champion not drafted). Who received snubbed and which picks have been reaches? Tell us within the feedback, and we’ll see you in July with the outcomes and the following season.

Remaining Draft Outcomes: