In 2025, the UFC witnessed a surprising trend as several undefeated fighters suffered their first losses. Among them were Russian athletes, who found themselves on the wrong end of unexpected outcomes. At UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov not only lost the first rounds of his career but was also defeated in a bantamweight title fight by Merab Dvalishvili. The Georgian fighter imposed his style on Khabib’s brother, defying many experts’ predictions to retain his belt, while Umar lost his coveted “zero” in the loss column. Another undefeated fighter, Sharabutdin Magomedov, also fell at the recent UFC event in Saudi Arabia, succumbing to the unorthodox style of Michael Page. Additionally, Magomed Gadzhiyasulov, another Russian fighter with an unblemished record, was defeated by Bruno Lopes and subsequently released from the UFC.
How Sharabutdin “Bullet” Suffered His First Loss:
Shara Bullet vs Michael Venom Page is what both MVP and Wonderboy said their fight would play out like if they were to fight.
— Kevin Thang (@Skip2MyJays) February 1, 2025
Solid win for MVP, fight was nothing special, certainly not worth the hype.#UFCSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/DATg5enLiT
The early prelims of UFC 311 saw two more undefeated fighters fall. Japanese prospect and former junior world freestyle wrestling champion Rinya Nakamura lost to Muin Gafurov, while Khabib’s teammate Tagir Ulanbekov defeated previously unbeaten American Clayton Carpenter. On the same card, Payton Talbott also lost his “zero,” falling to the experienced Raoni Barcelos. At the first UFC event of 2025, American Austin Bashy suffered his first career loss, losing to Christian Rodriguez.
Three events, seven losses for previously undefeated fighters – a unique statistic in its own right. While few fighters manage to retire undefeated, the sheer number of “zeroes” falling in such a short span is unprecedented. Moreover, 2025 seems poised to deliver even more surprises.
Who Could Be Next to Lose Their “Zero”?
🤯 Ian Garry almost choked out Shavkat in the 5th round…INSANE. pic.twitter.com/pExWqkFyck
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) December 8, 2024
In the welterweight division, undefeated Kazakh fighter Shavkat Rakhmonov is set to challenge champion Belal Muhammad for the title. In his last fight against Ian Garry, Rakhmonov wasn’t as dominant as in previous outings, and Belal represents an even higher level of competition. Even if Shavkat secures the title, there’s no guarantee he’ll keep his “zero” intact by the end of the year. A championship win for Rakhmonov could open the door for Islam Makhachev to move up, presenting a formidable challenge for the Kazakh.
Shavkat’s Last Fight Wasn’t Convincing.
Undefeated Ilia Topuria is also eyeing a move up in weight. The Spanish fighter of Georgian descent has defeated Alex Volkanovski and Max Holloway and is planning to transition to the lightweight division, where he’s already calling out the likes of Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and Charles Oliveira. However, competing against such elite fighters, especially Makhachev, will be a daunting task, putting his undefeated record at risk. In the same division, undefeated Movsar Evloev is also a top contender for the title. If Topuria stays at featherweight, a fight with Evloev seems inevitable, meaning one of them will lose their “zero.”
Another fighter to watch is Khamzat Chimaev, who is rapidly climbing the middleweight ranks. “Borz” is likely the next contender for the title and could face the winner of Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland. While Chimaev has looked dominant, notably dismantling Robert Whittaker in his last fight, the middleweight division features larger and more powerful opponents. Gilbert Burns, a natural lightweight, gave Chimaev a tough fight, and the middleweight elite could pose an even greater threat to his undefeated status.
UFC 2025: A Year of Competitive Matchups
This year, the UFC has delivered three stacked events with well-matched fights, leading to several unexpected outcomes. If the promotion continues to provide fans with competitive matchups, many undefeated fighters may soon bid farewell to their “zeroes.” Stay tuned as 2025 promises to be a year full of surprises in the world of MMA.