"Overcoming adversity in a fight, little looks or body language in fighters are you watch them strive to overcome, and exceeding expectations. With that in mind I'm going to side with Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes. The fight saw Nurmagomedov pressed like never before, and didn't feel like a loss for Hughes. While the rematch didn't have the same spark (and came down to a similar result, with Nurmagomedov winning a decision), the fight entertained"
"Gabriel Gonzalez: Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van. In hindsight, the fight is made more epic considering Royval was preparing for a match with Manel Kape who now stands out as the top contender. The fact that Royval was preparing for such a match when Van stepped in on short notice and the two delivered a historic output in a back-and-forth battle is even more amazing."
2025 produced several memorable mixed martial arts fights characterized by dramatic finishes, short-notice heroics, and competitive matchups. Prochazka overcame a difficult start to score a sudden knockout of Rountree Jr. with a step-in jab followed by a powerful right hand. Brandon Royval vs. Joshua Van became a record-breaking, back-and-forth war that elevated Joshua Van after he stepped in on short notice. Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes saw Nurmagomedov unusually pressed and delivered high entertainment value despite a decision result. The year emphasized comeback knockouts, breakout performances, and fights that boosted fighters' divisional standing.
Read at Cageside Press
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