UFC Championship Odds: Who Will Have The Belts At The End Of 2025?

2024 was a fun year in mixed martial arts. We saw the new guard take over with fighters like Ilia Topuria and Dricus Du Plessis ascending to championship status. At the same time, stalwarts like Alex Pereira cemented their legacy with multiple title defenses.

The UFC futures market is very limited, but, luckily for us, BetMGM offers something fun: the UFC future champions odds, where we can bet on who will be the UFC champion of each division at the end of 2025.

Flyweight Division Odds: A Long Reign For Pantoja

Odds to be champion on Dec. 31, 2025

Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja (-139)

This is a super easy bet for me. We've seen Pantoja starch the rest of the division, and he's done it multiple times vs certain opponents. "The Cannibal" crushed newcomer Kai Asakura at UFC 310, and his confidence will be sky-high for whatever rematch the UFC throws at him next. He's also earned the right to rematch a loss, putting him in a good spot to maintain the belt through 2025. 

Bantamweight Division Odds: Merab Is Unique

Prediction: Merab Dvalishvili (-105)

I hate the odds here but I love Merab to defend his belt against Umar in early 2025 and follow that up with one more victory. He's already got wins against the other legit contenders on this list (Yan, O'Malley), so if he gets through Nurmagomedov, it'll be smooth sailing.

Talbott is interesting at +5000, but he's more of a 2026 pick. 

Lightweight Division Odds: Islam still has it

Prediction: Islam Makhachev (-250)

The chalk fest continues with another bet on the current champion to retain. Lightweight just doesn't have any fighters who can beat Islam. Maybe Arman gets it done, but he's a +250 underdog vs Islam at UFC 311. Perhaps a rematch is initiated after this first fight, but I'd wait until 2026 to bet on Makhachev's downfall. 

Paddy Pimblett (+2000) is another fun bet, but he'll need until 2026 to sniff title-shot territory.

Welterweight Division Odds: Remember the name

Prediction: Belal Muhammad (+225)

Shavkat is a monster, but since I'm picking Belal to defeat him in their next meeting, I'll poach the +225 value, marking my first non-favorite pick for 2025. Belal matches up very well with "Nomad" whose fearsome status faded after a competitive fight vs Ian Garry.

Middleweight Division Odds: Dricus Or Khamzat?

Prediction: Dricus Du Plessis (+100)

I swear to god I'm not just picking current champs. Khamzat will eventually get that MW title shot, but who knows when that goes down? Is it even in 2025? Can he even fight in the U.S. or will the champ meet him in Abu Dhabi? Too many questions, so I'll steer clear. 

Light Heavyweight Division Odds: Pereira Quite Favored

Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev (+100)

If their first fight is close, Ankalaev must defeat Pereira twice in 2025 to claim the throne, but the Russian has the chops to do it. He's not a very creative striker, but he's durable and will lean on his wrestling skills to take "Poatan" out of his element. Pereira can't dominate forever, and I predict 2025 will mark his downfall. 

Also, a sprinkle on Jamahal Hil at +2000 isn't a terrible value pick. There's no way "Sweet Dreams" should be that low on this list.