Inspired by the 2025 NFL Draft kicking off in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the MMA Fighting team, continuing a tradition, is back to hold its own simulated draft, distributing the top fighters and biggest stars in the world of mixed martial arts.
Last year`s format saw four members of the MMA Fighting team – Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew – assume control of major MMA promotions to draft rosters. Readers then voted on the strongest team. This year, the concept returns with new assignments and updated promotions.
A quick review of the rules and participants: Last year, the promotions included BKFC, ONE Championship, PFL, KSW, and the UFC, with Mike Heck`s BKFC team winning the reader poll. This year, reflecting changes in the MMA landscape, the lineup is adjusted. UFC, PFL, and BKFC return, while ONE Championship and KSW are replaced by the newcomer, GFL (Global Fight League), included because this might be the only chance to do so.
The GMs have been randomly assigned to new promotions: Damon Martin leads GFL, Alexander K. Lee takes PFL, Jed Meshew manages BKFC, and Mike Heck guides the UFC. As the newest promotion, GFL holds the first overall pick, followed by PFL, BKFC, and the UFC concludes each round.
The Selections
Representing GFL, my focus isn`t viral moments, just getting one show off the ground! But with the first pick, Conor McGregor changes things. While top picks usually seek big contracts, we`re hoping Conor might lend us funds to promote our debut. He can be the face, even president – as long as the check clears!
Here at “The League,” as my colleague Donn Davis and I call it, we`ve done well with Francis Ngannou as our top heavyweight. However, Ngannou`s fight career might be brief. So, we`re bringing in the true number one heavyweight, Tom Aspinall. Tommy fits perfectly with our global plans, is a great ambassador, and exciting in the cage. Opposition isn`t key; he`s our new face.
Some might say I`m copying Mike`s strategy from last year! And I say, “Exactly!” We had the same approach; he just picked first and took the most fun fighters. Not this year! “Poatan” may not be a UFC champion anymore, but that doesn`t matter to me and BKFC. I just want to watch this man land some bare-knuckle shots. Is that too much to ask?
Folks, I won`t sugarcoat it – we`ve been cruising without much effort. But fan frustration is nearing a boiling point. We need to keep the fighter with the highest ceiling in skill and star power. Ilia Topuria was our most essential protected asset; there was no way he was leaving the first round for obvious reasons.
Nobody does a draft better than GFL! With our second pick, we target the greatest of all time. At 37, Jones is slightly young for us, but we`ll risk it. He`s stated he doesn`t have much time left, matching our company`s philosophy – we likely don`t have much time left either!
The League is where the best compete. How can we claim that without the pound-for-pound best fighter, Islam Makhachev? Frankly, he fits the style of many of our champions. Even if he doesn`t draw casual fans (who needs `em?), he`s an on-brand, incredibly talented addition to our elite roster.
I might be Dricus du Plessis`s biggest media supporter since his UFC arrival, so this pick is for my heart as much as his potential. DDP is a special athlete and star. Though he has grappling skill, he fits nicely as a big guy who throws heavy punches. Plus, du Plessis provides a great link to South Africa – a huge market for bare-knuckle given their love for rugby!
If Ilia Topuria was our must-keep, Dakota Ditcheva is our must-have. Fans want it, Ditcheva clearly wants it, and the UFC needs excitement and intrigue. Why wait for her contract to expire? This is the immediate move. Let`s make it happen and give everyone – except PFL – what they want!
With Tom Aspinall gone, we need someone for Jones to fight in his GFL debut (possibly his only GFL fight). We`re revisiting the matchup everyone wanted a few years ago. Though out of sight in PFL, Ngannou remains one of the most ferocious fighters. Putting him against Jones is exactly the match we need.
I see GFL`s move… and I dislike it. Fortunately, we anticipated Ngannou`s potential loss and have passive-aggressive tweets ready for his first GFL fight announcement (kidding… or not?). We thank Ngannou and move to the new hotness, former UFC star Paddy Pimblett. We have the substance with Makhachev and now the sizzle with the increasingly popular “Baddy” from Liverpool.
Are there “better” fighters available? Probably. But BKFC is a lifestyle, not just a promotion. Is anyone in MMA more fitting for our brand of antics? We`ll even let him walk out ripping cigarettes and help design custom fight shorts. Perry is the perfect face for bare-knuckle.
First, this should have been a snake draft; Paddy Pimblett would have stayed. But I digress… Since I can`t keep Pimblett, the UFC`s goal is fun and excitement, especially in the heavyweight division. We`ll match him correctly (referencing pick #5, apologies to KSW) to ensure high viewership. Additionally, this pick impacts BKFC and GFL due to age ranges. Excited to have him.
Now I know what you`re thinking – Ronda Rousey is retired. But so was Chris Weidman, and he returned for GFL`s honor. We believe Rousey can make a similar comeback. Sure, she hasn`t fought in nine years, but that layoff is perfect for a return! We already have Holly Holm under contract, so maybe we run that back, or this draft presents another option for the “Rowdy” one.
Listen, I`ll say it: If you vote for GFL as the winner, you`re a bad person! We`re keeping the momentum with another popular fighter and the second “Fighting Nerd” picked, Jean Silva. His stock is soaring after beating Bryce Mitchell. He`s an amazing addition to our overlooked featherweight squad.
Oof. That stings slightly; I hoped for Silva this round for a “Fighting Nerds Bash Brothers” duo, but alas. Great pick for PFL, and we`ll slightly adjust plans by taking my other large, adult son, Jiri Prochazka. Besides Pudzianowski-Hall (which Heck ruined!), this is the fight I want most in MMA. No belt needed, just these two violent weirdos clashing. Now I can make it happen.
There`s no way we`re letting Dustin Poirier have his final fight outside the UFC. One of the most exciting and emotional events in the UFC in 2025 will be Poirier`s “Last Dance.” Poirier vs. Holloway 3 in New Orleans is a fitting end to one of the most entertaining careers in UFC history.
Listen, we need some excitement, and honestly, there`s a chance none of our first four picks actually fight for us – much like we might never put on a show. But all is not lost. With Gaethje, we get a top lightweight who never has boring fights, is remarkably durable, and dependable – something we definitely need in this promotion.
Khamzat Chimaev, I cannot quit you. For the second year, I`m gambling on a potential best fighter in the world? We may never know. But every time Chimaev walks to the cage, it`s must-watch TV. And hey, our stars only fight once a year anyway, so our schedules align perfectly!
This is a pick for me. I have nothing but love for the “Greatest Featherweight of All Time” and find his UFC booking in his prime years a travesty. In BKFC, the last thing anyone needs is someone just holding Jose Aldo`s waist hoping for scorecards – that`s not on our menu. Let`s see what one of the best ever can do in a final bare-knuckle chapter.
Call it a hipster pick, but I call it selfish. Hot take: Gadzhi Rabadanov is the most underrated fighter in the world right now. And yes, we feel bad we`ve potentially cost him $500,000 (barring injury), because without our pick, he`d win the PFL lightweight tournament. I think he`s a top-ten lightweight, and we`ll only know for sure with this move.
We have to finish strong, and there`s no better way to get Conor to open his bank account than finally setting up a rubber match with old rival Nate Diaz. Their first two fights were huge UFC sellers, and who wouldn`t watch a third? Plus, Diaz turned 40 this year, putting him in his GFL prime!
We can`t completely ignore the loss of Ngannou, as the money fight with Aspinall was right there. So we pivot to the likely only ONE Championship name picked: the enigmatic Oumar Kane, aka Reug Reug. No one expected him to last a round with Anatoly Malykhin, yet he went the distance and won (via questionable split decision). It`s a shame he hasn`t fought since, but we`ll offer him a massive Aspinall fight immediately.
And now, we look to the future. BKFC has a specific brand, and finding fits isn`t easy, but this one seems good. Hughes is always ready to fight and is an emerging, talkative talent. He`s our succession plan for when Mike Perry and our aging pool head towards retirement.
Oh, Jed, you stole my pick [referencing Hughes], but that`s fine, I have a great backup. Doumbé-mania will run wild in the UFC, and unlike PFL, we will matchmake him correctly. No wrestlers, no grapplers (at least not soon), just highlight reels. This is what Doumbé entered the sport for, PFL polished him for us, and now we can make him the star he deserves to be.
The steal of the draft! Technically, Gina Carano never retired, making her fresher than Rousey (despite not fighting for almost 16 years). Carano nearly came back years ago, deep in talks with the UFC for a potential showdown against Rousey. Potential is all we have here, so why not try the Carano vs. Rousey fight in 2025 that nobody was asking for?
I legitimately thought Damon drafted “Nick Diaz,” and that possibility made me angry! We`re thinking outside the box for our last pick, with champions and stars still available. But hear me out: Themba Gorimbo means we get The Rock. You might not know they`re friends, since they never mention it (smirk). The League needs mainstream buzz, and Dwayne Johnson promoting Themba`s inspiring story is perfect. And if WrestleMania taught us anything, when Rock commits to a story, he sees it through!
Percy Harlow