Caucasus Fighters Dominate UFC, US Left With Single Champion in 2025

In 2025, the United States holds just one UFC championship title through Kayla Harrison, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, marking a significant decline from over a dozen American champions in 2016. The men's divisions no longer feature an American titleholder following Jon Jones' retirement, with the UFC landscape now dominated by fighters from the Caucasus region, including Dagestan, Chechnya, and Georgia. Islam Makhachev, a top-ranked lightweight and former UFC champion from Dagestan, attributes this shift to the UFC signing more talent from the Caucasus, whose fighters compete with a strong sense of responsibility to their communities. Makhachev contrasts this with American fighters, suggesting they lack the same drive and accountability, which has contributed to the decline of U.S. champions. Meanwhile, Corey Anderson, now in the PFL, revealed he was denied a UFC title shot despite a strong win streak because UFC leadership valued fighters' social media presence over merit. This evolving competitive landscape underscores a broader transformation in MMA, reflecting changes in talent pools and promotional priorities.