ONE Championship: Top 15 Fighters of the Year 2025 Across All Disciplines
The Fighters Who Shaped ONE Championship in 2025
ONE Championship's 2025 calendar was a vibrant mix of Muay Thai, kickboxing, MMA, and submission grappling. While star power remained a constant, the year was more about performance than reputation. Several top names faced challenges such as inactivity, injuries, or losses, while others seized unexpected opportunities, moved up weight classes, or simply refused to lose. This list highlights the fighters who made the most impact through consistency, quality of opposition, and significant results.
No. 15 - Masaki Noiri
Masaki Noiri’s 2025 ended on a disappointing note, but it included one of the defining moments of the year. At ONE 172 in March, the Japanese striker delivered a devastating third-round knockout of Tawanchai to claim the interim featherweight kickboxing title, sending shockwaves through the division. This came after a leg-breaking TKO of Shakir Al-Tekreeti at ONE 170 in January, marking the start of a career resurgence after a slow start in 2024. Although he lost a decision to Superbon in his title unification bout, Noiri gave the champion a real test, once again proving his mettle on the sport's biggest stage.
No. 14 - Ayaka Miura
Ayaka Miura emerged as the standout women's MMA fighter of the year in ONE. She secured four wins in 2025, three of them by first-round submission, reinforcing her status as the most dangerous grappler in the atomweight division. Despite being denied a title shot on home soil, Miura’s dominance suggests another opportunity is inevitable.
No. 13 - Diogo Reis
With submission grappling divisions in flux, Diogo Reis stepped forward as a clear standout. He submitted Shoya Ishiguro on debut and captured the vacant flyweight title with a composed unanimous decision over Daiki Yonekura. In a year short on submission grappling standouts, Reis provided much-needed clarity.
No. 12 - Samet Agdeve
A single fight was enough for Samet Agdeve to make history. The 21-year-old Turkish heavyweight arrived fresh from a SENSHI Grand Prix run and immediately handed Romain Kryklia his first loss in over seven years. His victory in November marked the inaugural ONE heavyweight kickboxing title and was one of the biggest upsets of the year.
No. 11 - Stella Hemetsberger
Hemetsberger was thrown into the deep end but swam with grace. She earned her contract with two wins on ONE Friday Fights, then faced Jackie Buntan for the vacant strawweight Muay Thai title. The Austrian dropped Buntan twice in the first round and edged a close decision at Lumpinee Stadium. A rematch for Buntan's kickboxing belt is set for February, this time in Hemetsberger's more natural discipline.
No. 10 - Liu Mengyang
Liu Mengyang was the surprise package of 2025. After a win over Masaaki Noiri late in 2024, he solidified his position with a decisive win over Mohammad Siasarani. His upset of Shadow Singha Mawynn and a first-round TKO of Tawanchai saw him emerge as a genuine title threat.
No. 9 - Allicia Hellen Rodrigues
Flawless and ruthless, Rodrigues defended her atomweight Muay Thai title twice, finishing both challengers on short notice. Marie McManamon was unable to answer the call in the fifth round, while Johanna Persson was flattened by a left hook in the third. Two title fights, two stoppages, no debate.
No. 8 - Tye Ruotolo
Already a champion, Ruotolo raised his ceiling in 2025. He defended his welterweight submission grappling title in a grueling decision over Dante Leon, then transitioned seamlessly into MMA with rear-naked chokes. At just 21, Ruotolo is firmly on a lightweight MMA title trajectory.
No. 7 - Enkh-Orgil Baatarkhuu
Three fights, three wins, and one world title. Baatarkhuu submitted Aaron Canarte via first-round kimura, dominated Jeremy Pacatiw, and pulled off the upset of the year by submitting Fabricio Andrade. From breakout star on Netflix to world champion, his year was transformational.
No. 6 - Yuya Wakamatsu
Wakamatsu had a long-awaited breakthrough. He captured the vacant flyweight MMA title in front of his home crowd, then stopped strawweight champion Joshua Pacio. With ONE's push into the Japanese market, Wakamatsu has become both champion and cornerstone.
No. 5 - Nadaka Yoshinari
A prodigy who delivered. Nadaka debuted with a dominant finish over Rak Erawan, beat KO artist Banluelok by decision, and stopped Hamada Azmani. That run earned him a shot at the inaugural atomweight Muay Thai title, which he claimed with a masterful five-round decision over Numsurin.
No. 4 - Regian Eersel
Eersel proved that even without a second title, he remains elite. He edged Alexis Nicolas in their trilogy bout and stopped George Jarvis in the first round. 'The Immortal' remains one of ONE's true pound-for-pound constants.
No. 3 - Yuki Yoza
Yoza had a flawless start to life in ONE Championship. He defeated Elbrus Osmanov on debut, outpointed Petchtanong with a knockdown, and closed the year with a unanimous decision over Superlek. Three fights, three wins, zero controversy.
No. 2 - Jonathan Di Bella
After losing the strawweight kickboxing title to Prajanchai in 2024, Di Bella quietly rebuilt and reclaimed everything. He dominated Rui Botelho, defeated Sam-A Gaiyanghadao, and outclassed Prajanchai to regain the undisputed belt. Two elite wins, two belts, and a composed championship redemption arc.
No. 1 - Nabil Anane
No fighter had a more complete, disruptive year than Nabil Anane. He opened 2025 by beating Nico Carrillo to win the interim bantamweight Muay Thai title, followed by a non-title win over Superlek. He was later elevated to undisputed champion. Despite a controversial ending against Ilias Ennahachi and a scrapped title defense, Anane accepted a short-notice bout and dominated Hiromi Wajima. Across disciplines, opponents, and circumstances, no one delivered like the towering Thai-Algerian in 2025.
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