Inspired by the upcoming NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the MMA Fighting team continues its yearly tradition. For the fourth consecutive year, the crew is back to divide and select the top fighters and biggest names in the world of MMA.
As a recap from last year, the setup involved Alexander K. Lee, Damon Martin, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew each taking control of one of the four leading MMA promotions worldwide. Their task was to draft fighters to build their respective organizations around. After the draft concluded, the readers of MMAFighting.com voted to determine which roster was the best assembled.
Here`s a brief overview of the rules as a reminder:
In the previous year, the participating promotions were BKFC, ONE Championship, PFL, KSW, and the UFC. Mike Heck`s BKFC roster was declared the winner. This year brings some changes due to shifts in the top-tier MMA landscape. The UFC and PFL remain, as does last year`s winner, BKFC. However, ONE Championship has significantly reduced its MMA focus, and while KSW was a fun inclusion, it made more sense to incorporate the newer promotion, GFL, especially as this might be its only year of relevance.
The general managers have been randomly assigned to different organizations. Damon Martin is now heading GFL, Alexander K. Lee is leading PFL, Jed Meshew is running BKFC, and Mike Heck is taking charge of the UFC. As the newest promotion, GFL gets the first pick, followed by PFL, then BKFC, with the UFC making the final pick in each round.
Got it? Excellent. Let`s begin the draft.
Martin: At GFL, our goal isn`t viral moments—it`s just to put on a single event! But with our first pick, none other than Conor McGregor, that might actually make getting started possible. While most number one picks seek a large contract, we`re hoping Conor might lend us the funds to promote our debut card. He can be the face of the promotion; we`ll call him president if he likes. Just ensure the check doesn`t bounce!
Lee: Here at “The League,” as my friend Donn Davis and I like to say, we had momentum with Francis Ngannou being promoted as MMA`s true number one heavyweight. Unfortunately, Ngannou`s fighting career is likely short-lived, so let`s bring in the *actual* true number one heavyweight: Mr. Tom Aspinall. Tommy Boy fits our global expansion plans perfectly, he`s a fantastic ambassador for the league, and incredibly exciting inside the cage. Opposition doesn`t matter, we have our new company figurehead.
Meshew: Some might look at this pick and think, “Jed, you`re clearly copying Mike`s strategy with BKFC last year!” To which I reply, “Obviously.” Mike and I had the same game plan last year; he just picked before me and grabbed all the most entertaining fighters. Not this year, buddy! Alex Pereira might not hold a UFC belt anymore, but that means nothing to me and the good people at BKFC. I just want to see this man connect with bare knuckles. Is that asking too much?
Heck: Folks, let`s be honest—we`ve been coasting effortlessly. At some point, the fans` frustration will peak, and we know we`re nearing that point. So, we must secure the fighter with the highest potential on our entire roster, both in terms of skill and marketability. Ilia Topuria was the UFC`s most critical fighter to protect, and for very obvious reasons, we weren`t letting him escape the first round.
Martin: Nobody runs a draft better than the GFL—just remember our previous one! So, with our second pick, we`re aiming for the greatest of all time. At 37, Jon Jones is slightly young for our organization, but we`re willing to take the chance. Jones has also indicated he doesn`t have much time left in the sport, which aligns with our company`s philosophy, as we probably don`t have much time left either!
Lee: The League is where the elite compete—Donn: *Have you seen how many of our athletes are ranked on Fight Matrix???*—and how can we maintain that claim without the world`s top pound-for-pound fighter, Islam Makhachev? Frankly, his fighting style fits well with many of our league champions. While he might not boost casual viewership (who needs it?), he`s both a brand-consistent choice and an exceptional talent to strengthen our already elite roster.
Meshew: I dare say no MMA media member has been a bigger supporter of Dricus du Plessis since his UFC debut than me. So, this pick is as much about his potential in the ring as it is about my personal preference. DDP is a unique athlete and personality. Although he possesses strong grappling skills, he`ll also fit perfectly as a big guy who throws heavy hands. Additionally, du Plessis provides us with an excellent gateway into South Africa, and given their passion for rugby—which is essentially bare-knuckle football with fighting—I believe that could be a huge market for us moving forward.
Heck: If Ilia Topuria was number one on our `must-keep` list, Dakota Ditcheva is number one on the `must-have` list. The fans want it, Ditcheva clearly wants it, and we at the UFC need as much excitement and intrigue as possible. Why wait until her contract ends? This is the immediate move for Ditcheva. Let`s take the plunge and give everyone—except PFL—exactly what they desire.
Martin: With Tom Aspinall taken, we need someone for Jones to face in his GFL debut (possibly his only GFL fight). So, we`re revisiting the matchup everyone wanted just a couple of years ago. He`s been out of the spotlight in PFL, but Francis Ngannou is still one of the planet`s most devastating fighters, and pitting him against Jones is exactly the kind of pairing we need.
Lee: I see GFL`s plan… and I disapprove. Thankfully, we anticipated a Francis departure and already have some passive-aggressive tweets prepared for when his first GFL fight is announced (just kidding… or are we?). We thank Ngannou for his service and move on to the latest hot commodity, former UFC star Paddy Pimblett. We have the substance with Makhachev, and now we have significant flair with the increasingly popular “Baddy” from Liverpool.
Meshew: Look, are there “better” fighters to choose here? Probably. But BKFC is as much a lifestyle as a fight promotion, and is there anyone in MMA currently more suited to our particular brand of chaos? Heck, we`ll even let him smoke cigarettes on his walkout and help arrange custom Marlboro Red fight shorts. Mike Perry helped build us into what we are today, and he remains the ideal embodiment of what bare-knuckle fighting represents.
Heck: First off, this should have been a snake draft, and Paddy Pimblett would have stayed on our roster. But anyway… Since I can`t keep Pimblett, again, the UFC`s objective is fun and exciting bouts, and no division needs it more right now than heavyweight. We`ll manage his matchups correctly (see pick No. 5, and apologies to KSW) and ensure everyone tunes in to watch. Furthermore, this pick negatively impacts BKFC and certainly GFL based on their target fighter age range. Thrilled to have him. (Referring to Philip De Fries)
Martin: Now I know what you`re thinking—Ronda Rousey is retired. But so was Chris Weidman, and he returned for the honor of competing in the GFL, and we believe Rousey can make a similar comeback. Sure, she hasn`t competed in nine years, but that`s exactly the kind of layoff that screams for a return to action! We already have Holly Holm under contract, so perhaps we could do a rematch, or maybe this draft will offer another option for the “Rowdy” one in her GFL debut.
Lee: Listen, I`ll just say it: If you vote for GFL as the winner in the poll below, you are a bad person. Explain yourself in the comments! We`re maintaining momentum with another exciting fighter and the second “Fighting Nerd” selected: “Lord” Jean Silva. His popularity couldn`t be higher after defeating Bryce Mitchell, and he`s a fantastic addition to our unfairly overlooked featherweight group.
Meshew: Oof. That one stings a bit, as I had hoped to pick Silva this round for a “Fighting Nerds Bash Brothers” scenario, but alas. Great selection for PFL, and we`ll have to slightly alter our plans by taking my *other* large, grown son, Jiri Prochazka. Aside from the Pudzianowski-Hall fight (which Heck just ruined!!!!!), there is no fight I desire to see more in MMA. It doesn`t need to be for a title or anything, I just need to witness these two large, violent eccentrics collide. And now I can.
Heck: There`s absolutely no way we`re letting Dustin Poirier have his final fight outside the UFC. About five things could realistically generate excitement and emotion in the UFC in 2025, and Poirier`s “Last Dance” is one of them. Poirier vs. Holloway 3 is a fitting conclusion to one of the most enjoyable careers in UFC history, and it will happen in New Orleans.
Martin: Listen, we need some excitement here, and frankly, there`s a chance none of our first four picks will actually compete for us—much like we probably won`t ever host an event—but all is not lost. With Justin Gaethje, we get a fighter who is still a top lightweight, never delivers boring fights, and is remarkably durable and dependable, which is certainly something this promotion requires.
Lee: Khamzat Chimaev, I can`t quit you. For the second consecutive year, I`m taking a risk on a fighter who might be the best in the world? We may never find out. But there`s no denying that every time Chimaev walks to the cage, it`s essential viewing. And hey, our stars only fight about once a year anyway, so our schedules align perfectly!
Meshew: Look, is it possible this pick is wasted? Absolutely. But here at BKFC, we support our own. GFL already took our co-owner in the first round, we cannot afford to lose the face of our promotion. Mike Perry helped build us into what we are today, and he remains the perfect representation of what bare-knuckle fighting embodies.
Heck: You`re welcome. See pick No. 3, and that is all. (Referring to the removal of the Pudzianowski-Hall fight possibility mentioned by Meshew when picking Prochazka, likely implying Mariusz Pudzianowski was his pick here).
Martin: The steal of the draft! Technically, Gina Carano never officially retired, so she`s potentially “fresher” than Rousey right now (despite not competing for almost 16 years). Carano nearly planned a comeback a few years ago when she was in serious discussions with the UFC for a potential clash against Rousey. Well, potential is all we have here, so why not attempt to put together the Carano vs. Rousey fight in 2025 that nobody was asking for?
Lee: We can`t entirely dismiss the loss of Ngannou, as the big money fight with him and Aspinall was right there. So, we pivot to the only ONE Championship name likely to be drafted, the mysterious Oumar Kane, also known as Reug Reug. Nobody expected Reug Reug to survive a round with Anatoly Malykhin last November, but somehow the Senegalese man of mystery not only went the distance but won (via a highly questionable split decision, but still). It`s a shame he hasn`t fought since, but we`re ready to offer him a massive matchup against Aspinall immediately.
Meshew: This pick is purely for my enjoyment. I have immense respect for The Greatest Featherweight of All Time, and consider it a travesty how the UFC is utilizing him during the peak years of his career. Fortunately, at BKFC, we understand that the last thing anyone wants is someone desperately clinching Jose Aldo`s waist and praying for the scorecards. That`s not on the menu in the BKFC ring. Let`s see what one of the best fighters ever can do in a final chapter under bare-knuckle rules.
Heck: Call it a niche pick, but I call it a self-serving one. Hot take: I believe Gadzhi Rabadanov is the most undervalued fighter in the world right now. And, of course, we feel bad that we`ve—barring injury or a fluke—cost Rabadanov $500,000, because if we didn`t draft him, he`d win PFL`s lightweight tournament. I think this guy might be among the world`s top ten lightweights right now, and we`ll never know for sure without this move happening.
Martin: We need to finish strong, and there might be no better way to convince Conor to open his bank account than finally setting up a rubber match against old rival Nate Diaz. Their previous encounters were two of the highest-selling UFC events ever, and who wouldn`t watch a third? Plus, Diaz turned 40 this year, putting him right in the prime of his career for GFL standards!
Lee: I genuinely thought Damon drafted “Nick Diaz,” and the mere possibility of that confusion makes me so annoyed. We`re going far off the beaten path for our last pick, with numerous champions, stars, and PFL names I probably should be protecting still available. But hear me out: We get Themba Gorimbo, and we get The Rock. You might not realize they`re friends since they never talk about it (😉). The League is all about creating mainstream buzz, and what better way than to enlist Dwayne Johnson to promote the inspiring story of his buddy Themba. And if there`s one thing we know about Rocky after this past WrestleMania weekend, it`s that when he commits to a story, he follows through (😉🙏).
Meshew: And now, it`s time to look towards the future. BKFC has a very specific brand, and finding fitting candidates isn`t always easy, but this one feels right. Kai Richter is always ready to fight, and he`s an emerging talent who is also skilled at talking. Hughes is our succession plan for when Mike Perry and our aging talent pool begin moving towards retirement.
Heck: Oh, Jed, you took my pick, but that`s fine, I have an excellent backup plan. Doumbé-mania is about to explode in the UFC, and unlike PFL, we will manage Cedric Doumbe`s matchups correctly. No wrestlers, no grapplers (at least not anytime soon), only highlight reels. This is what Doumbe entered the sport for, and PFL polished him up nicely for us; now, we can turn him into the star he deserves to be.
Final Draft Results:
GFL (Damon Martin): Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou, Ronda Rousey, Justin Gaethje, Gina Carano, Nate Diaz
PFL (Alexander K. Lee): Tom Aspinall, Islam Makhachev, Paddy Pimblett, Jean Silva, Khamzat Chimaev, Oumar Kane, Themba Gorimbo
BKFC (Jed Meshew): Alex Pereira, Dricus du Plessis, Mike Perry, Jiri Prochazka, Mariusz Pudzianowski, Jose Aldo, Kai Richter
UFC (Mike Heck): Ilia Topuria, Dakota Ditcheva, Philip De Fries, Dustin Poirier, Gadzhi Rabadanov, Cedric Doumbe
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely