The 2025 Irish and International Severe MMA Awards

2025 has concluded, a whirlwind twelve months where the mixed martial arts world never slowed down. While the year might not be remembered as a landmark one for the sport overall, it certainly provided unforgettable moments and performances along the way. We now present our annual awards to honour the fighters who truly stood out amidst the chaos in 2025 and achieved greatness.

For the last eleven years, we have picked out the best in MMA in their respective fields for our awards, and this year is no different. This year’s voting panel consists of SevereMMA founder Graeme McDonnell, MMA podcaster and media member Sean Sheehan, as well as our SevereMMA staff members Ian O’Neill, Andy Stevenson, Caoilte de Barra and Paul Browne. Winners were decided with a group consensus this year and last, rather than on individual votes like previous years. There were no ties this year.

Sean and Graeme, joined by Ian and Andy for the Irish awards, recorded a podcast discussing the winners, which you can listen to below. For the full winners please scroll down below that, or don’t, if you wish to avoid podcast spoilers.

Fighter of the Year: Petr Yan

Coming into December, this award was wide open but as many fell, Yan rose and fought the best fight of the year and took the biggest scalp of the year. 

Female Fighter of the Year: Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko has been a legendary fighter for a long time but in 2025 she beat the best contender in years and destroyed the best champion outside of herself in the UFC.

Fight of the Year: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Paul Hughes 1 – PFL Road to Dubai

The best fights of the year came in the first quarter and this fight stood the test of time. The greatest fight in PFL history with ebbs and flows, ending in everyone wanting to see a rematch. 

Submission of the Year: Costello van Steenis Rear-Naked Choke vs. Johnny Eblen PFL Africa 1

A massive upset, a huge comeback and a title taken from an undefeated champion. Costello van Steenis had only 9 seconds left and took his opportunity. 

Knockout of the Year: Sergio Pettis spinning elbow and coffin nail vs. Magomed Magomedov

So many amazing KOs this year but Sergio Pettis giving Magomed Magomedov his first ever KO loss whilst 2 rounds down was as special as the finishing coffin nail was devastating. 

Underdog of the Year: Petr Yan def. Merab at UFC 323

Nobody expected Petr Yan to defeat Merab Dvalishvili after the first encounter and he not only won, he dominated as huge +340 betting underdog.

Emerging Worldwide Prospect Of The Year: Thad Jean

Many contenders for this, but the nature by which Thad Jean won his fights on the way to the PFL global title against experienced pros was something special. 

Irish Pro Fighter Of The Year: Ian Garry

Ian Garry beat Carlos Prates and former champion Belal Muhammad as he rose to #2 in UFC welterweight division. One of the greatest years ever from an Irish fighter. He wins this award for the 4th time, having also won emerging Irish prospect of the year twice and emerging worldwide prospect off the year in 2023.

Emerging Irish Prospect Of The Year: Adam Darby

This was real toss of a coin in a year filled with great Irish prospects. Team Ryano’s Darby went 3-0 in 2025 with each win better than the next and enters 2026 in Cage Warriors title contention. 

Irish Amateur Fighter Of The Year: Alex Keogh

SBG Naas’ Alex Keogh went 3-0 in 2025, winning the IMMAF Junior European championship along the way to remain undefeated at amateur. He tops a stacked amateur class. 

Irish Female Fighter Of The Year: Shauna Bannon

Former amateur of the year Shauna Bannon takes this award for the first time. Her comeback win against Puja Tomar was the highlight of the year for Irish women’s MMA. 

Irish Gym of the year: Straight Blast Gym

John Kavanagh’s straight blast gym had another phenomenal year with people like Oktagon double champ Will Fleury, Nikolay Grozdev, Asael Adjoudj and Darragh Kelly having fantastic years. 

Upset of the Year: Petr Yan
Not many people gave Petr Yan a chance after their first meeting but his performance was exceptionally dominant in upsetting Merab.

Comeback Of The Year: Costello van Steenis Rear-Naked Choke vs. Johnny Eblen PFL Africa 1 
Down on the cards against an undefeated champion with with only 9 seconds left. Costello van Steenis grabbed the strap with the comeback of the Year. 

Non-UFC Fighter of the Year: Thad Jean
Plenty of nominees for this but Thad Jean beating Berkhamov, Jackson and Storley means he had the best year of anyone outside of the UFC 

Event of the Year: UFC Paris

UFC Paris set a new UFC record for the most KOs in a single event, with nine. The event also matched the UFC record for the most finishes in a single event with 11. 

Shocking Moment Of The Year: 50-45 Usman

When the MMA world heard that one judge scored the razor close fight between Paul Hughes vs. Usman Nurmagomedov 50-45 the shock was plain for all to see. 

Commentator Of The Year: Jon Anik

Jon Anik is the greatest MMA commentator of all time and held the show together in a way only he can again in 2025.