Legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi once declared, “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.” This mantra holds especially true for a handful of UFC fighters this year. These combatants are in a do-or-die situation, fighting not just for victory but to secure their place in the promotion’s billion-dollar business.

Why the high stakes? For some, this could be their final shot at redemption—there may be no second chances after these bouts. As we count down five fighters who need a win in 2025 to stay afloat, you might discover a few favorites on the brink.

1. Tai Tuivasa

Hailing from the land of the Golden Fleece and home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife, Tai Tuivasa is the life of both the party and the Octagon. Known for his brawny fighting style and famous ‘Shoey’ celebrations, Tuivasa quickly became a fan favorite. However, is that enough to keep him in the UFC?

After a tough 5-fight losing streak spanning from September 2022 to August 2024, the Aussie might need more than just his knockout power to secure his place in the promotion. His meteoric rise, which saw him win over fans with spectacular KO victories against fighters like Derrick Lewis and Greg Hardy, has been overshadowed by setbacks against elite competition, including Ciryl Gane and Sergei Pavlovich.

As the saying goes, people tend to forget the good you’ve done and only remind you of your mistakes. As Shakespeare once said, “The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” Tuivasa’s earlier successes have been overshadowed by his losses, but he continues to press on.

After his most recent loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Tai Tuivasa took to X to express his frustration and also his resolve. “Fck. What a sport. I put my all into this camp and didn’t come away with the win. Big love to all my fans, I put my all into this, didn’t get the treats. My bad, love you all, the real ones. Live to fight another day. AUSSIE FANS I LOVE YOU CNTS, BEST IN THE BIZZO.”

Tuivasa’s next bout is critical—he simply cannot afford to lose. A 6th loss could push him into a gatekeeping role in the heavyweight division, or worse, out of the rankings altogether, jeopardizing his future with the promotion. And he’s not alone. Kevin Holland, too, finds himself at a crossroads. Let’s see how!

2. Kevin Holland

Kevin Holland may be known as the ‘Trailblazer’ inside the Octagon, but lately, his career trajectory seems to have stalled. Despite being one of the most charismatic and entertaining fighters in the middleweight division, Holland’s inconsistent performances have put him in a precarious position. He’s currently 2-3 in his last 5 outings. While his ‘anytime, anywhere’ fighting philosophy has earned him fans, recent losses to top-tier welterweights like Roman Dolidze and Michael Page have placed him under serious scrutiny.

For Holland, the pressure is mounting. The 185fer can’t afford another loss, especially not against someone like Reinier de Ridder at UFC 311. A win against someone like ‘The Dutch Knight’ would be enough to seal his future in the promotion. Let’s see if he can change his fortunes in 2025.

3. Johnny Walker

Johnny Walker—no, not the whiskey, but the explosive light heavyweight—has had an eventful career, marked by both thrilling highs and frustrating lows. His three-fight winning streak, which included a dominant victory over Anthony Smith, had fans excited for his potential. However, things began to unravel after three consecutive losses to top contenders like Magomed Ankalaev and Volkan Oezdemir.

Walker’s early success, especially with his flashy knockouts, earned him a fanbase eager to see him rise through the ranks. But inconsistent performances and his inability to consistently break into the top echelon of the division have left many questioning his future. Now, Walker faces the very real risk of being labeled “all noise and no substance.”

Another loss could push him further out of the title picture and make it harder to regain momentum. Unfortunately, his planned clash with Bogdan Guskov at UFC 311 was derailed by an injury during training, further complicating his path forward.

4. Paulo Costa

Paulo Costa has earned a reputation for wiping out opponents in brutal fashion. However, after a series of inconsistent performances, including losses to Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland, Costa’s path to the top has become clouded. The 14-4 middleweight, once a dominant force in the division, now finds himself struggling to regain his former form.

While his outspoken personality and theatrical fighting style still keep him marketable, Costa’s UFC record no longer mirrors the dominance he showed in his earlier career. Another loss could significantly derail his hopes of re-entering the title picture and potentially push him further away from the upper ranks.

Currently, in the worst stretch of his UFC career with back-to-back losses, Costa finds himself in need of a win to steer things back on track. With no fights scheduled at the moment, he turned to social media to let his fans play matchmaker, asking them for suggestions on who he should face next. His Instagram comments section quickly filled with names like Khamzat Chimaev and Marvin Vettori, proving that he still has a dedicated following eager to see him return to form.

5. Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler entered the UFC with a bang, delivering a spectacular knockout against Dan Hooker. But after a series of losses to top-tier fighters, including Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje, Chandler’s career trajectory has taken a troubling turn. With four losses in his past five fights, he’s now finding himself in the “high-risk, high-reward” category, much like UFC veteran Tony Ferguson.

‘Big’ John McCarthy recently pointed out the striking similarities between Chandler’s career and Ferguson’s, who saw a rapid decline after a long streak of success. McCarthy remarked on his podcast, “Michael Chandler has hit Tony Ferguson status – just being honest… absolutely.” The concern is real: Chandler’s recent performances have shown signs of slowing down, especially in the fast-paced lightweight division.

The path ahead is clear—Chandler must secure a win in 2025 to avoid slipping into gatekeeper status, where he would face rising contenders rather than marquee matchups. As for the other fighters in this article, the same questions loom: Can they rise to the occasion and keep their careers alive? The coming year will be pivotal for these fighters as they seek redemption, reclaim their momentum, and secure their places in the UFC’s elite ranks.