Dana White’s favorite week of the year is almost here, but this time, it’s more than just about the fights. The UFC’s broadcasting deal with ESPN is up at the end of 2025. ESPN’s exclusive negotiating window that began in January 2025 ended on April 15, and they could not come to an agreement with White’s promotion. That means it’s open season for the other broadcasting giants (Netflix, Amazon Prime, and their ilk), which puts the burden on White’s shoulders to showcase the best fights that attract the most audience. And what better time to show the MMA giant’s muscles than International Fight Week?

With UFC 317 headlining International Fight Week 2025 at the end of June, the pressure’s on the UFC boss to deliver a card that hits harder than ever. From Hall of Fame inductions to fan expos and meet-and-greets, the stage is already set. All that’s missing? Incredible fights that could send the MMA world into a frenzy, and land the UFC a landmark broadcasting deal. So, who should take center stage in Las Vegas on June 28? Here are our three best suggestions for Mr. White for this year’s International Fight Week!

Dricus Du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev 

It started with whispers. Was the champ injured? Was the fight off? The internet went wild when reports claimed Dricus Du Plessis had broken his shin and would miss UFC 317. Chaos followed.

Khamzat Chimaev didn’t hold back. He fired off a four-word rocket on X as he wrote, “This guy biggest bulls—”. Fans braced for another fight fallout as it looked like the MMA sphere would have to wait for an excruciatingly long time to see the two middleweight titans collide.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s Caio Borralho tried sliding into the spotlight! ‘The Natural’ fired off a bunch of jabs on social media towards Chimaev and even claimed that the Chechen warrior had agreed to a fight. On the line? An interim title belt.

But just when it felt like the main event was slipping through Dana White’s fingers, Du Plessis stepped in. Taking to social media, ‘Stillknocks’ wrote, “Okey so everyone had their opinions and rumours and stories about a shin break and injuries, etc. I found it all very entertaining, unfortunately none of it is true myself and @ufc already discussed a fight date and opponent, the June fight was never signed I did not pull out of any fight, I am the champion I know when I fight you as a contender just show up when we tell you to. Fight announcement coming soon, stay tuned. “

No broken shin. No ducking. Just a champ controlling the chaos.

Du Plessis vs. Chimaev isn’t just a title fight — it’s a storm waiting to hit. Both men are undefeated in the UFC. Both are known for finishing fights. And both are convinced the other is bluffing. If Dana White wants fireworks for International Fight Week, this one’s a powder keg with the fuse already lit! And there’s more than one of those in White’s armory.

Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria

What happens when a king refuses a challenger? You get tension. Ilia Topuria, the undefeated knockout artist who last demolished Max Holloway, has set his sights on the lightweight throne. ‘La Leyenda’ gave up his featherweight crown to chase Islam Makhachev, but the Dagestani champion isn’t biting.

Why? The lightweight king pointed out that he’s already dealing with criticism for his two wins over Alexander Volkanovski, another featherweight challenger. Taking on a third featherweight fighter from a guy who is moving up in weight won’t do any favors for his legacy. Unless Topuria shuts down all doubts about his ability to hang with the top of the 155 lbs. division.

Topuria, however, isn’t waiting for permission. Taking to social media, he recently sent shockwaves through the MMA world when he wrote, “The camp has begun.”

The buzz was amplified even further when veteran journalist, Ariel Helwani, wrote on X, “As discussed on the show today, Ilia is going to fight on June 28. The question is, will it be against Islam for the 155 belt, or will it be against Charles [Oliveira] for the vacant? We should know soon.”

With Islam Makhachev’s potential move to welterweight in limbo, especially if Belal Muhammad retains against Jack Della Maddalena, now is the time. And to add to White’s headache, Makhachev is not the only champion refusing a consensus rightful challenger. This brings us to our third option for IFW.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Tom Aspinall has held the interim heavyweight title since November 2023, and he’s been waiting ever since for his shot at undisputed champ, Jon Jones.

Meanwhile, Jones has reportedly been sidelined with an injury since his last title defense against Stipe Miocic in November 2024. Rumors swirled of a return. Chael Sonnen claimed the Jones vs. Aspinall bout was done. Then he walked it back.

Now, Sonnen says Jones has been given six more months. And Aspinall? He might be forced to fight Ciryl Gane instead, defending an interim title for what would be the second time while the actual champ sits idle. As Sonnen shared in his video, “We are going to defend an interim champion with the existence of an undisputed champion, which is against the laws of logic and the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of champion.”

So what are we doing here? Instead of an interim title fight, the answer should be a title unification bout. Aspinall vs Gane might be a good matchup, but with the shadow of ‘Bones’ hanging over the division, it’s not the ideal matchup. The heavyweight bout for International Fight Week headliner should be the long-awaited clash between the two men currently holding belts in the division. After all, it’s a legacy-defining fight for both fighters. 

In the end, International Fight Week isn’t just another event. It’s the UFC’s crown jewel. Which of these fights do you want to see? Or do you think Dana White has something even bigger up his sleeve? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!