MMA Series proudly closes out 2025 as one of the most successful years in its history!

This past season delivered FOUR NEW CHAMPIONS: Nikita Barkhatov (featherweight), Sergey Bobryshev (welterweight), Dmitry Mikhailidi (lightweight), and Dimitriy Andryushko (heavyweight). What makes it even more special: in three of these four divisions, the lineal title was contested for the first time ever in MMA Series history!

And beyond the championship stakes, the year was packed with memorable moments—especially several standout media bouts. Among them: Bobryshev vs Tarasov and Dyakonov vs Max “Topor.” But one of the season’s biggest talking points was the league’s bold experiment: a 2-on-2 fight, where the Brazilians from Gor MMA—Arymarcel Santos and Lucas Nascimento—showed incredible chemistry and ruthless efficiency.

The real value of the season, however, lies in what it sets up for 2026. That includes the long-awaited Andryushko vs Tiago Cardoso trilogy after two draws—this time with the championship belt on the line. Also in the pipeline: Bobryshev’s rematch with Jefferson Gonçalves, who bounced back from his loss to the star from Murom by stringing together two wins over Evgeny Tabarovsky.

A special mention goes to featherweight champion Nikita Barkhatov for choosing to chase a title in a new weight class against Dmitry Mikhailidi. This matchup is truly unique for at least three reasons. First, Barkhatov and Mikhaylidi are close friends—and longtime fight fans know that these kinds of rivalries often produce the hottest battles. Second, MMA Series could crown its first-ever DOUBLE CHAMPION if Nikita gets the job done. And third, they’ve already fought once before—and in their first meeting inside the cage, Mikhaylidi came out on top.

All in all, we’re in for one of the most anticipated rematches of 2026—not only in MMA Series, but across the entire Russian MMA scene!