There were plenty of huge talking points from the world of sports throughout 2024. Spain reclaimed their spot at the top of the footballing throne after breaking English hearts in Berlin to win a record-breaking fourth European Championship. Over in Paris, there were plenty of epic – and meme-worthy – moments from the Olympic Games.
But as the clock ticks into 2025, new stories are now being written. Here are the three biggest of them that could materialize throughout the year.
A Changing of the Guard in the UFC
The UFC has overthrown boxing in recent years to become the number one combat sports arena on the planet. The one who has been the dominant force inside the Octagon for as long as anyone can remember is Jon Jones. The American superstar has ruled over the fight game with an iron fist ever since he brutally finished Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to become the Light Heavyweight Champion back in 2011.
14 years and 15 victories later, Jonny Bones remains the king, this time in the heavyweight division. However, a young and hungry lion has now risen to the fore in the form of Tom Aspinall. The British heavyweight has finished four of the heavyweight division’s top five ranked fighters, and he did so in the very first round. That has led him to the interim title, a championship he claimed courtesy of Jones’ inactivity, but now a money-spinning unification clash is looming on the horizon.
There are plenty of other huge Octagon bouts approaching too, causing great excitement for fans and bettors alike. Online sportsbooks currently make lightweight champion Islam Makhachev a -455 betting favorite in his upcoming defense against Arman Tsarukyan. Similarly, crypto betting sites such as Thunderpick Sportsbook price Dricus Du Plessis as a -163 favorite for his upcoming rematch against Sean Strickland. But a unification clash between Jones and Aspinall is the bout that everyone wants to see.
At 37 years of age, there are questions about how much longer Jones can fend off younger, faster opponents. Coming in five years younger than his opponent, Aspinall is in the prime of his career and he is perfectly poised to pose a legitimate threat to the aging champion.
Novak Djokovic’s Last Stand
The world of tennis could witness a poignant moment in 2025 as Novak Djokovic attempts one final push for Grand Slam glory. The iconic Serbian is the last remaining member of the “Big Four,” with Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and most recently Rafael Nadal all now sailing off into the sunset. At the age of 37, the maverick Nole continues to truck on and add to his already record-breaking career.
The veteran has already racked up the most Grand Slams of anybody throughout his tenure at the top of the game, claiming some 24 trophies, two clear of Nadal and four ahead of Federer. Now, he will aim for one last crowning moment in the twilight of his career.
Though age has never seemed to hinder Djokovic’s dominance before, 2024 marked a turning point. It was the first year since 2017 and just the second year since 2010 in which he failed to capture a single Grand Slam title. Heading into 2025, the Serbian maestro’s primary focus will be on reclaiming his place at the top of the tennis world. Whether it’s at the Australian Open, where he has thrived historically, or Wimbledon, his most treasured venue, he will aim to dig deep and roll back the years to add one last major trophy to his collection.
But the challenges are steep. Younger rivals like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are steadily dismantling the old guard. The former of that pair dismantled Djokovic in last year’s Wimbledon final for the second straight year, while the latter enjoyed a breakout campaign in which he picked up not one but two Slam titles.
Djokovic however did manage to defeat Alcaraz in straight sets to claim the one prize that had eluded him back in August, winning the Olympic gold medal in Paris. He will be hoping the memory of that recent success powers him on to further glories in 2025, hopefully winding down his career with a bang.
Newly Revamped FIFA Club World Cup
Football fans around the world will witness history in the summer of 2025 as the FIFA Club World Cup undergoes a major transformation. The competition traditionally featured the winner of each confederation’s continental trophy. However, being the money magnets that they are, FIFA saw the potential in enlarging the tournament to replicate their international World Cup tournament, increasing the number of teams to 32 and playing out a full tournament in the United States this summer.
This change promises to bring together heavyweight sides like reigning Premier League holders Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Barcelona with some of the planet’s best supported outside of Europe, such as South American champions Botafogo, Al Ahly, and Urawa Red Diamonds. Of course, it’s the giants that have garnered most of the attention and are expected to win the inaugural tournament, but don’t be surprised to see more unheralded outfits such as Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami throw a spanner in the works.
