After the middle of the year of the year, the anti-doping test numbers of the UFC were updated.
2025 has been a mixed year before the UFC so far, even if the promotional records keep breaking and the sport of mixed martial arts dominates.
There have been some major criticism of the promotion, whether it is about the overall power of the fighting cards of the deferred Saga between Jones and Tom Aspinall.
A strong series of PPV head events could help to change this as Dustin Poirier's pension fight with Max Holloway promises to be a classic, while Dricus du Persis vs Khamzat Chimaev is one of the most expected title fights at a time.
So far, in 2025 there is a UFC champion that seems to be leading the way in early hunter of the year predictions, but that is not the only list they are at the top.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Merab Dvalishvili is so far the most tested UFC hunter in 2025
Merab Dvalishvili was recently appointed as ESPN MMA's male hunter from the middle of the year, although Ilia Topuria received the same number of votes.
The Bantam weight champion of the UFC has defended its title twice this year to continue his incredible win -streak that can go off in the history books.
Dvalishvili recently shared a photo on Instagram after a meeting with the Hunter Campbell of the UFC, where he teased for fans “to keep an eye on”, where many expected him to be against Cory Sandhagen before the end of the year.
After having passed the middle of the year, the UFC anti-doping system recently updated their statistics for 2025 to show how often every hunter on the Roster has been tested this year.
It is not necessarily surprising to see Dvalishvili near the top, given that he participated in two title fights this year after he defeated Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O'Malley.
'The Machine' has been tested seven times, making it the most tested athlete in the entire schedule so far in 2025.
For comparison: Dvalishvili was tested a total of nine times during the entire 2024, where he competed twice in the Octagon.
The #UFC anti-doping test history database has been updated. (Updated July 11)
673 hunters tested in 2025. 2127 total samples that have been collected so far.
Fighters with the most test sessions in 2025 (list of hunters with at least 4 test sessions this year):
Merab dvalishvili: 7 …
– Jed I. Goodman © (@Jedigoodman) July 11, 2025
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Another hunter of the year striking is the second most tested UFC champion in 2025
Although there are three names, including Arman Tsarukyan, who were tested six times in 2025, the next UFC champion on the Five list.
Interesting is that they have also had a strong year so far, because they have recently been appointed ESPN MMA's female hunter from the middle of the year.
Kayla Harrison won the Bantamweight title for ladies on UFC 316, the same night that Merab Dvalishvili Sean O'Malley beat in a Rematch.
Remarkable names that are a place under Harrison on four tests are Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev.