Predicting the UFC champions at the end of 2020
2019 was an amazing year for the UFC. Henry Cejudo became a champ-champ, Nate Diaz returned, Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal became stars, and the promotion saw a total of seven title changes. Now we turn to not only a new year, but a new decade. As we turn to 2020, lets predict who will be the champions in each weight class at this time next year.
Flyweight
Current Champion: Henry Cejudo
Possible Contenders: Joseph Benavidez, Jussier Formiga, Deiveson Figueirdo, Alexandre Pantoja
Next Year’s Champion: Joseph Benavidez
Outlook: Well it appears this division will see another year. Cejudo relinquished his belt and on Feb. 29, Benavidez will fight Figueirdo for the vacant title. It’s hard not to bet on Benavidez considering he’s 9-1 in his last 10 fights. It’s time for the Benavidez era.
Bantamweight
Current Champion: Henry Cejudo
Possible Contenders: Aljamain Sterling, Peter Yan, Marlon Moraes, Jose Aldo
Next Year’s Champion: Aljamain Sterling
Outlook: This division is deep and there should be a lot of great matchups at 135 pounds in 2020. There’s also a lot of questions at the moment. Like how long will it take for Cejudo to fight? Who exactly will he fight? I think Sterling is a problem for a lot of fighters given his length so therefore I’m going to predict him to be the champ at this time next year.
Featherweight
Current Champion: Alexander Volkanovski
Possible Contenders: Max Holloway, Zabit Magomedsharipov, Chan Sung Jung, Yair Rodriguez
Next Year’s Champion: Zabit Magomedsharipov
Outlook: Did anyone see Volkanovski’s upset over Holloway coming? Now the question is, can he beat him again in the rematch? Answer is no. Holloway will win the rematch and then give up his belt to move up to lightweight. When he gives up his title it will set up Volkanovski and Magomedsharipov for the vacant title with Magomedsharipov getting the win.
Lightweight
Current Champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov
Possible Contenders: Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier
Next Year’s Champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov
Outlook: Lightweight is murderer’s row. There are so many possibly outcomes, but I can’t bet against Nurmagomedov. I really think Ferguson has what it takes to hand Nurmagomedov his first loss. If he does we’ll definitely have a new champ at the end of 2020 because Conor McGregor is going to get a championship fight whether he deserves it or not. Given too many unknowns in the division, I’m taking the safe bet and picking Nurmagomedov.
Welterweight
Current Champion: Kamaru Usman
Possible Contenders: Colby Covington, Jorge Masvidal, Leon Edwards, Tyron Woodley
Next Year’s Champion: Kamaru Usman
Outlook: Usman looks like he’s not going anywhere. Someone is really going to need to put on one hell of a performance to beat Usman. Is it possible that he loses his belt in 2020? Absolutely. However, after seeing Usman smash Woodley and out last Covington in a dog fight, I’m not betting against him anytime soon.
Middleweight
Current Champion: Israel Adesanya
Possible Contenders: Kelvin Gastelum, Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, Darren Till
Next Year’s Champion: Israel Adesanya
Outlook: The UFC has their next star and he is now the middleweight champion. Adesanya had arguably the best 2019 out of anyone on the UFC roster. I think there’s a lot of interesting fights out there for Adesanya including a possible super fight with at light heavyweight with Jon Jones. As far as middleweight goes, Adesanya has all the tools go on a long run so I’m predicting he defends his throne in 2020.
Light Heavyweight
Current Champion: Jon Jones
Possible Contenders: Dominick Reyes, Thiago Santos, Jan Blachowicz, Corey Anderson, Israel Adesanya
Next Year’s Champion: Jon Jones
Outlook: They don’t call Jones the GOAT for nothing. If he loses, it’s going to be a major upset. Just line them up and Jones will win.
Heavyweight
Current Champion: Stipe Miocic
Possible Contenders: Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou, Jairzinho Rozenstruik
Next Year’s Champion: Jon Jones
Outlook: Jon Jones has been hinting at a move to heavyweight. The UFC will make a lot of money with Jones moving up. Again, Jones is the GOAT, so let’s get ready to welcome Jones as the newest champ-champ.
Women’s Strawweight
Current Champion: Weili Zhang
Possible Contenders: Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Jessica Andrade, Tatiana Suarez, Rose Namajunas
Next Year’s Champion: Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Outlook: Jedrzejczyk is the best strawweight of all time. There’s only been one person in the whole division to beat her. Everyone was counting her out until she absolutely steamrolled Michele Waterson in October. Everyone get ready to bow down to Jedrzejczyk again in 2020.
Women’s Flyweight
Current Champion: Valentina Shevchenko
Possible Contenders: Katlyn Chookagian, Jessica Eye, Joanne Calderwood, Maycee Barber
Next Year’s Champion: Valentina Shevchenko
Outlook: Shevchenko is scary good. Does anyone think she’s going to lose to anyone whose name isn’t Amanda Nunes? Shevchenko probably isn’t going anywhere in 2020. I’m on the Maycee Barber bandwagon, but will she get a title shot in 2020?
Women’s Bantamweight
Current Champion: Amanda Nunes
Possible Contenders: Holly Holm, Aspen Ladd, Julianne Peña, Valentina Shevchenko
Next Year’s Champion: Amanda Nunes
Outlook: Nunes is best women’s fighter ever. Nobody is beating her anytime soon.
Women’s Featherweight
Current Champion: Amanda Nunes
Possible Contenders: Felicia Spencer, Holly Holm, Megan Anderson
Next Year’s Champion: Amanda Nunes
Outlook: There’s not even enough women in this division to have rankings so what does that tell you? Nunes stays champ-champ in 2020.
