30 Bold Predictions for 2015
by Chris Houten - @ChrisHoutenMMA
2014 has been a funny old year. Who would have predicted TJ Dillashaw would defeat "the monster" that is Renan Barao, or that CM Punk would be a UFC fighter? Did you think Rampage Jackson would resign with the UFC, and would you have guessed Ronda Rousey would have knocked out both of her opponents in 2014? Nope, me neither.
At the end of last year I made 30 bold predictions for 2014, some which were right such as: At least 3 of the current Cage Warriors champions fight in the UFC in 2014, Norman Parke remains undefeated in the UFC in 2014, and Cain Velasquez doesn't fight in 2014 due to injury. I also made some which were wrong like: The UFC will finally sign Mamed Kalidov, he will likely headline the promotions visit to Poland, but I guess that's hindsight for you.
Again I will attempt to look into my crystal ball and give 30 bold predictions which I think could come true in 2015. Agree of disagree? Head over to our facebook page and join in the discussions.
- Eddie Alverez loses to Benson Henderson in January. He will make the move to featherweight before the end of 2015.
- Frank Mir loses to Antonio Bigfoot Silva, the fight will be his last as he announces his retirement shortly after.
- Rousimar Palhares rejoins the UFC.
- At least 5 Brits are cut from the UFC in 2015.
- At least 4 of the current 5 Cage Warriors champions will be signed by the UFC in 2015.
- Conor McGregor will finish 2015 as a lightweight.
- Rampage Jackson does not fight in 2015 with a legal battle between the fighter and Bellator keeping him out of action.
- Khabib Numagomedov wins the UFC Lightweight title.
- At least one major promotion goes out of business in 2015.
- Ronda Rousey's upcoming book, entitled "My Fight/Your Fight." will be a number 1 best seller in the US upon release.
- The UFC announces The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs New Zealand, Mark Hunt and Soa Palelei will act as coaches.
- Cain Velasquez is unable to return in 2015 and is stripped of his title. Fabricio Werdum is promoted to the undisputed champion.
- Chris Fields fights for and wins the BAMMA Middleweight title.
- There will be 3 to 5 different champions in the UFC by the end of 2015. The only champions who definitely remain champion are Esparza, Johnson, Aldo and Jones.
- Dan Hardy makes his UFC return in 2015, at lightweight.
- Rashad Evans beats Glover Teixeira but drops to Middleweight before the end of 2015.
- Cung Le is allowed to leave the UFC, he signs for ONE FC.
- Jon Jones cleans out the Light-Heavyweight division in 2015 which prompts the UFC to book Jones in a Heavyweight title shot on the 2016 Superbowl weekend card.
- Scott Coker attends Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2014, he later announces the signings of Fedor Emelianenko and Mirko Cro Cop.
- Both Paul Daley and Liam McGeary win Bellator titles in 2015 prompting the promotion to book a UK show.
- The UFC will raid BAMMA signing Pietro Menga, Tom DuQuesnoy and Mansour Barnaoui.
- Metamoris will sign a deal with UFC Fight Pass. Nick Diaz will feature on one of their 2015 shows.
- Henry Cejudo wins 4 times in 2015 setting up a UFC title shot for the start of 2016.
- Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping meet later in the year at a UFC show in the UK after both fighters lose their next fights.
- UFC Fight Pass streams the 2015 British Open Judo Championships. Ronda Rousey will be heavily involved with the event participating in a exhibition match.
- Rob Sinclair returns to action in 2015 taking a tune up fight with BAMMA before making his Bellator debut.
- MMA is legalised in France.
- Lyoto Machida fights for the UFC Middleweight title again in 2015.
- Arnold Allen will square off against Alex Enlund in 2015, the winner will be signed by the UFC.
- KSW 32 will be one of the biggest cards in the UK in 2015 but will fail commercially.
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