Roundtable: 2015 End of Year UFC Champion Predictions
As we start a new year Kingdom MMA are taking a look in to the future with all of our magical crystal balls to predict who will be the champions in the UFC on the 1st January 2016. Once you have read our thoughts on each weight class, let us know if you agree with them and if not who you think will be champion.
FLYWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Demetrious Johnson
Possibly the easiest division to predict in all of the UFC, I generally don't see anyone touching Johnson at the moment. He is sharper than everyone else in the division, quicker than everyone else in the division, a better boxer than everyone else in the division and one of the best wrestlers at 125 as well.
Ben Heather: Demetrious Johnson
As I said when I did this last year, simply put Demetrious Johnson is the best flyweight on the planet!! He has beat all of the the top contenders in the division, if not beat them twice already. I would say that John Dodson and Ian McCall may be his toughest fights in 2015 but I expect him to keep his title all year.
Tom Young: Demetrious Johnson
'Mighty Mouse' has been an exceptional Flyweight champion and like many other divisions, I don't see the belt changing hands. Johnson has almost cleaned out the division and I expect that to be the case come 2016.
Connor Hutton: Demetrious Johnson
There is an argument to be made that Demetrious Johnson is the pound for pound king in MMA. Technically he is perfect in any situation he finds himself in, he's capable of stopping every opponent in any position. Johnson has made every flyweight contender look years behind the curve, but the only credible challenger that stands in his way is John Dodson. Dodson gave 'Mighty Mouse' a real test back in their first bout and if Johnson can get past the TUF 14 winner once more then the division is truly cleared out and Johnson will be able to coast against the rest of the pack.
BANTAMWEIGHT
Chris Houten: TJ Dillashaw
Who would have ever guessed TJ Dillashaw was going to beat "The Monster" Renan Barao, now I feel if they were to meet again, Dillashaw would probably win again particularly after Barao's mediocre performance against Mitch Gagnon. The rise of TJ Dillashaw has really impressed me, his striking and movement are only matched by Dominic Cruz and and we don't know if he will fight again this year I am going to predict Dillashaw as champion come 2016, although if Cruz does fight again I believe he will snatch his belt back.
Ben Heather: Renan Barao
Last year everyone of us incorrectly predicted that TJ Dillashaw would be the champion at the end of the year, but then again I am sure 99.9% of MMA fans did the same thing. However now looking in to the future the bantamweight division doesn't look as tough as it did just a few weeks back. Two of the top contenders in Dominick Cruz and Raphael Assuncao are now on the sidelines for the foreseeable future with long term injuries.
This leaves TJ with two main opponents, Renan Barao and Urijah Faber. Having trained with Faber since taking up MMA, I do not see that fight as a likely option. Leaving the Barao rematch as the next legitimate fight. I think Barao will come in to that fight with a point to prove and will not only take that fight before going on to defend again later in the year.
Tom Young: TJ Dillashaw
With Cruz injured yet again and Assuncao out with a broken ankle, this division lacks real contenders. Dillashaw vs Faber is a hot fight to make and the UFC should be doing their best to make it happen. Regardless if this fight happens or not, Dillashaw is entering 2016 as the Bantamweight champion.
Connor Hutton: Dominick Cruz
Unfortunately the biggest hurdle that Cruz faces is his own body, after nearly three years on the sidelines Cruz burst back into the Bantamweight division with a blistering first round TKO win over Takeya Mizugaki at UFC 178. A chance to reclaim his belt would've been imminent however Cruz recently announced that he's suffered yet another ACL injury. Time could be against him but if he's able to recover ahead of January 2016 then I'd expect Cruz to be gifted an immediate title shot, if so I expect him to reclaim his spot at the top no matter who it is who holds the belt.
FEATHERWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Jose Aldo
Jose Aldo has his work cut out for him in 2015 with the Brazilian likely to be facing both Conor McGregor who shouldn't struggle with Dennis Siver and Frankie Edgar later in the year. While McGregor's size might be a bit of a problem, I can't see Aldo struggling with his striking, and feel his leg kicks should be enough to slow the movement of McGregor which ultimately could lead to a finish for Aldo.
Edgar should prove a bigger challenge, his boxing is probably the best in the division and his head and foot movement are enough to cause a real problem, a problem Aldo has dealt with before. Baring a move up to 155 Aldo should remain champion in 2015.
Ben Heather: Frankie Edgar
I think this year could be the year that the featherweight title changes hands on at least one occasion. I think if Conor McGregor defeats Dennis Siver he will get the next shot at Jose Aldo. I am unsure who will win that fight but as far as who will be the champ at the end of the year I do not think that matters as I would back Frankie Edgar to beat both.
I think Edgar proved in his victory over Cub Swanson that he is the true number one contender in the division and in the third quarter of 2015 I expect him to get his next chance at the belt and this time he will not let it go to waste.
Tom Young: Chad Mendes
With so many scenarios in this division here's how 2015 is going to pan out, in my opinion. McGregor beats Siver, challenges Aldo for the title but loses. Aldo then vacates the title and moves up to lightweight. Between now and then, Mendes runs through the competition getting him another title shot in the last quarter of 2015. I think Mendes will face either McGregor or Frankie Edgar for the vacant title and this is where Mendes finally walks away as the Featherweight champion.
Connor Hutton: Jose Aldo
The last remaining Brazilian champion, Jose Aldo has dominated every elite contender since he entered the WEC and UFC. Undefeated since 2006, Aldo proved he is still the featherweight king after his fight of the year contender against Chad Mendes and the future only holds two legit title contenders in the pipeline. One of which being Frankie Edgar whom Aldo has already beat and the other being Conor McGregor. If Aldo dispatches of both of these men then I expect him to remain champion way past January 2016, however the only reason he may not hold the belt would be if he decided to take the step up to lightweight.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Khabib Nurmagomedov
It might not be pretty but Khabib Numagamedov's suffocating style is one of the most effective in all of MMA. When you watch dos Anjos put a beating on Nate Diaz, then think back about how Nurmagomedov basically had his way with dos Anjos the thought is unbelievable.
Pettis is a great fighter he has shown he world class striking and shown how effective he can be on the ground, submitting top guys like Melendez and Henderson. I feel like Pettis is one of the most well rounded fighters out there but there is a blueprint on how to beat him, see RD1 of Pettis vs Melendez, and Pettis vs Guida. Both men has shown the way to beat Pettis to to put him against the cage and grind him, drag him to the floor and stop him from striking. Nurmagomedov does that better than anyone and baring a flash KO to Pettis he should be wearing UFC gold before the end of the year.
Ben Heather: Donald Cerrone
I think 2015 will be the year where we see the cowboy slow down and realise how close he is to getting a shot at the UFC title. I think Pettis will lose the title to Khabib Nurmagomedov in the second quarter of next year but in his first defence he will have to face Cerrone who will finally get the belt placed around his waist.
This is probably my outside bet from my predictions as Cerrone may be happy to just keep staying active and picking up wins without worrying about the belt, which is what we saw in 2014.
Tom Young: Khabib Nurmagomedov
There is only one person who can beat Anthony Pettis and his name is Khabib Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov vs Pettis needs to happen in 2015. Pettis is remarkably talented especially after his last two wins over Melendez and Henderson but Nurmagomedov will be able to exploit Pettis, like Melendez did in the first round of his title fight.
Connor Hutton: Anthony Pettis
Injury has seriously damaged the way MMA fans perceive Anthony Pettis' capabilities, the current lightweight champ unleashes wild and dynamic striking techniques that nobody else has been able to emulate. However, 'Showtime' finally reminded the fans just how good he is on his return, as he became the first person to stop Gilbert Melendez. If Pettis can stay healthy then there is a long list of 155lb killers after his belt and undefeated prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov who some believe is the future champion. The blueprint is clear to everyone, Pettis has never faced a grappler like Nurmagomedov, however the Russian has never faced a sniper like finisher like Pettis. This potential match up is without a doubt the key test to Pettis' title reign and his chances of holding onto the belt by the time January 2016 rolls around.
WELTERWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Rory MacDonald
Welterweight in possible the least predictable division around. Anyone of the following could finish as champion at the end of 2015: Lawler, Hendricks, MacDonald, or Lombard. You can't rule out the likes of Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit or a GSP comeback either. For me though the favourite has to be Rory MacDonald.
First up for Lawler will likely be Hendricks, in a fight which has twice proven can genuinely go either way. Following that fight MacDonald should fight the winner and I like his crisp striking (particularly the jab) and wrestling defense to take him all the way to the top.
Ben Heather: Rory MacDonald
In 2015 Canada will once again have a UFC champion and it will be in the division they have most familiar with... the difference this year is it will not be GSP holding the belt, it will be his younger team mate Rory MacDonald. I believe Rory should get the next crack at the belt in early 2015, however the UFC seem set to finish the trilogy between Hendricks and Lawler. Once they have settled the score the winner will face and lose the title to Rory MacDonald, I can see him holding the title for a very long time as well, very similar to how GSP has done.
Tom Young: Georges St Pierre
As great as it is that Robbie Lawler closed 2014 as the champion, I fully expect him to lose the belt in the second half of the year. With talk of GSP returning, I imagine the UFC will give him an immediate title shot unless he chooses not to but with the lack of superstars in the UFC at the minute, it's hard to believe they won't be throwing money at GSP to return for a title fight.
Connor Hutton: Rory MacDonald
After years of dominance from GSP, Rory MacDonald now flies the MMA flag for Canada, and he is closer than ever to a shot at gold after an impressive 2014 with wins over Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley, and Tarec Saffiedine. With a Lawler vs Hendricks trilogy being the most likely route, MacDonald will likely be fed a credible name to boost his stock ahead of a potential crack at the title. MacDonald's game has increased dramatically since his split decision defeat to the current champion and at the age of 25, MacDonald has plenty of time to improve further. However if he is finally given his shot at some point in 2015 then I predict that the Canadian will hang on to the strap for quite some time.
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Lyoto Machida
At the start of 2014 I predicted Lyoto Machida would finish the year as the middleweight champion. I felt Machida has the best possible skill set in the division to beat Weidman. Ultimately I was proven wrong with Weidman beating Machida at UFC 175 in a gritty, tough fight but one he clearly won. If Machida can earn another crack at Weidman, I still feel he has the skills to beat the champ but that's all ifs and buts and right now I think Weidman will remain undefeated in 2015.
Ben Heather: Luke Rockhold
Even with his title fight against Weidman being in the USA and with TRT now banned I think Belfort will pass all the required drugs tests and go on to become the UFC champion. This sets up the exciting prospect of a rematch with Luke Rockhold, who has been on a tear this year. I expect that form to continue in to 2015 where Rockhold will start the year by defeating Lyoto Machida before winning the title against Vitor Belfort and heading in to 2016 with the middleweight title firmly strapped around his waist.
Tom Young: Chris Weidman
Weidman is genuinely a special talent. He utilises the best game plans in MMA and the only fighter who has a decent shot at defeating him is 'Jacare' Souza in 2015. I expect the pair to clash in 2015 but see Weidman opening up 2016 as the champion.
Connor Hutton: Ronaldo Souza
With just nine professional fights under his belt, Chris Weidman stepped up to face the GOAT in Anderson Silva and not once but twice he emerged victorious. Weidman then went on to defeat Lyoto Machida in arguably his toughest test to date and many now predict that he will run through Vitor Belfort in February. However, Weidman is yet to be really tested by a grappler the level of Ronaldo Souza. Souza has been on a tear since he dropped the Strikeforce belt to Luke Rockhold and he finally looks to be a complete fighter. Jacare is ready for a shot at the champion and if he gets one later in 2015 and he is able to implement his gameplan then I predict a long reign at the top for the Brazilian.
LIGHT-HEAVYWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Jon Jones
While Jon Jones faces his toughest challenge yet at least on paper in the form of Daniel Cormier, I think Jones' considerable reach advantage will ultimately secure him the victory. Jones will mostly likely go on to face Gustaffson later in the year who superior boxing should be enough to beat Rumble Johnson in Sweden. I think Jones will be more motivated then ever for a rematch against Gustaffson and should crush the Swede before the year is out. I expect Jones to clear out the division this year before looking at a new challenge at Heavyweight.
Ben Heather: Jon Jones
This is the easiest choice out of every division. Jon Jones is the pound 4 pound best fighter in the world and will still hold both that title and his UFC belt come this time next year. He starts the year against possibly his toughest opponent to date in Daniel Cormier. However, I really don't think Cormier will test Jones and he will once again show why he is touted as the best fighter in the world.
Tom Young: Jon Jones
Another division which lacks contenders, Jones looks set to top the division for years to come. The only fighter that has a real possibility of dethroning Jones is Alexander Gustafsson and there is a good chance they scrap it out in 2015. However, come 2016, Jones enter the new year as champ.
Connor Hutton: Jon Jones
Despite his relatively young age in the sport, Jon Jones is considered among most as the pound for pound best of the current generation. It's more than his awkward range and incredibly high skill set. Jones has the ability to fight instinctively, a lot of fighters come in with a strict gameplan, but nobody has a higher fight IQ than Jones himself. After defeating every credible challenger that has stood in front of him, Jones is now on the eve of his toughest fight to date, when he faces Daniel Cormier it will simply be the best MMA has to offer. Whoever comes out on top in that battle will most likely be the champion come 2016 and for some time to come there after.
HEAVYWEIGHT
Chris Houten: Junior Dos Santos
While Junior Dos Santos might be a wild card pick as champion in 2015, as unfortunately as it sounds (and I almost feel bad for saying it) I don't see Cain Velasquez being able to make a return this year therefore promoting Fabricio Werdum to the undisputed champion. Werdum's first title defense should be against JDS who is the only realistic challenger in such a shallow division. While I appreciate Werdum's striking has improved I feel JDS would put Werdum away again setting up Dos Santos vs Velasquez 4 in 2016.
Ben Heather: Cain Velasquez
In my opinion, the only way Cain Velasquez will not be the champion by the end of the year is if his injury which has prevented him fighting since October 2013 keeps him out for a sustained period next year. If this is the case I am sure he will be forced to vacate the title to prevent a Dominick Cruz situation happening again. Hopefully I we get to see Cain fight Werdum in the first half of 2015 to unify the belt and then fight again in the autumn. That being said, I am unsure who he fights after Werdum, Travis Browne is a possibility but I will not be picking anyone over Cain in any fight for the foreseeable future.
Tom Young: Cain Velasquez
Simply put, Cain Velasquez or Fabricio Werdum will be the champion come the beginning of 2016. It really does all depend on whether Velasquez is able to fight in 2015. In a match up Velasquez beats Werdum yet, if Velasquez is out of action for however long he may possibly be stripped of the belt. This is the only way I see any heavyweight fighter other than Velasquez becoming the champ at the start of 2016.
Connor Hutton: Cain Velasquez
It could be argued that the heavyweight division is perhaps the shallowest the UFC has to offer in terms of genuine title contenders, or is it that the current king of the heavy hitters is just too damn good? Cain Velasquez damages fighters beyond believe, the pure beatings he puts men through is an incredible sight to behold. However, Junior Dos Santos proved that any of the heavyweight fighters has a punchers chance when he defeated Velasquez and there is a chance that any man could land one big blow just like JDS, but when it comes down to pure talent, the champ is a league above the competition. Sadly, injury could be his downfall, but if Velasquez can return to full fitness in 2015 then I expect the dominance to continue way past 2016.
STRAWWEIGHT (WOMEN)
Chris Houten: Carla Esparza
At the end of last year I predicted Carla Esparza would win season 20 of the Ultimate Fighter and finish 2014 as the UFC Strawweight champion. I felt Esparza's superior wrestling would be key in winning her the belt, and I wasn't wrong as she went to beat Angela Hill, Tecia Torres, Jessica Penne, and Rose Namjunas on route to winning the inaugural title.
Going into 2015 Esparza will likely face Joanna Jedrzejczyk in first defense and while Jerdrzejczyk has what it takes to trouble Esparza on the feet and and showed good takedown defense in her win over Gadelha, Esparza will be too much and should easily grind out a 5 round unanimous decision victory or possibly catch a submission in the later rounds.
I genuinely can't see anyone in the division being able to take the belt away from Esparza at this moment unless they catch her with a wicked shot, she is just too good at what she does and none of the women in the division have the skill set to stop her.
Ben Heather: Joanne Calderwood
By now we all know that Jojo struggled in the TUF house this year and that Carla Esparza was crowned the first 115lb UFC champion. However I really believe that Jojo has the skills to be able to defeat Carla, which I do not see in a lot of the other top contenders. Currently sitting at number 6 in the rankings, I think it will take two wins at the start of the year to secure a chance to fight for the title towards the end of the year.
I also think that Jojo is the only British in the UFC to bring home a championship title. By now all of our other main contenders are getting to the later stages of their careers or in all honesty just are not good enough to be a UFC champion.
Tom Young: Carla Esparza
There is a few tasty fights to be had for the title in this division however, Esparza is on a different level to the rest of the division. I can see three or four fighters that could give her a run for her money but at the end of the year, she will grind it out to stay champion.
Connor Hutton: Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Undefeated thus far in her MMA career, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is fresh off the biggest win of her career after she handed Claudia Gadelha her first ever defeat in a back and forth battle at UFC on FOX 13. Jedrzejczyk proved that her defensive grappling ability is stronger than ever by shutting down Gadelha. With Jedrzejczyk's elite striking background shes poses a serious threat to everyone in the division. A title shot against Carla Esparza will most likely be her next fight and if she finds a way to improve on her last performance then I can see her hanging on to the belt for a while.
BANTAMWEIGHT (WOMEN)
Chris Houten: Ronda Rousey
2015 could be one of the most exciting years in UFC women's bantamweight history. Cat Zingano's back, Bethe Correia is stoking Rousey fire, and Holly Holm set to make her UFC debut. There is always a chance we could see Gina Carano as well.
What has really impressed me about Rousey over the last year is how much her striking has come on. Had you have asked me at the star of the year if Zingano and Holm had a good chance of beating Rousey I would have said yes, as long as the fight stays on the feet. Now, I'm not too sure. With a ridiculous ground game and a developing boxing game Rousey is just nasty.
Ben Heather: Ronda Rousey
I see Rousey defending her title three times in 2015 and I think we may see the return of the armbar this year, after knocking out her last two opponents. UFC 184 will be her toughest test to date facing the undefeated Cat Zingano, however I see the outcome being the same as all the other fights she has had.
Tom Young: Ronda Rousey
This all depends on whether Ronda Rousey decides to hang up her gloves or not. She's slowly emerged in to the Hollywood scene appearing in The Expendables 3 with Entourage and Fast and Furious 7 released next year. She's not losing the belt to any fighter anytime soon, so I reckon it depends on how well her acting career is recieved.
Connor Hutton: Ronda Rousey
Without a doubt Ronda Rousey is one of the most dominant champions the UFC has ever seen. Her Judo game sets her apart from the pack but her recent wins proved that her overall ability is just a level above the competition and there has been no sign of that changing anytime soon. Unless Rousey finds a way into Hollywood before 2016, I see nobody even coming close to taking the belt from her.
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