Predicting Every UFC Champion in 2019

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Lightweight

Incumbent Champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Prediction: Nurmagomedov is suspended for nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for inciting a brawl at UFC 229, after which he curb stomps Conor McGregor in a rematch that ends the Irishman’s career. Tony Ferguson continues beating everyone ranked below him while Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz indicts him for not being a pay-per-view draw.

Explanation: Newly installed welterweight Michael Chiesa, who won his debut at 170 pounds via one-arm kimura over Carlos Condit on Saturday night at UFC 232, described the state of the 155-pound division at the post-fight press conference as a “cluster-f—k”. His characterisation was dead accurate.

The fate of reigning champion Nurmagomedov is currently unclear, with the Dagestani yet to go before NSAC and receive a punishment for his post-UFC 229 hulk smashing; whilst Conor McGregor, who the UFC is ostensibly looking to book into a rematch with “The Eagle”, is stuck in the same situation for his part in the brawl. Beneath them you have Ferguson, currently riding an 11-fight win streak; Dustin Poirier, who finished three former champions in a seven-month stretch between November 2017 and July 2018; Al Iaquinta, who just put a beatdown on 155’s bogeyman in Kevin Lee; and Justin Gaethje out there scoring one-punch knockouts and flipping off cages -- none of whom have fights booked.

In an ideal world, Nurmagomedov would go before the commission as soon as possible before returning to defend his belt against Tony Ferguson -- the consensus number one contender -- sometime in the summer. But Nurmagomedov’s manager recently dismissed such a possibility in an interview with MMAFighting, and continues to bring up Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s name in connection with a farcical boxing match.

Sadly, all roads seem to be heading towards whatever fight will make the most money for Nurmagomedov and the organization, and assuming the UFC doesn’t give its champion the greenlight to compete in the squared circle like it did in 2017 with McGregor, a rematch with “The Notorious” seems the most likely.

Given the one-sidedness of their first fight, it would be foolish to pick against the undefeated 30-year old, and given he will likely be suspended by NSAC for at least the first half of 2019, it’s like that will be his one and only fight for the year.

Read More » Featherweight