5 bold predictions for the UFC in 2022

2021 has been a historic year for the UFC. The world's premier MMA organization shattered its previous annual pay-per-view record, churning out stellar events and stacked fight cards every month. These events have produced many memorable moments that fans won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Rose Namajunas’ head-kick knockout against then-reigning UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili, Kamaru Usman’s one-punch knockout of Jorge Masvidal, Francis Ngannou’s title-winning performance against Stipe Miocic and the incredible featherweight championship bout between Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega stood out as some of the most incredible moments of the year.

With 2022 projected to be another historic year for the UFC as the fastest-growing sport in the world continues to grow, there are a number of bouts and matchups that fans can’t wait to see. Be it two fighters who have been on a collision course with one another finally locking horns, or the return of a superstar, the UFC has a lot in store for the fans in 2022.

That being said, we thought we’d channel our inner "Mystic Macs" and make a few predictions for the new year.

Here are five bold predictions for the UFC in 2022.

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#5. Max Holloway will permanently move to the UFC lightweight division

Max Holloway is arguably the greatest featherweight in UFC history. However, many believe that the Hawaiian sensation will do his best work at 155 lbs.

Holloway famously struggles with the weight cut down to the featherweight limit of 145 lbs. He has often appeared to be severely drained and dehydrated at weigh-ins.

Check out how Holloway looked while weighing in at 145 lbs, in comparison to 155 lbs in the video below:

Despite going through a visibly gruelling weight cut, Holloway always turns up on fight night. Somehow, it never seems to affect his output and cardio, even though he is a volume-striker. Rather, he tends to pick up the pace and becomes more active the longer the fight goes.

Testament to this is when Holloway started showboating in the fifth round of his bout against Calvin Kattar. He slipped Kattar’s punches while moving backwards and even landed a counter of his own, whilst shouting at the commentary team and his opponent.

Now imagine Max Holloway at 155 lbs. Without such a strenuous weight cut, we could see an even better version of the Hawaiian in the lightweight division. Holloway has fought in the lightweight division once before, having competed for the UFC interim lightweight belt against Dustin Poirier. He came up short on that occasion, struggling against the power of ‘The Diamond’.

However, if Holloway commits to the lightweight division and packs on a bit of muscle to compete with the strong wrestlers in the division, the most stacked weight class in the UFC will get a lot more interesting.

Here are the Latest UFC Predictions by Sportskeeda

#4. Conor McGregor will stay active in the UFC

Conor McGregor has been keeping UFC fans updated regarding his recovery and eventual return to the octagon. The Irish superstar sustained a leg injury in his most recent bout against Dustin Poirier and has been rehabilitating the injury ever since.

Back in January 2020, Conor McGregor took on Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. He secured a sensational TKO victory just 40 seconds into the bout. Before and after the fight with ‘Cowboy’, McGregor discussed how he is looking forward to staying active and enjoying a 'season' of regular fights. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global lockdowns put a halt to his plans.

McGregor’s two fights against Dustin Poirier in 2021 didn’t go his way either. He suffered a second-round TKO loss to ‘The Diamond’ at UFC 257 and a leg injury forced a doctor stoppage in their trilogy bout at UFC 264. The Irishman has since alluded to staying active upon his return to the octagon. Perhaps we could finally get the McGregor ‘season’ after all.

There is no shortage of potential opponents for ‘The Notorious’. McGregor has called out and teased multiple future matchups that fans can look forward to, including a fight against Michael Chandler, a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz and a grudge match against Dustin Poirier.

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#3. Khamzat Chimaev will become the UFC welterweight champion

Khamzat Chimaev is undoubtedly the hottest prospect in the UFC right now. The Russian-born Swede has taken the MMA world by storm since making his UFC debut in 2020. The undefeated Chechen fighter made a splash on UFC Fight Island last year and has since emerged as one of the most intriguing fighters on the roster.

‘Borz’ got off to a sensational 3-0 start to his UFC career before being booked to take on No.11-ranked welterweight Li Jingliang at UFC 267. Chimaev made light work of his Chinese counterpart and subsequently broke into the top 10 in the UFC welterweight rankings.

After the bout, in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier, he seemingly put the entire division and roster on notice while claiming that he was the real champion.

Many believe that Chimaev is just one win away from a title shot. His background in sambo wrestling, coupled with his relentless pressure and underrated striking, is a huge threat to the reigning UFC welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman.

Usman, for quite some time now, has been hinting at retiring from the sport. 'The Nigerian Nightmare', currently the No.1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has very little to prove having already beaten most of the top fighters in the division. It remains to be seen whether he will be around when Chimaev earns his title shot.

Nevertheless, Chimaev will most likely compete for the welterweight title sometime in 2022. Whether he takes on Usman for the title or competes for a vacant belt in the near future is up for debate. Our bold prediction is that Chimaev will emerge victorious in his quest for gold, and it’s only a matter of time.

#2. Jon Jones will become the UFC heavyweight champion

Arguably the greatest fighter in UFC history, Jon Jones, looks set to finally return to the octagon sometime in 2022. The former light-heavyweight champion is undoubtedly one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.

Following his final title defense at 205 lbs against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247, Jones opted to vacate the belt and subsequently set his sights on the heavyweight division. Ever since then, 'Bones' has been packing on quite a bit of size and muscle as he prepares to make the move up.

Speaking to ESPN MMA, Jon Jones shared that he intends to be as big as the current heavyweights in the division. He said:

“I’m 255 [pounds] right now. I’d like to get to 270 and cut down to 265. I just don’t want to feel smaller than any of the other guys [in the heavyweight division]. I want to be more conditioned, more skilled and just as strong, if not the strongest guy.”

Watch Jon Jones’ interview with ESPN MMA below:

With Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane set to lock horns in a title-unification bout at UFC 270 in January, Jones will be eyeing the winner as he looks to make his much-anticipated return to the cage.

Jones has always spoken his mind and shared his views on Twitter. He recently gave his take on the emergence and rise of Ciryl Gane, giving props to the undefeated Frenchman for being ‘pretty unique’. He has even traded barbs with Ngannou online.

Irrespective of who he goes up against, Jon Jones has the skillset to beat anybody as he has proved year after year in the 205 lbs division. Our bold prediction is that ‘Bones’ will come out on top and become a two-division champion in 2022, solidifying his status as the greatest of all time.

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#1. Henry Cejudo will become the UFC’s first triple-champion

Henry Cejudo owns one of the best resumes in combat sports history. Cejudo became the youngest American Olympic gold medallist in wrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics at just 21. He transitioned to MMA in 2013 and has since emerged as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world after becoming a two-division champion in the UFC.

Cejudo became the UFC flyweight champion following a sensational fight against the greatest flyweight of all time, Demetrious Johnson, and subsequently defended his belt against then-bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw.

Dillashaw tested positive for PEDs after the bout and was stripped of his bantamweight belt after getting a 2-year suspension. Cejudo moved up in weight and competed for the vacant bantamweight title, beating Marlon Moraes to become a two-division champion.

‘Triple C’ retired from the sport and vacated his belt following a successful title defense at UFC 249 against the greatest bantamweight of all time, Dominick Cruz. He has since made it clear that he would only return for a bigger paycheck, or an opportunity to compete for the featherweight title.

Cejudo has been clamoring for a fight against the reigning UFC featherweight champion, Alexander Volkanovski. Speaking to ESPN MMA, the former two-division champion had this to say:

“I still think about winning that third belt. I really think its attainable. I think anybody is crazy to count me out. Yeah, hate the persona, hate the cringe! But dude, facts are facts, man. I’m an accomplished athlete. If you can name someone who has accomplished more than me in combat sports, I will bend the knee. But there isn’t. He’s right here. I believe that I am entitled to skip the whole damn line and fight Volkanovski. You know? I deserve it.”

Watch Cejudo's interview with ESPN MMA Below:

It’s safe to say that Henry Cejudo has a real chance of beating Volkanovski. Cejudo has always found a way to win a fight despite being undersized. His high-level wrestling pedigree, coupled with his crisp striking and meticulous approach to preparation, will give Volkanovski a lot to think about if the two do square off inside the octagon.

Our biggest bold prediction for 2022 is that the UFC will crown their first-ever three-division champion – Henry Cejudo.