5 fighters who could end 2018 with a UFC title and 5 who won't

Could end 2018 with a title: Alexander Gustafsson

Could Alexander Gustafsson end 2018 with the UFC Light-Heavyweight title?

With Jon Jones likely on the shelf for the foreseeable future following another PED scandal, Light-Heavyweight suddenly feels like a division in flux for the first time since Chuck Liddell was dethroned by Quinton Jackson back in 2007. The current champion, Daniel Cormier, is ageing and is coming off a loss to Jones, and the rest of the division – men like Glover Teixeira and Jimi Manuwa – are hardly in their prime. The exception to this rule seems to be Swedish star Alexander Gustafsson.

‘The Mauler’ has already seen two failed attempts at claiming UFC gold – he lost razor-close decisions to both Jones and Cormier – and after some injury issues plagued him in 2016 it felt like he could be slowing down. But he looked back to his best in his May win over Glover Teixeira and realistically, after the upcoming Cormier/Volkan Oezdemir title fight, he’s the only possible contender to fight for the belt.

Regardless of whether it’s Cormier or Oezdemir, I could see Gustafsson capturing the title in 2018. Oezdemir has shown thunderous punching power thus far but it isn’t like Gustafsson has a weak chin – he’s been knocked out once and that was led to by an accidental headbutt – and he already beat Cormier in the eyes of many. In my mind, the Light-Heavyweight title will finish 2018 in Sweden.