5 UFC champions who are likely to lose their titles in 2022

#2. Brandon Moreno – UFC flyweight champion

Very few people expected Brandon Moreno to claim gold inside the octagon in 2021

When the UFC decided to give Brandon Moreno a shot at reigning flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in late 2020, it seemed doubtful that the Mexican would have anything for the dangerous Brazilian.

However, Moreno proved the doubters wrong by going toe-to-toe with ‘Deus Da Guerra’ for five rounds. Although Figueiredo would’ve won the bout were it not for a point deduction, it came as no surprise when ‘The Assassin Baby’ was handed an immediate rematch.

Few fans expected what happened next, though, as Moreno stunned everyone by completely outfighting Figueiredo before submitting him with a rear-naked choke in the third round to claim the title.

Despite the win, though, there’s still an argument that Figueiredo might be the better fighter, as he blamed the UFC 263 loss primarily on a bad weight cut.

We’ll find out if that’s the case next weekend as the two men are set to face off in their trilogy bout at UFC 270. Even if Moreno comes out with his title intact, whether he can hold onto it throughout 2022 is another matter.

No.3-ranked Alexandre Pantoja, for instance, already has two wins over the Mexican, while No.2-ranked Askar Askarov went to a draw with him in 2019. Either of the two would be hopeful of unseating Moreno in a title bout, meaning that ‘The Assassin Baby’ seems likely to drop the gold this year.

---

#1. Glover Teixeira – UFC light heavyweight champion

At 42 years old, Glover Teixeira might struggle to hold onto his title in 2022

When Glover Teixeira choked out Jan Blachowicz to claim the UFC light heavyweight title in October, not only did he become one of the oldest champions in the promotion’s history, but he also became one of the most unlikely too.

Sure, the Brazilian was riding a lengthy five-fight UFC win streak going into the bout. However, he’d basically looked finished as a top-level contender as recently as 2018.

Teixeira obviously did well to turn that slide around, but can we really expect a fighter who is now 42 years old to hold onto his title throughout 2022? In all honesty, it seems unlikely.

The Brazilian is expected to defend the gold against Jiri Prochazka, one of the most explosive and dangerous prospects that the light heavyweight division has seen in years, later this year. Even if he gets past him, he’ll have monsters such as Aleksandar Rakic and Magomed Ankalaev to contend with.

Teixeira’s title win was an excellent story, but given his age, wear and tear and the level of competition he’s going to face, the truth is that he’s probably the most likely champion to lose his gold in 2022.