Predicting the UFC champions at the end of 2019

#8 Lightweight

Khabib Nurmagomedov is my pick to be Lightweight champion as 2019 ends

Current champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Predicted champion: Khabib Nurmagomedov

Right now, the status of Khabib Nurmagomedov as UFC Lightweight champion is up in the air, largely because he’s still waiting for the outcome of his case with the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding the infamous UFC 229 brawl.

If he ends up with a long suspension, then an interim champion is likely to be crowned. I can’t see him being suspended for the full year though, and that’s why I think he’ll still hold the title come the end of 2019.

Nurmagomedov might attempt to pull a power-play given his sudden rise in status to a big pay-per-view draw and might attempt to demand fights with someone like Floyd Mayweather, or Conor McGregor in a rematch, but I don’t see those happening. Instead, the lure of the UFC title will be too much, and once his suspension’s up, I think Khabib will return to fight the interim champion.

That interim champion? I’m going out on a limb and saying it’ll be Tony Ferguson, who will probably beat someone like Dustin Poirier for the title. Ferguson and Khabib has long been a dream match for MMA fans but I think ‘The Eagle’ would come out on top due to Ferguson’s willingness to fight from his back. And so 2019 will end with Khabib holding the title just as he does today.

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#7 Featherweight

Nobody looks capable of beating Max Holloway right now

Current champion: Max Holloway

Predicted champion: Max Holloway

After seeing current UFC Featherweight champion Max Holloway destroy top contender Brian Ortega at UFC 231, there’s just no way I’m picking anyone to dethrone him in 2019. As far as I’m concerned, the only thing that can defeat ‘Blessed’ right now is himself – that is, his overall health, as various injuries kept him out of action for the majority of 2018.

He didn’t appear to have lost a beat against Ortega though, and that means it’s almost impossible to pick someone like Frankie Edgar – or a hot up-and-comer like Renato Moicano, Zabit Magomedsharipov or Yair Rodriguez – to defeat him. Right now Holloway is simply too good.

The wild card is if the Hawaiian chooses to move up to 155lbs at any point in the year. My guess, however, is that the move won’t happen; I’m thinking Holloway would only move for an immediate title shot, and with Khabib’s status so up-in-the-air right now, I don’t see it happening. Instead, I think he’ll defend against Edgar and then one of those rising stars later in the year, winning both times.