Predicting the UFC champions at the end of 2019

#6 Bantamweight

TJ Dillashaw has held the Bantamweight title since 2017

Current champion: TJ Dillashaw

Predicted champion: TJ Dillashaw

TJ Dillashaw’s first fight of 2019 won’t actually be at 135lbs as he’s dropping to 125lbs to challenge Henry Cejudo for his UFC Flyweight title, but I also believe he’ll end 2019 still holding the UFC Bantamweight title too. After the way he destroyed Cody Garbrandt in August, I just don’t see anyone on the horizon with the skills to take him out.

Assuming he doesn’t fight post-Cejudo until the summer, the likely contenders he’ll have to defend against range from the winner of Marlon Moraes vs. Raphael Assuncao through to rising stars like Aljamain Sterling and Jimmie Rivera.

Right now though, I can’t see any of them having a chance against Dillashaw, whose brand of striking and wrestling is pretty amazing to watch in full flow.

The X-factor for Dillashaw could be how he returns to 135lbs following his drop to Flyweight, but assuming he can do it healthily then I’d be shocked if he isn’t still the reigning Bantamweight champion come the end of 2019.

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#5 Flyweight

Henry Cejudo might turn out to be the final UFC Flyweight champion

Current champion: Henry Cejudo

Predicted champion: None

It’s not exactly a secret that the UFC intends to abandon the men’s Flyweight division following the January super fight between current Flyweight champ Henry Cejudo and current Bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw. Assuming the reports of the death of the division are definitely true, then there won’t be a Flyweight champion at the end of 2019.

If for whatever reason the UFC decides to keep the division running, which seems unlikely, then I suspect Cejudo would end the year as champion; without Demetrious Johnson, the Olympic gold medallist is the best 125lber on the roster by far, and so I think he’d regain his title if he were to lose to Dillashaw, which is what I see happening.