Predicting the UFC champions at the end of 2019

#4 Women’s Featherweight

Cris Cyborg has ruled the Women's Featherweight division with an iron fist for years

Current champion: Cris Cyborg

Predicted champion: Cris Cyborg

Cris Cyborg has ruled over the Women’s divisions in whichever promotion she's competed at with an iron fist for a decade now, and I can’t see that changing in 2019. After she faces Amanda Nunes at UFC 232, it’s a mystery as to who she’ll fight next – perhaps the winner of Cat Zingano vs. Megan Anderson would be next in line, but it’s hard to see either of them toppling the champion.

The X-factor is the fact that Cyborg has stated she might try to leave the UFC in early 2019 as her contract apparently expires in March, but whether that can even happen given the UFC’s contract clauses is unknown. My best bet is that Cyborg will end up on ice as the UFC attempt to extend her contract while she attempts to leave.

If that happens then usually I’d guess the UFC would look to crown an interim champion, but given the dearth of talent in this division I don’t think that’ll happen. We may see only one title fight in this division in 2019 – perhaps even none – but I don’t think anyone other than Cyborg will hold the title.

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#3 Women’s Bantamweight

Holly Holm is my pick to regain her Bantamweight title in 2019

Current champion: Amanda Nunes

Predicted champion: Holly Holm

Current UFC Women’s Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes is set to face Cris Cyborg for the Featherweight crown at UFC 232, but assuming she loses that fight I suspect she’ll be back to defend her 135lbs title in 2019. ‘The Lioness’ has been a dominant champ since 2016, but 2019 is the year I’m predicting she becomes unstuck.

Thus far the opponents Nunes has defended against have been good stylistic matches for her, but at some point, given her consistent popularity following her Ronda Rousey win in 2015, she’s probably going to have to face Holly Holm.

Holm is ageing, hasn’t fought since June and is currently supposed to fight prospect Aspen Ladd in March, but I think she’s a horrible stylistic match for Nunes.

Essentially, in a fight between Holm and Nunes, the champion would have to either go back to her berserker style, and risk being countered, or enter into a point-fight with Holm, something ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ excels in. Either way, I suspect Holm would win, and while I doubt she’d hold onto the title for long, I can see her recapturing it in late 2019 with a win over Nunes.