What to expect from the UFC in 2019

#11 Women’s Flyweight

Valentina Shevchenko should defend her Flyweight title against Jessica Eye in early 2019

Considering Women’s 125lbs is the newest division in the UFC, the title picture there is remarkably clear. We finally have a healthy champion now in the form of Valentina Shevchenko, and after her third Flyweight victory in a row over Katlyn Chookagian, it appears that Jessica Eye will probably serve as the next top contender in the division.

That title fight could take place as early a show like UFC 235, but as it hasn’t been officially confirmed yet the UFC could well go in another direction, although it seems unlikely right now. That clarity does mean that the promotion has been able to book plenty of fights in this division for the early months of 2019, though.

The first ESPN+ show on 01/19 sees Paige VanZant take on Rachael Ostovich while Joanne Calderwood takes on newcomer Ariane Lipski; 02/02’s ESPN+ show sees Talia Santos take on Mara Romero Borella; UFC 234 offers Nadia Kassem vs. Montana de la Rosa; Andrea Lee faces Ashlee Evans-Smith on ESPN on 02/17 and 02/23’s ESPN+ show features Liz Carmouche vs. Lucie Pudilova.

The division is still largely in flux when it comes to contenders, but all of those fights should provide some clarity on who exactly are the top fighters at 125lbs. Hopefully, Shevchenko proves to be a fighting champion, so 2019 can see plenty of action in what looks like a pretty exciting division.