What to expect from the UFC in 2019

#4 Welterweight

Ben Askren will make his long-awaited UFC debut in 2019

Right now it feels like anyone’s guess as to what exactly is going on at 170lbs. Despite Tyron Woodley affirming his spot as champion by convincingly beating Darren Till in September, we’re now in a situation where there are two men vying for the next title shot – Colby Covington and Kamaru Usman – and there’s an argument to be made for either, really.

The issue is apparently with Woodley, as despite the champion stating that he’s ready to face Covington, Dana White has claimed that it’s becoming tricky to book him for a fight. Injuries have been the rumoured reason for this but White’s caustic attitude to the champion suggests money issues may well lie behind the whole thing. Hopefully, early 2019 sheds some light on this situation.

Outside of the title picture, it looks like we may have to wait until March’s UFC 235 for the first big Welterweight clash of the year; former ONE FC and Bellator champ Ben Askren is booked to make his long-awaited Octagon debut against former UFC champion Robbie Lawler. It’s a mouth-watering match that should show exactly where Askren belongs in the bigger picture – and perhaps how much Lawler has left in the tank, too.

Elsewhere, veterans Demian Maia and Thiago Alves are both booked for the ESPN+ card on 02/02, but both men feel like they’re on the downswing of their careers now, and their fights against Lyman Good and Max Griffin respectively shouldn’t do a lot to impact the title picture at 170lbs.

I would also discuss the status of Nick Diaz – who was supposedly booked against Jorge Masvidal at UFC 235 – but given Diaz has now claimed the booking is not official and thrown his entire future with the UFC up in the air, there doesn’t seem to be much point.