What to expect from the UFC in 2019

#8 Flyweight

Who even knows if the UFC will continue the Flyweight division after Henry Cejudo's fight with TJ Dillashaw?

The UFC’s first title fight of 2019 is booked at 125lbs as Bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw faces Flyweight champ Henry Cejudo in a ‘superfight’ that headlines the first ESPN+ card on 01/19. Despite this, the rumours of the UFC simply doing away with the division remain strong. How this would work if Cejudo were to win is a mystery, but a Dillashaw victory would probably mean the Flyweight title would be retired.

For this reason, it’s hardly a shock that we only have three other fights booked at Flyweight in early 2019; Joseph Benavidez faces Dustin Ortiz on 01/19, with Benavidez also acting as a failsafe should either Cejudo or Dillashaw pick up an injury. On the 02/02 ESPN+ card, prospect Magomed Bibulatov returns to face newcomer Rogerio Bontorin, while UFC 234 sees Kai-Kara France face newcomer Raulian Paiva.

It’s anyone’s guess as to why the UFC is actively signing new Flyweights when they’re potentially cutting the division – and have already cut plenty of fighters at 125lbs – but hopefully early 2019, and the Cejudo/Dillashaw fight, in particular, should shed some light on the entire situation. Who knows, to be quite frank?