Predicting Every UFC Champion in 2019
Bantamweight and Flyweight
Bantamweight
Incumbent Champion: T.J. Dillashaw
Prediction: Dillashaw fails to make weight for his “superfight” with Henry Cejudo in January and is pulled from the event. He defends his 135-pound title against Cejudo later in the year, which he wins via close decision, then closes out 2019 with a KO victory over Marlon Moraes.
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Given that “Killashaw” has never competed at flyweight -- either as an MMA fighter or during his wrestling days -- there's a good chance he’ll struggle shedding the extra ten pounds to make it down to 125. Indeed, the UFC appears to have explicitly recognized this possibility by tapping Joseph Benavidez, who fights Dustin Ortiz on the UFC Fight Night 143 undercard, as a back-up title challenger.
My bet is that Dillashaw fails to make championship weight and is jettisoned from the card, pitting Cejudo against Benavidez in a rematch. I had Cejudo winning on the scorecards when the two men met back at the “TUF 24” finale two years ago, and I predict “The Messenger” will get it done (officially) in their second act. Cejudo will then move up to 135 pounds and fight Dillashaw, losing a close decision. Dillashaw closes out 2019 by knocking out Moraes, who solidifies his title shot by winning his rematch with Raphael Assuncao.
Flyweight
Incumbent champion: Henry Cejudo
Prediction: Cejudo retains his 125-pound belt by defeating late replacement Benavidez, then moves up to bantamweight where he loses to Dillashaw before going on an extended vacation. Dana White obstinately refuses to address whether flyweight is or isn’t getting shuttered, and we close out 2019 with an absentee champion and about as much certainty as we have now.
Explanation: see above
Read More » Women’s FW and BW
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