2020 vision: Bold predictions in MMA for the new year
The past decade was a time of great evolution and change in MMA, much of which even the most diehard fight fans couldn’t have seen coming. What will the first year of the next decade bring? Here are 10 bold predictions as the 2020 schedule gets set to kick off.
Without further ado …
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Khabib Nurmagomedov retires 30-0
UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has made no secret that he doesn’t intend to have an extended career. His body has gone through the ringer due to various injuries over the years.
Moreover, Nurmagomedov already has etched out an undeniable legacy. If he can add a few more layers to that, he honestly doesn’t have much reason to keep going. If Nurmagomedov can get through what many believe to be his biggest obstacle in Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 in April, then there really aren’t many true challenges left for “The Eagle.” Another win after that would bring his career record to 30-0, and if that fight is a massive one, like his long-desired Georges St-Pierre superfight – or perhaps a Conor McGregor rematch – he pretty much will have done it all.
The only reason for Nurmagomedov to stick around beyond that would be to reap the benefits of being a massive star (far bigger than now), and that money is hard to walk away from. Everyone around Nurmagomedov has long said financial security is of no concern to him, though. If that’s true, it elevates the chances of this happening.
Four current UFC title reigns end prior to a successful defense
Of the UFC’s current crop of champions, the following have yet to register a successful title defense during their current reign: Stipe Miocic (heavyweight), Israel Adesanya (middleweight), Alexander Volkanovski (featherweight), Henry Cejudo (bantamweight), Amanda Nunes (women’s featherweight), and Zhang Weili (strawweight).
More than half of those title reigns will go down as a flash in the pan.
Jon Jones’ UFC title record gets broken
Maycee Barber and Edmen Shahbazyan.
For more than eight years, Jon Jones’ record for youngest champion in UFC history has gone largely unchallenged. Rose Namajunas had an opportunity to break his mark back in December 2014, but she fell short of winning the inaugural strawweight title.
2020, however, is the year Jones will be bumped from the history books. 21-year-old Maycee Barber (women’s flyweight or strawweight), 22-year-old Edmen Shahbazyan (middleweight) and 22-year-old Song Yadong (bantamweight) are all on the rise, and have already secured ranked positions in their respective weight classes.
They all have challenging paths, but one will claim UFC gold in the next 12 months.
A.J. McKee becomes champion and Bellator’s biggest star
A.J. McKee at Bellator 236. (Photo courtesy of Bellator)
Bellator has received criticism for the way its slow-played many of its prospects, but going into 2020, it’s difficult to look at A.J. McKee and argue Scott Coker mishandled the development of a young man who will soon be the face of the organization.
At just 24, McKee already holds a plethora of Bellator records. He’s validated himself in a big way over his past few fights, advancing to the semifinals of the ongoing Bellator featherweight grand prix. In order to win that tournament (and the featherweight belt), he’s going to have to go through some real tough competition, but if he comes out the other end on top – watch out.
McKee has spent his entire career with Bellator. His fighting style is tremendously entertaining to watch, and he has personality for days. If adds a belt to all that, there’s no reason Bellator shouldn’t push him to the moon.
UFC disbands at least one weight class
The UFC flyweight division and women’s featherweight division have been on shaky ground essentially since their inceptions, and 2020 could be the year one – or both of them – finally go.
Yes, Henry Cejudo “saved” the flyweight division, and there is a vacant title fight between Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo lined up for Feb. 29, but what comes next? As fun as the weight class can be, there’s just not a lot of money-making fights at 125 pounds.
In comparison to the women’s featherweight division, though, flyweight is a thriving wonderland. Champion Amanda Nunes hasn’t defended her belt since winning it in December 2018, and although the promotion has signed a few new fighters to the weight class, there’s still not much going on. Nunes really wants to defend that 145 title for her legacy, but once that happens, the UFC could finally decide to pull the plug.
(Next page: PFL’s future, UFC vs. Bellator, and more)