As 2023 begins, it’s important to look at who sits at the top of the sport. These champions will be scheduled to defend their acclaimed titles at least once this year and will look to hold onto them throughout 2023. But this begs the question: will today’s champions hold their titles come 2024? In this list, I’ll be giving my predictions and reasoning for who will stay atop their division and who will fall from greatness.
Heavyweight: Cyril Gane
After an exceptional challenge against current champion Francis Ngannou in which he came up short, Cyril Gane bounced back with a win on home soil over Tai Tuivasa. Despite losing to Francis, Cyril was winning the first two rounds before the champ turned the tide. His only defect is his incomplete takedown defense, which hasn’t been too much of an issue aside from his bout with Ngannou. Cyril has quick, powerful striking as well as a clean submission game that has yielded two UFC finishes. He’s a killer in the division and may have a clear shot to the title with Francis’s contract issues ongoing.
Light-Heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev
While the division is constantly imploding, it’s safe to say that any outcome is viable, but after his recent split draw to Jan Blacowicz, his title hopes are in the crapper. However, I see a very possible path for Magomed to snatch the title later this year, as the fight for the title itself will go down at UFC 283 with Jamaal Hill vs. Glover Teixeira. Magomed has a smothering style that tends to pressure his opponents backwards, pushing them to the brink every round. Ankalaev is a master of sport in combat sambo as well as a master of sport in amateur MMA, both very prestigious awards in Russia. He has all the tools to take the title, and with Jiri Prochazka injured (would have put him here if he was healthy), there’s a great chance he snatches the title in the back half of 2023.
Middleweight: Robert Whittaker
The former champion has everything it takes to challenge new champion Alex Periera for undisputed gold. His last loss was a Unanimous Decision to former champ Israel Adesanya, and he’s coming off a dominant UD win over Marvin Vettori. His striking is so unique; he uses the strangest angles for his combos, and when they connect, they turn the lights out. He hits hard, he pushes forward, and he’s hungry to take the title back. Hopefully, “The Reaper” is slated to highlight his title challenge this year.
Welterweight: Kamaru Usman
The former champion is coming to reclaim his throne after what many are dubbing the greatest comeback of all time. Leon Edwards was down 1-3 on the scorecards going into the fifth, and he was able to steal the title off of a high-kick knockout. Kamaru was PFP number one; he was touted as the most legitimate champ within the UFC. His striking has improved greatly and with his dominant wrestling base, the only knock on him is that his style is considered boring.
Lightweight: Alexander Volkanovski
Crazy take, I get it. But there is a legitimate path to victory for Alex; he has fantastic wrestling to defend against Islam’s takedowns as well as really crisp striking. When you’re a training partner of Dan Hooker, Carlos Ulberg, and the aforementioned former champ Israel Adesanya, you are primed for great striking. Volk has exactly that, and Islam hasn’t been tested by a true striker in their prime (beat Dober before his evolution, and Arman is a grappler).
Featherweight: Alexander Volkanovski
Above reasons aside, there is no featherweight on this planet that beats Volkanovski at 145. He makes every fight look like he’s fighting guys on rookie mode. Volkanovski knows what his opponents are going for against him; he understands both the standup and ground game like very few before him. He is the Anderson Silva of 145, and no one in that division (outside of Holloway in the past) comes close.
Bantamweight: Aljamain Sterling
Call him a fake champ, call him a phony, what you can’t call him is not the champ. After all the disrespect after Petr Yan’s illegal knee in their first bout, Aljo dominantly won the rematch. He ran through an “injured” TJ Dillashaw within two rounds. His ground game got him here, but his hands don’t get the respect they deserve. All this, and his best training partner is Merab Dvalishvili, the #3 ranked fighter in the division that is a monster on the ground.
Flyweight: Brandon Moreno
Moreno has a 1-1-1 record against Figueiredo, and their last fight didn’t go his way. But after an excellent showing against Kai Kara-France, Moreno has worked on all his tools to be able to handle Figueiredo. His striking continues to get better, his grappling is gnarly, and he’s coming for revenge.
Women’s Featherweight: Amanda Nunes?
The GWOAT, the most dominant women’s champ who, after losing her title, absolutely dismantled Juliana Pena. She’s miles ahead of the division, Ketlen Vieira is the only person who presents a legitimate challenge. I don’t see any way Amanda loses her title unless she vacates.
Women’s Bantamweight: Amanda Nunes?
Everything I said above but there’s no one in this division. Literally, look at the UFC rankings and nobody wants the smoke from Nunes.
Women’s Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko
Her last fight was the closest we as fans have seen from Valentina at Flyweight. Val is unmatched on the feet within her division, maybe with the exception of Manon Fiorot, but on the ground Talia is the only person who’s presented challenges. Shevchenko makes fighting look easy, she knows her opponents better than they do, and she uses that to read what their next move is. She’s the queen of her division and will be for the near future.
Women’s Strawweight: Zhang Weili
After her last bout, it’s impossible to see how she could lose. Aside from her losses to Rose Namajunas, she’s looked perfect in the octagon. She’s proficient in every area, and without solid competition on the feet, she’ll have free reign of the division
