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Interesting read:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/six-bold-mma-predictions-2018/sn-amp/
"1. GSP will retire… officially this time
When Georges St-Pierre stepped away from the UFC in 2013 he was careful to never use the word “retire.” That will change next year — as sad as that may be for MMA fans to hear.
2. Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC and lose
Saying a UFC champion will attempt to defend his title shouldn’t be considered a bold prediction, but with McGregor it certainly is. That said, we’re still going to hear plenty of wild rumours attached to him. A rematch with Mayweather in the UFC? A boxing match with Manny Pacquiao? A trilogy bout with Nate Diaz? A super fight with GSP?
3. Rory MacDonald will become Bellator’s first two-weight champion
The Canadian looked phenomenal in his Bellator debut in May, dominating Paul Daley with a vintage performance. He faces Douglas Lima — one of the most under-appreciated talents in the sport — for Bellator’s 170-pound title in January. Once he beats Lima there won’t be too much for him at welterweight besides maybe a tilt with the entertaining and unbeaten Michael “Venom” Page.
4. The Bellator heavyweight tournament will have a surprise winner
When Bellator MMA president Scott Coker announced an eight-man heavyweight tournament earlier this year, it got MMA fans excited. The eight participants — Fedor Emelianenko, Frank Mir, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Chael Sonnen, Ryan Bader, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson — might be considered over the hill and only four of them (Fedor, Mir, Mitrione and Nelson) are natural heavyweights, but it’s reminiscent of the grand prix tournaments defunct promotions like Pride FC and Coker’s baby, Strikeforce, used to hold.
5. AKA will finally boast four champs simultaneously
The American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose is among the elite MMA gyms on the planet. It’s home to UFC stars Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cain Velasquez, and in 2018 all four of those fighters will be UFC champions.
6. Cynthia Calvillo will become strawweight champ
She’s only 6-0 as a pro but half of those wins have been inside the Octagon against top competition. After she gets by Carla Esparza at UFC 219 she’ll be firmly in the contender conversation. Then one more win over a top-five opponent should earn her a title shot and the Californian will upset Rose Namajunas (or whoever the champion is at the time) to become the new face of women’s MMA at 115 pounds."
See link for full article. Out of these 6, which are most likely to happen? I'm going to say #1 seems to have fairly high chances. Any others that could be added?
http://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/six-bold-mma-predictions-2018/sn-amp/
"1. GSP will retire… officially this time
When Georges St-Pierre stepped away from the UFC in 2013 he was careful to never use the word “retire.” That will change next year — as sad as that may be for MMA fans to hear.
2. Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC and lose
Saying a UFC champion will attempt to defend his title shouldn’t be considered a bold prediction, but with McGregor it certainly is. That said, we’re still going to hear plenty of wild rumours attached to him. A rematch with Mayweather in the UFC? A boxing match with Manny Pacquiao? A trilogy bout with Nate Diaz? A super fight with GSP?
3. Rory MacDonald will become Bellator’s first two-weight champion
The Canadian looked phenomenal in his Bellator debut in May, dominating Paul Daley with a vintage performance. He faces Douglas Lima — one of the most under-appreciated talents in the sport — for Bellator’s 170-pound title in January. Once he beats Lima there won’t be too much for him at welterweight besides maybe a tilt with the entertaining and unbeaten Michael “Venom” Page.
4. The Bellator heavyweight tournament will have a surprise winner
When Bellator MMA president Scott Coker announced an eight-man heavyweight tournament earlier this year, it got MMA fans excited. The eight participants — Fedor Emelianenko, Frank Mir, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Chael Sonnen, Ryan Bader, Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal, Matt Mitrione and Roy Nelson — might be considered over the hill and only four of them (Fedor, Mir, Mitrione and Nelson) are natural heavyweights, but it’s reminiscent of the grand prix tournaments defunct promotions like Pride FC and Coker’s baby, Strikeforce, used to hold.
5. AKA will finally boast four champs simultaneously
The American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose is among the elite MMA gyms on the planet. It’s home to UFC stars Daniel Cormier, Luke Rockhold, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Cain Velasquez, and in 2018 all four of those fighters will be UFC champions.
6. Cynthia Calvillo will become strawweight champ
She’s only 6-0 as a pro but half of those wins have been inside the Octagon against top competition. After she gets by Carla Esparza at UFC 219 she’ll be firmly in the contender conversation. Then one more win over a top-five opponent should earn her a title shot and the Californian will upset Rose Namajunas (or whoever the champion is at the time) to become the new face of women’s MMA at 115 pounds."
See link for full article. Out of these 6, which are most likely to happen? I'm going to say #1 seems to have fairly high chances. Any others that could be added?
