Who's someone you're certain is going to be champion in the UFC?

[don't ask]

For me, it's Kayla. I'd bet money on her taking the belt.

Next, Shavkat. The guy is doing everything right to turn himself into the best. None of that Khamzat bullshit; this dude isn't rushing anywhere and is improving his skillset at every rung of the ladder.

Otherwise... this fucking sport is too crazy and dramatic for me to call anything. All I know is, Colby won't be getting a belt. And if Belal gets a belt, Dana's going to have someone steal it out of his locker room, like they tried with GSP.

 

[K-Bag]

Fighter Kevin Lee

 

[WaylonMercy5150]

Erceg, Ankalaev, Tsrukyian, and Kayla

 

[gentel]

Tsarukyan, worst case scenario he loses to Islam who is 32 and will presumably be retired in ~3yrs. He's 27y/o and beat Oliveira already with the rest of the division being a lot less dangerous than Oliveira so there's really no one to stop him from becoming champ once Islam is gone, and he has a chance against Islam too

 

[BEATDOWNS]

Stipe

 

[Reach4theSky]

Khamzat..

 

[Oscar Madison]

Kayla was hired for that role.

 

[Cartiac]

Tsarukyan, worst case scenario he loses to Islam who is 32 and will presumably be retired in ~3yrs. He's 27y/o and beat Oliveira already with the rest of the division being a lot less dangerous than Oliveira so there's really no one to stop him from becoming champ once Islam is gone, and he has a chance against Islam too

You sure about that? After Islam defends 5-6 times, Usman Nurmagomedov will be next. That is father's plan.

 

[Ares Black]

In life there are few certainties, and in MMA even fewer, but if I had to bet my life on any one fighter becoming champion, Kayla Harrison certainly feels like the safest bet.

There are a few fighters that I expect to win the belt pretty soon, and a whole bunch of fighters that I expect to win it at some point.

Within the next year or so:

Kayla Harrison
Shavkat Rakhmonov

Within the next few years:

Erin Blanchfield
Carlos Ulberg
Magomed Ankalaev
Ian Machado Garry
Sean Brady
Arman Tsarukyan
Movsar Evloev
Merab Dvalishvili
Umar Nurmagomedov
Steve Erceg
Tatsuro Taira

Should happen eventually:

Shamil Gaziev (if he fixes his cardio)
Bo Nickal (if he has chin and heart)
Khamzat Chimaev (if he fights)
Michael Morales
Sean Brady
Jaqueline Amorim

Probably Kayla Harrison is the only one I am close to certain about though.

 

[-Sideways-]

If he can stuff TD's, Sharaputdin Magomedov

 

[Ares Black]

Khamzat..

If I had been asked this question a year or two ago this definitely would have been my first thought. Pre-COVID Khamzat really seemed like a fighter of destiny.

 

[Shaolin Alan]

Tom "Great White Hope" Aspinall will make many lists


Edit: Raquel Pennington's next opponent is almost guaranteed to be champion and Valentina should have pushed for that fight, instead of the Grasso redemption trilogy (which I can understand exactly why she wants it).

 

[Ares Black]

Tom "Great White Hope" Aspinall will make many lists.

I already consider him a champion which is the only reason he isn't on mine.

 

[Bobby Boulders]

If Khamzat ever maintains his health, he's a pretty safe bet, but, idk, at this point. Shavkat is probably a safer bet, since he stays healthy.

I'ma throw Lopes out there. He's in a tough division, and may not hold the belt for very long, but he's got it everywhere and he's got the mentality to go along with it. And, I'd like to see it, bc I believe there'd be a trail of bodies in his wake.

 

[The Siege]

Tom "Great White Hope" Aspinall will make many lists.

I thought Bo "I'd buy that for a" Nickal was the great white hope? Is he 2.0?

 

[Xanzito]

Mandatory:

Erick Silva.

 

[Ares Black]

If Khamzat ever maintains his health, he's a pretty safe bet, but, idk, at this point. Shavkat is probably a safer bet, since he stays healthy.

I'ma throw Lopes out there. He's in a tough division, and may not hold the belt for very long, but he's got it everywhere and he's got the mentality to go along with it. And, I'd like to see it, bc I believe there'd be a trail of bodies in his wake.

I almost put Lopes on my list and now I wish I had. If he goes on a title run I will be so hyped.

 

[The Siege]

Umar
Lopes
Arman
BSD if he improves and tightens up a few things
Shavkat
Ank
Tommy

 

[AmonTobin]

Shavkat Rakhmonov
Steve Erceg
Arman Tsarukyan
Movsar Evloev/Diego Lopes (I could see these 2 taking the belt from each other)
Israel Adesanya (I'd bet my cat's soul that he takes it back from Dricus Du Plessis)
Maybe Michel Pereira one day if he doesn't get disqualified or KO'd while performing a flip
No disrespect to Pennington but I think her belt is up for grabs
Edit: I'm keeping my eyes on Payton Talbott. Only 25 but is looking like one of those guys

 

[Bobby Boulders]

I almost put Lopes on my list and now I wish I had. If he goes on a title run I will be so hyped.

He came out of nowhere to become one of my favorites. Genuinely a pleasure to watch work his craft. He has circumstance on his side, fighting #3, so he has a clear path to a title shot, only needs to keep doing what he's been doing. That fight is gonna be a banger.