Predicting which fighters will likely hold UFC gold in 2019
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2019 has started off with great championship matches booked. The UFC recently crowned a new welterweight champion and look to crown their next champion at bantamweight soon.
So who will hold gold in 2019? Will champions retain or will new champions be crowned?
Here is the list of fighters who will most likely hold UFC gold around their waist in 2019.
Marlon Moraes (Men’s Bantamweight)
With former two-time champion T.J. Dillashaw relinquishing his belt due to a failed test by USADA, Marlon will now face flyweight champion Henry Cejudo for the vacant belt. I feel Marlon will be too big and too powerful for the flyweight champ, Henry will have the wrestling advantage and will be better at 135-pounds. However, Moraes has very good take down defense and is the better striker. I expect Marlon to become the new bantamweight champion of the world by the time 2019 is over.
Max Holloway (C-FW) (Men’s Lightweight)
At UFC 236 max holloway will look to make histroy when he makes his UFC lightweight debut Against a former opponent who hold a win over him Dustin Poirer. They will fight for the interim lightweight world title and the winner is promised a fight with champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and unify the 155 pound title. Max is the current 145 pound world champ and is looking to Join the few fighters who have become a champ champ. All tho Dustin will not be an easy fight at all and i would not be surprised if he won until someone beats the man him self Max Holloway i can’t go against him. That’s why he will hold gold in 2019.
Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya (Men’s Middleweight)
Adesanya is expected to take on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236 for the interim middleweight title. If victorious, the UFC is looking to book a major event in Australia between middleweight champ Robert Whittaker and Israel Adesanya to unify the 185-pound title. If he wins. A fight between these to gentlemen in their country would be huge. Although Robert is the champ, I don’t see him or Kelvin beating The Last Stylebender.
Holly Holm (Women’s Bantamweight)
The preacher’s daughter is expected to take on double champ Amanda Nunes for the 135-pound world title at UFC 239, although she lost to Cyborg. But styles make fights and Holm has that style that Nunes has not yet faced. Holly is a master counter puncher and has some of the best footwork in the game. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Nunes came out and put Holm away, as she has that one-punch KO power. I expect Holm to rise and get the job done, by late KO or a close decision.
Jessica Andrade (Women’s Strawweight)
The Brazilian is facing the current champion, Rose Namajunas at UFC 237. Although she might be the underdog, I see her finally getting the job done now. This goes back to my statement that styles make fights. Andrade lost her first title shot to then champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Joanna dropped back-to-back fights to Rose. Even though Rose is the best strawweight currently, I don’t see things in her game that will keep her away from that power of Andrade. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see Rose being the champion Joanna was. I expect Andrade to pull off the upset and leave Brazil the new queen of the 115-pound division.
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