Despite some superstars distancing themselves from the cage - or making a seismic shift to another sport for one of the biggest fights ever - the UFC celebrated turning 25 with a sensational calendar year. A total of 39 events spanning across 14 countries crowning 8 new champions proved to make a breathtaking 2017.While interim championships may still float around aimlessly, partially in wake of the Conor McGregor situation, there remain a number of credible champions who may survive this year on top of their divisions. Then again, when you look at nights such as that of UFC 217 in Madison Square Garden, anything can happen - at any given time.
Hoping to better the attempt last year, here is a prediction of the 14 championships' fate by the end of 2018.
Women's Strawweight: Joanna Jędrzejczyk
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Rose Namajunas deserves all the credit in the world for how she unbelievably dropped and finished a woman most (including myself) thought was invincible and could have very well retired without taking a loss, however the likely rematch that will soon occur may have a different fate.
The current landscape of the division suggests that Namajunas will meet a familiar foe in Tecia Torres at UFC 221 while Jędrzejczyk attempts to make a recovery and make a return later in the year. From past examples, a tune-up fight for Joanna would do the world of good before jumping back into the deep end.
Namajunas has continued to improve in every element of her game and will undoubtedly be favoured in her next defence, but should she stumble into the former champion later down the line, it'll be a much tougher fight than the first, and perhaps won't go her way.
Women's Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko
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Nicco Montaño became the first ever female flyweight champion with a victory over Roxanne Modafferi at the finale in Las Vegas, with Sijara Eubanks missing out after a botched weight cut, but will have contenders lined up for her now, and not just from The Ultimate Fighter house.
Valentina Shevchenko cut a frustrated figure following UFC 215 in her razor-close split-decision defeat to Amanda Nunes, and with a trilogy not exactly favoured at this point, a drop down to flyweight may fast-track her to UFC gold. She remains one of the most skilled strikers out of the whole women's roster, and should she make noise in her debut, the title shot (and perhaps title win) should follow soon.
Women's Bantamweight: Amanda Nunes
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She told the media following her title defence in September that surgery was on the agenda resulting in increased time on the sidelines, but in the meantime, featherweight champion Cris Cyborg has pencilled her in as a future potential opponent.
There only remains one really credible contender at this point for Nunes at her current division, and that's Raquel Pennington who rides the momentum of a four-fight win streak. If Nunes is able to get more than one fight in, it may just be the jump to featherweight. Raquel is tough but Nunes is rightfully favoured in this fight, and therefore carries her title into 2019.
Women's Featherweight: Cris Cyborg
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The featherweight division remains a very green area in terms of the competition, and only one Aussie by the name of Megan Anderson seems to be considered a threat to her reign. Meanwhile, Cyborg's focused on compatriot Amanda Nunes a division below for a potential super fight.
For all of that though, Cyborg is too powerful, too quick, and too good to be beaten right now.
Men's Flyweight: Demetrious Johnson
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Just 2 months ago he pulled off a jaw-dropping armbar against Ray Borg to break the record for the most consecutive title defences in the history of the UFC, and with that achievement now a substantial feather in the cap, flyweight looks rather bleak in terms of potential prospects. A rematch with Cejudo and other former foes is really the only solution - unless you consider the one from left field, in TJ Dillashaw.
After winning his belt back with a dramatic second-round stoppage against arch rival and former teammate Cody Garbrandt at UFC 217, he set his sights on dropping 10 lbs down to challenge Demetrious, a fight that was pencilled in to become Johnson's title crowning fight, but soon fell apart.
Now, TJ Dillashaw really provides an intriguing fight and perhaps the toughest Johnson will face to date. But the question of whether he can seriously drop down to flyweight looms.
For now, I'll go on record saying the only way Johnson loses his belt this year is if he vacates it, and/or moves to bantamweight.
Men's Bantamweight: TJ Dillashaw
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Alongside the two bad-blooded former teammates lie a path of contenders, most notably the undefeated Jimmie Rivera, and former kingpin Dominick Cruz who were slated to collide at the end of the year. However, injury to Cruz and a withdrawal from Rivera's replacement meant neither would have another showing in 2017.
Raphael Assuncao also threw his name back into the mix with a sensational knockout over Matthew Lopez in the Norfolk fight night event, meaning there are now a host of potential matchups to make and title eliminators.
TJ Dillashaw's desire to drop down to flyweight may just have to be put on hold. After all his name isn't Conor McGregor, so he has to stick to the rules a little more.
A rematch with Garbrandt is certainly on the cards, but the Cruz fight is equally as warranted. Perhaps an attempt at remaking Cruz vs. Rivera while Dillashaw and Garbrandt go to war again would also work. Cruz's time at the top may just be over with how he was shut down by Cody, and with Dillashaw continuing to look strong, he is the best pick, but still a sceptical one, to take the bantamweight crown through the year.
Men's Featherweight: Max Holloway
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A granite chin, slick boxing, and an improving ability as an all-round fighter, he shrugged off Aldo's leg kicks and walked him down - we're talking about Jose Aldo here. That loss to Conor McGregor back in Boston, all the way in the summer of 2013 lit a fire in this man's belly, letting loose with a ridiculous win streak that may be enough to lure Conor McGregor back into the cage.
It's a shame that the prospects of The Notorious returning to featherweight are so unlikely, with his coach even going on record that he doesn't want the Irishman making another cut to 145 lbs. It certainly is draining for Conor when you look at how skinny he is on the day of weigh-ins, so Holloway will probably have to move up to sort that matter out. But enough about McGregor, currently on the agenda remains Frankie Edgar - who was initially penned in to do battle with Holloway in Detroit, but an injury forced him out.
Brian Ortega is also waiting in the wings. T-City is the hype train that refuses to be derailed, hot on a thrilling submission victory against Cub Swanson - a man who himself was favoured by many to replace Edgar for UFC 218. Holloway certainly has his work cut out, and they will most likely be thrilling fights, so after some tough graft, the Hawaiian should still have his belt, and perhaps be far closer to bringing the bright lights of the UFC back to his homeland.
Men's Lightweight: Khabib Nurmagomedov
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Problem solved when you take a look at the top two in the division. Tony Ferguson captured the interim championship with a victory over Kevin Lee while Khabib Nurmagomedov ended the year with a mauling of Edson Barboza. The Khabib vs. Ferguson bout is one fans dream of, but one they've been left with nightmares following the numerous attempts to make it.
A failed weight cut from Nurmagomedov left him hospitalised and certainly scrutinised before UFC 209, with the interim lightweight title prepared to be taken. Ferguson and Nurmagomedov both passed their challenges since, and if anything have thrown more fire into the burners for this one.
Let's hope we do see this fight. From its announcement to the moment they step into the cage hearts will be racing, but when they finally get it on, the true lightweight champion will be determined, and perhaps Conor's next challenger. But if Conor doesn't fight soon, Khabib is likely to end the year at the top of the pile.
Men's Welterweight: Georges St-Pierre
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Say what you want about him, but Tyron Woodley is ruling the welterweight division right now. Perhaps not with any exclamation marks, but through his activity and ability to win on the judges scorecards, there's no shame in that either.
He's got some more title defences lined up for him, while super fight talks will continue to loom. Soon enough, T-Wood will get the money fight he craves for, but before that, Colby Covington and Rafael Dos Anjos are certainly in the rear-view mirror.
Convington has become infamous in the MMA world for his bad mouth, but what you can't censor out is the five fight win streak he currently rides. The most recent was a massive won when he stepped into enemy territory and outpointed Demian Maia - the last man to challenge Woodley.
Later in the year, Rafael Dos Anjos proved why welterweight is a promising land for him with a unanimous decision against the former champion Robbie Lawler. Both Covington and RDA promise to be intriguing challenges for Woodley.
Speaking of "super fights", enter GSP.
GSP vs. Woodley for quite some time was regarded as the fight to welcome the Canadian back to the Octagon. Instead he found himself a division higher when he submitted Michael Bisping for the 185 lbs title in the main event of UFC 217. GSP vs. Woodley would be what the welterweight division needs and hopefully gets. In a fight that could be either end of the scale from chess match to an all-out war, the great GSP is my pick to come out on top.
Men's Middleweight: Robert Whittaker
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Robert Whittaker's soaring form has burst through all barriers so far and now he will return to his hoe aisles to defend the belt at UFC 221, when the Octagon emanates from Perth, Australia for the first time. This was in wake of the news that Georges St-Pierre would be vacating the recently-won title, and handed Whittaker another tough challenge in the form of Luke Rockhold.
After a spell of inactivity after he was stunned by Michael Bisping at UFC 199, the AKA gym fighter overcame adversity against David Branch to force his opponent to submit to ground strikes and now is one step away from winning back his title.
It's a tough matchup for both men, with Whittaker's boxing certainly creating some issues for Rockhold who has struggled in that department in his last couple of showings, while the rangy kicks and work on the mat (if he gets through the champion's sensational takedown defence) will create a puzzle on the contrary.
Waiting on the sidelines too could be Yoel Romero, who of course lost out in the summer in a close fight for the interim title against Whittaker. He will duel David Branch on the same month and a big showing there would almost certainly put him in line for the next crack at the title. Don't forget "Jacare" Souza either, along with the wildcard that is Kelvin Gastelum - who of course knocked out the former champion Bisping in the first round of their middleweight showpiece in China. If health issues go his way, Chris Weidman won't find himself too far away from the mix.
Through this catalogue of contenders, my pick is that Robert Whittaker survives it. Relatively young with a lot of heart and durability, the Aussie should keep the belt down under through 2018.
Men's Light Heavyweight: Daniel Cormier
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Former champion became current champion again when DC reclaimed the belt, and his work starts early in the year against a quick-rising contender at Boston's TD Garden. Volkan Oezdemir stopped Jimi Manuwa in record time on the same night Cormier lost his belt, and now will fight to end another reign with more and more people buying into the possibility of him pulling it off.
A felony assault case is currently being battled by the Swiss fighter which must bring about a world of familiar worries for Cormier, who had to wait so long to fight Jones again following his legal meltdowns and what not. That shouldn't be too much of a problem in the grand scheme of things, and fingers crossed the co-main event goes down at UFC 220.
Cormier's wrestling and relentless pressure should be enough for him to get his hand raised, although Oezdemir's power is there for all to see. But both fighters should also be worried about what waits for them afterwards - Alexander Gustafsson. He pushed Cormier to the brink at UFC 192 and gave Jon Jones his toughest defence, and following a massive late stoppage against Glover Teixeira in front of his home fans, he's zeroing in on another shot at the title.
Expect another classic if Cormier and Gustafsson duel, as one of them are the likeliest to end 2018 as champion. Not Jon Jones, who may never grace the Octagon ever again.
Men's Heavyweight: Francis Ngannou
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Miocic has been unstoppable in a win streak that has seen him win and defend the title twice by way of first-round knockouts - and is one win away from making a record defence. Unfortunately for him, he's stepping into the cage with a beast who has destroyed everyone in front of him, securing a title shot a mere 2 years into his UFC career. It makes for fireworks at UFC 220.
The fight is such a hard one to call when you consider the heart and durability of Miocic, and the ridiculous athleticism and power of the contender. Ngannou is my pick to take this one but it really can go either way.
Many would love to see Cain Velasquez get back inside the cage but getting hopes up is risky behaviour for now considering the Mexican's injury issues and struggle to find consistent fitness. For now, you'd think that the winner of Miocic vs. Ngannou will hold the belt for a long time - and for me, Ngannou is that man.
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