In 2023, the UFC commemorated its 30th anniversary by organizing a total of 43 events. With the exception of four divisions, the titles were transferred to new holders. Weili Zhang, Alexander Volkanovski, Islam Makhachev, and Leon Edwards were the sole fighters to begin and end the year as champions in their respective weight categories.
Furthermore, several interim and vacant championships were bestowed, in addition to a continuous onslaught of impressive knockouts, submissions, and intense octagon warfare.
With the upcoming UFC events of 2024 slowly creeping up on us, I think it’s time that we make some bold championship predictions at UFC betting sites for the year ahead. So, without further ado, I present 5 UFC title changes that will happen before New Year’s Eve, 2024.
Tom Aspinall Will Become the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion
Current UFC Heavyweight Champion: Jon Jones
Jon Jones is now in the process of recuperating from an injury, and it appears that the company is determined to rebook the bout between Jones and Stipe Miocic whenever he is prepared to make his comeback.
Dana White’s Plans to Rebook Jones vs. Miocic Remain Unchanged After UFC 295 https://t.co/2xK7BIdYzH
— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) November 13, 2023
But what about the interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall?
Regardless of Aspinall’s next opponent, whether it is the victor of the Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida, he is expected to secure another commanding triumph as the interim champion. This will propel him up the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings, where he now holds the 12th position.
Regarding timing, it is unlikely that a unification match between Jones and Aspinall will happen in 2024. Furthermore, it’s believed that 2024 will be Jones’ final year as a professional competitor, and this scenario could potentially leave Aspinall as the new face of the division by default.
Of course, we’re rooting for an Aspinall vs. Jones bout down the line, and it would be the perfect way to end 2024. However, you can’t argue the storybook ending for Jones is more than complete with a decade-long domination of the light heavyweight division and two successful runs at heavyweight (Ciryl Gane & Miocic)… should he defeat Miocic, that is.
Ankalaev Will Dethrone “Poatan” For the Light Heavyweight Gold
Current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion: Alex Pereira
The light-heavyweight championship was not successfully defended by a single fighter in 2023, since Jamahal Hill first won the vacant title in January but then had to relinquish it due to injury before his first defense. Subsequently, Alex Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka, the former champion in the 205-pound weight class, in November, thereby securing his second consecutive title in two different weight divisions within two years.
The formidable Brazilian striker starts the upcoming year as one of the current UFC champions, carrying a vulnerable position and an enticing roster of challengers eagerly awaiting their chance to seize the championship. One of whom is Magomed Ankalaev.
It will take a confident striker with excellent grappling skills to dethrone Pereira, and I believe Ankalaev is more than qualified for such a role.
Can Ankalaev successfully defend the championship? Well, that’s a completely different story. Much like 2023, I wouldn’t be surprised to witness multiple title holders, and predicting the end-of-year champion is tough.
Dricus Will Take the Middleweight Strap
Current UFC Middleweight Champion: Sean Strickland
The inaugural pay-per-view main event of 2024 will feature the UFC middleweight championship at stake, and considering several criteria, it is quite likely that a new champion will be crowned.
The next match will see the reigning champion, Sean Strickland, competing against the leading challenger, Dricus du Plessis.
On paper, the South African demonstrates superior finishing skills, exhibits a greater striking force, and undeniably provoked ‘Tarzan’ with personal comments regarding the champ’s tough upbringing last month.
Considering these factors, it can be contended that du Plessis should be seen as the likely winner in this bout. If he emerges victorious, he will be crowned as the first new champion of 2024, perhaps paving the way for a lucrative match against Adesanya.
With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if we witnessed multiple middleweight title changes in 2024. With both Adesanya and Khamzat Chimaev floating in the contender’s line, 2024 presents an intriguing twelve months for championship status at 185 lbs.
Rakhmonov is a Future UFC Welterweight Champion
Current UFC Welterweight Champion: Leon Edwards
It’s been an incredible tenure as welterweight champion for Great Britain’s own Leon “Rocky” Edwards. Back-to-back wins over the former G.O.A.T Kamaru Usman, followed up with recent success against Colby Covington, cannot be overlooked considering the 170-pound greats.
However, while I believe Edwards has a high probability of continuing his reign in early 2024 by defeating Belal Muhammad – who is the deserving contender for the next title shot –, we can’t but feel the welterweight division has an unofficial champion in the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov.
Rakhmonov decisively defeated “Wonderboy” and accomplished this feat despite having an injured ankle at UFC 296. Consequently, he can now allocate more time for healing and patiently await his opportunity while Edwards and Muhammad engage in their rematch.
Rakhmonov currently holds a flawless record of 18 wins, all achieved by finishing his opponents. Based on his impressive track record, I anticipate his 19th victory will result in him being crowned as a champion in the UFC.
A New Queen of the UFC Bantamweight Division with Some Flyweight Gold for Good Measure
Current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion: Vacated by Amanda Nunes
Current UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion: Alexa Grasso
Valentina Shevchenko had a disappointing 2023, as she lost her championship to Alexa Grasso in March and could not reclaim it in the September rematch, resulting in a split draw. This series of events may lead to her being underestimated as we enter the new year.
Approaching her 36th birthday in March, the ex-125-pound champion, Shevchenko, possesses exceptional fighting skills and presents a challenging stylistic opposition for every women’s weight class. She was expected to regain her championship at Noche UFC. However, instead of a split decision in favor of Shevchenko, the split draw outcome was mostly influenced by one judge’s 10-8 fifth-round scorecard in favor of Grasso.
It should not be surprising if Shevchenko seeks revenge against Grasso to reclaim the flyweight title in Q1 of 2024. Then, instead of defending against rising flyweight challengers like Erin Blanchfield, she shifts her focus to the 135-pound division to become a two-division champ.
With an opportunity to face the winner of the vacant title bout between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva at UFC 297, Shevchenko, who has previously participated in the bantamweight category, where she has achieved victories against former champions Holly Holm and Julianna Pena, has all the tools to make the biggest comeback in WMMA history. And naturally, the UFC would gladly embrace her influential presence in that division, especially now that Amanda Nunes is no longer involved.
