The Future of the UFC: The Next 8 UFC Champions

In the UFC, there are currently seven champions. Those champions are: Heavyweight Cain Velasquez, Light Heavyweight Jon Jones, Middleweight Anderson Silva, Welterweight Georges St-Pierre, Lightweight Frankie Edgar, Featherweight Jose Aldo and Bantamweight Dominick Cruz.

These seven men are the faces of each of their divisions, but none of them will be champion forever. 

In this list, I'm going to name who I believe will be the next eight UFC Champions, one for each weight class. Now I know you might say there are only seven Championships. Sometime in the next year, the UFC plans to add a Flyweight division, which, in my opinion, will be one of the most fun divisions to watch. 

So, without further wait, let's get started with the division that isn't one yet: the Flyweight division.

Inaugural UFC Flyweight Champion: Mamoru Yamaguchi

With an outstanding MMA record of 26-5-3, Yamaguchi has all the makings of a future UFC Champion. He is very well-rounded with very good kickboxing skills. His wrestling continues to improve, but the Flyweight division has yet to be hit by the wrestling bug many other divisions have.

His next fight is August 6th against former No. 1 ranked Flyweight Jussier da Silva. Silva was a guy I definitely considered putting here with his record standing at 10-1, but in his last fight he was defeated by former WEC fighter Ian McCall.

Next Bantamweight Champion: Joseph Benavidez

Benavidez has what it takes in my opinion to defeat Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz. The two men have already fought twice with Cruz winning both fights—a three-round unanimous decision and a five-round split decision. 

Since their August of 2010 fight, both men have improved greatly, but I feel each time Benavidez has fought since then, he's been fighting to improve in areas that Cruz exposed.

There's a very good chance that Joseph Benavidez could move down to Flyweight when that division is entered into the UFC, and if that so happens, I see Urijah Faber being the next closest guy to possibly get that belt.

Faber, who is coming off a loss to Cruz at UFC 132, is the only man to hold a victory over Cruz. Although Cruz has now gotten his revenge on Faber, it only seems logical that the men settle the score somewhere down the road.

Next Featherweight Champion: Kenny Florian

Ah, Kenny Florian. Do I think he is better than Jose Aldo? No. Not at all. But, this is a must win fight for Florian, therefore, he must win.

He's been called a "choker" by Dana White multiple times now for not being clutch under pressure, so now with another title shot being almost handed to him, if he doesn't win, you can almost guarantee that unless the fight is an absolute war (and I'm talking Griffin-Bonnar war), Florian won't ever fight for a UFC title again.

Now, Jose Aldo will be champion again one day. C'mon, he's 24 years old. But, Florian will come into this fight knowing that this more than likely is his last chance at UFC gold.

If Florian is to fail, then the next man that comes to mind is Chad "Money" Mendes. The reason I said earlier that Florian's title shot is "being almost handed to him" is because Chad Mendes is without question the No. 1 contender. 

But, you know what they say: good things come to those who wait. Will see if that holds true for "Money" Mendes?

Next Lightweight Champion: Gray Maynard (and Then Some)

Everyone say hello to the new UFC Light Heavyweight division. For some reason, I feel as if there's no doubt that Gray Maynard will defeat Frankie Edgar at UFC 136. I like Edgar, too, it's just I feel his time is up, and Maynard's time is now. 

I also feel like we won't see another Lightweight title defense for about two years. Because I see so many top, hungry contenders that each challenger will have that extra push to go in that octagon and come out a winner.

After Maynard, it'll probably be Jim Miller. Then, Miller will lose to the UFC debut of Gilbert Melendez. Then, while Melendez is on cloud nine, he'll get knocked out by a streaking Melvin Guillard. But, then returns Gray Maynard, who out-wrestles Guillard to win the title back.

I see that all happening before the end of 2013. And if you think I'm crazy, look at the Light Heavyweight title from 2007 to 2010.

Next Welterweight Champion: Nick Diaz

2011 will be the year of new champions, and none will make me happier than this right here. It bugs me that Dana White will call out Anderson Silva for the shenanigans he used to pull, but won't dare call out GSP for not finishing a fight since 2008. 

Now, I know it's different, but I just wish GSP would show me something to make me not hate him. You're the best in the world? Prove it. Finish Jake Shields.

I'm pretty sure every MMA fan knew GSP-Shields wasn't going to be a fight for the ages. Both men are, well, boring. But they win. So it was no surprise to me at least when GSP defeated Shields by decision.

Well, Nick Diaz, my friends, is not Jake Shields. He might even be the opposite. 

Actually, no. Nick Diaz is the opposite of Georges St-Pierre. He's not had a boring fight since I don't even know when. He doesn't tell you "he's not impressed with you're performance," he tells you a bunch of things I can't put on this website, and he finishes fights.

I feel as if the pressure Diaz is going to be putting on GSP will be like nothing GSP has dealt with before, and Diaz will win by TKO in the second or third round.

If Diaz doesn't win, I honestly don't know who can defeat GSP. The first two names that pop in my head are Carlos Condit and, you guessed it, Siyar "The Great" Bahadurzada.

Next Middleweight Champion: Yushin Okami

I told you 2011 will be the year of new champions. I believe Okami will take what Sonnen's done, critique it to fix the mistakes Sonnen made, and execute perfectly. Okami has been waiting on this chance for years, and I don't think there is anyway he walks out of Rio without the Middleweight Championship.

Let's face it, there isn't a striker in MMA who can compete with Silva. I knew Silva would defeat Belfort by either the first or second round (T)KO because Silva doesn't struggle with strikers, he struggles with wrestlers.

There might not be a stronger man in MMA than Yushin Okami when it comes to wrestling. I'm not saying he's the best wrestler, I'm saying he's the strongest. 

And Sonnen's punches were rocking Silva? Okami is a much better boxer than Chael, although the chances of Okami finishing Silva on their feet is highly unlikely.

I see Okami keeping top position throughout the fight and getting a referee stoppage in the fourth or fifth round.

If Okami doesn't defeat Silva, first name I think of is obviously Chael Sonnen, but I don't think that fight would ever happen again.

If GSP were to defeat Diaz, than I would give GSP the early advantage in a super fight between Silva and St. Pierre.

Next Light Heavyweight Champion: Phil Davis.

Now I know this is a typical answer. But honestly, the division is losing strength. I believe Jones will handle both Rampage and Evans. In my opinion, Rampage will present more of a problem than Evans will.

I'd say in about a year, Phil Davis will grow into almost a Jon Jones mold. Right now, he's an excellent wrestler with good BJJ and decent striking. By this time next year, counting on him staying healthy, he should be an excellent wrestler with great BJJ and good striking.

You also have to count on the fact that Jones will also be greatly improved. Out of everyone on this list, Jones is the one fighter I can see holding onto the title for a great amount of time, possibly three to four years.

His talent level is so high for such a young age, and his reach almost makes it impossible to get inside where many of the best strikers will do much of their work.

With that said, Phil Davis has the best mold to one day be able to defeat Jones, but like I said, it won't be for at least a year.

Next Heavyweight Champion: Alistair Overeem

Interesting one, aye? I think JDS is the one man who actually has a shot at defeating Cain Velasquez in the current UFC Heavyweight division. But, I just don't think JDS is going to do it. Velasquez's striking is too good.

Overeem just pulled out of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix due to injury, which leads me to believe he will be the next Strikeforce fighter to make the jump from SF to the UFC. 

Overeem has one of the best overall skill sets in the World of Heavyweights. Although his last fight was terrible, I can see him being motivated enough to bring out the old Overeem to fight for the UFC gold.

Standing with Overeem is dangerous, and I don't see Velasquez's stand-up being on the same level as Overeem's right now. 

Velasquez is still very young and, like Jon Jones, could have a very long title reign if he is able to defeat dos Santos. 

Please tell me what you think about the list and who you think will be the next UFC champions!