MMA: 10 Nostradamus-Like Predictions for the Rest of 2011

So far, the year 2011 has been a monumental year for the sport of MMA.

Strikeforce kicked off its Pride-like Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament, which features some of the best heavyweights in the world.

The UFC gained two extra weight classes and added to an already stacked roster of future stars.

Zuffa purchased rival MMA promotion Strikeforce in a blockbuster deal that now allows for crossover superfights such as Georges St-Pierre versus Nick Diaz at UFC 137.

UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion Randy Couture officially announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 47.

With his back against the wall, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz revitalized his career by dominating top-10 light heavyweight contender Ryan Bader.

These are just a few examples of many of the great moments that transpired this year.

Luckily for fans, the roller-coaster ride of 2011 is far from over. If certain events unfold accordingly, this could easily turn into one of the most memorable years in the short history of the sport.

What are those events?

By now, you should already know the drill. Snatch a cold beverage out the fridge and get comfortable. Don't forget your Magic 8-Balls.

Here are 10 Nostradamus-like predictions for the rest of 2011.

Death of Dream

Japanese MMA can't seem to catch a break when it comes to financial stability.

After only three years of existence, Japanese fight promotion Dream is already in danger of folding. Reports have constantly surfaced about fighters not being paid on time, and the number of annual events continues to plummet.

While the promotion hosted seven events in the years 2008 and 2009, the number took a slight dip in 2010 with only five events. Heading into August 2011, there have only been two events this entire year.

Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG), the leading Japanese combat sports promoter and parent company of Dream, hasn't been shy about expressing its concerns for the future.

FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa told Sports Graphic Number in an interview, "The current course is that FEG will die. There are probably staff members that will leave as well. The event name will be left, but the promotion will change. If the current structure remains as it is, it will be impossible to continue. If many investments from companies overseas do not come in, we can't survive."

Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber Named Coaches of "TUF" 15

It was rumored for season 14, but the idea ended up taking a backseat to Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Michael Bisping.

It's obvious that the UFC wants to do an Ultimate Fighter season featuring the featherweight and bantamweight divisions.

What better candidates to coach opposite one another than Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber?

Fans are already drooling over a possible rubber match, and the bad blood between these guys would make for some great television.

The prediction here is that a deal gets done after Cruz beats Demetrious Johnson and Faber defeats Brian Bowles.

Jim Miller Falls to "Bendo"

There's no question that Jim Miller is deserving of a lightweight title shot, but he is reaching a bit far in his aspirations of testing welterweight kingpin Georges St-Pierre.

People seem to be underestimating former WEC lightweight champion Ben Henderson, which is unbelievably dangerous considering the great style matchup.

Miller is a fantastic submission artist, but he has shown occasional struggles against crafty wrestlers. Henderson is a persistent grappler with the striking chops to either contend or outpoint Miller on the feet. Miller will have the BJJ advantage, but Henderson has showcased strong submission defense throughout his entire career.

It will end in a controversial decision, but look for "Bendo" to throw up the diamond after he defeats Miller and shakes up the lightweight division at UFC on Versus 5.

Tito Ortiz Defeats Rashad Evans, Continues Cinderella Story

By the end of the year, Tito Ortiz will be a sure-fire candidate for comeback fighter of 2011.

A few weeks after upsetting Ryan Bader, the Cinderella story will continue for Ortiz in his UFC 133 showdown with Rashad Evans.

Stylistically, Ortiz is a tough matchup for Rashad. This was proven in their July 2007 meeting, where Ortiz won the first couple of rounds but lost the fight due to a point deduction for grabbing the fence.

Both fighters are great wrestlers with decent striking. While Evans has a clear advantage when it comes to speed and power, Ortiz is the more technical striker of the two.

The most intriguing aspect in this fight will be the wrestling.

Who can secure and fend off the most takedowns?

For Evans fans, the main worry should be ring rust. Evans is finally making his return after an incredibly lengthy layoff. He hasn't fought since May 2010, and he is coming off a knee injury.

All of the momentum is definitely on Ortiz's side.

Daniel Cormier Wins Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix

Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitonov both have solid shots at winning the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, but former Olympian Daniel Cormier is a stylistic nightmare for the heavy-handed sluggers.

Riding an undefeated record of 8-0, Cormier has the ability to really shake things up in the Grand Prix.

When it comes to wrestling, his pedigree is among some of the best in the world. This isn't good news for Silva or Kharitonov.

Fabricio Werdum would've made an interesting opponent for Cormier due to his phenomenal ground prowess, but he was taken out by heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in June.

Barnett would be the ultimate test in Cormier's quest for MMA gold. He possesses the experience and grappling chops to make things difficult on the Louisiana native.

The prediction here is that the entire Grand Prix will come down to Cormier facing Barnett. Fans will get a great back-and-forth bout that makes up for the complete mess that was Overeem versus Werdum.

In the end, there will only be one man standing in the center of the cage with his hand raised, and it won't be the "Baby-Faced Assassin."

Daniel Cormier will shock the world as the Strikeforce Grand Prix Champion and move on to face Overeem for the heavyweight title in 2012.

The Cain Velasquez Era Continues

As time slowly ticks away, it's easy for fans to forget about UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez.

While Velasquez and former champion Brock Lesnar are on the mend, the division has been kept afloat by guys like Junior dos Santos, Shane Carwin, Frank Mir, Roy Nelson, Brendan Schaub and Matt Mitrione.

It's been nearly a year since Velasquez dominated Lesnar en route to winning the UFC title. On November 19, he is set to make his return against dos Santos in what could be the greatest heavyweight showdown of all time.

If the major gap in time caused temporary amnesia in fans, everything will be made clear at UFC 139. In a memorable heavyweight battle, Velasquez's everlasting endurance and unrelenting grit will shine through as he picks up a tough unanimous decision and sets himself apart from the rest of the heavyweight division.

UFC Releases Dan Hardy, Mirko Cro Cop and Yoshihiro Akiyama

Unfortunately, the rest of 2011 will see several big-name stars be issued their walking papers, but as the saying goes, business is business.

Fans can expect Dan Hardy, Yoshihiro Akiyama and future Hall of Famer Mirko Cro Cop to all be cut from the UFC roster by the year's end.

Hardy is already coming off three consecutive losses, and he has a tough challenge ahead of him at UFC on Versus 5 against Chris Lytle. While Hardy's chin has wavered recently, Lytle has shown the propensity to exchange and take blows throughout his entire career. He has a great opportunity to rebound from a UFC 127 defeat and hand Hardy his fourth straight loss.

Yoshihiro Akiyama may be in the toughest spot of all three. After losing two straight to Chris Leben and Michael Bisping, the Judoka will take on top-10 middleweight contender Vitor Belfort, who is eager to rebound from his first-round KO loss to Anderson Silva.

Cro Cop's UFC tenure has been a mixture of losses and bad performances. It's obvious that the once feared Croatian kickboxer is in the twilight of his career. Coming off consecutive KO losses to Frank Mir and Brendan Schaub, Cro Cop is a loss away from being dismissed from his UFC duties, which is a likely scenario considering his upcoming UFC 137 bout against Roy Nelson.

Dana White Announces Gilbert Melendez vs. UFC Champion in Early 2012

Georges St-Pierre and Nick Diaz will represent the first crossover superfight between Strikeforce and the UFC.

Could the lightweight division be next?

It would be the most logical choice. Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez has really picked up steam since recapturing gold in December 2009.

He is coming off two dominant title defenses over Shinya Aoki and Tatsuya Kawajiri.

Most publications have Melendez ranked right behind UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and top contender Gray Maynard.

Melendez has constantly stated that he wants to unify the lightweight titles, but the most likely scenario has him vacating his Strikeforce belt and pursuing UFC gold. The Cesar Gracie student's next defense could come against Jorge Masvidal.

Whether that bout comes to fruition or not, Melendez will still be the Strikeforce champ at the end of 2011, and a deal will get done that pits the lightweight champions of both promotions against one another in 2012.

Yushin Okami Dethrones Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva's reign of terror will finally come to an end in front of his hometown fans in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Yushin Okami will find a way to succeed where many legends and top contenders have failed.

While hordes of fans see Silva as invincible, there is a glaring weakness in his wrestling that is waiting to be taken advantage of.

Chael Sonnen was able to do so at UFC 117, but after dominating for four rounds, his sloppy top control left him open for an easy triangle choke.

Okami won't only test Silva's wrestling, but he'll also test the extent of the Brazilian's submission skills. He may not get much credit for it, but Okami's BJJ is strong offensively and defensively.

The key to defeating Silva is a strong wrestler with great submission defense. Okami fits the bill, and he'll prove it at UFC 134 when he decisions Silva and takes the middleweight title.

Chuck Liddell Announces His MMA Return

We all know it'll happen eventually.

Why not now?

It took Liddell months to finally decide to retire and accept the UFC's offered position as Vice President of Business Development.

Unlike Randy Couture's fight against Lyoto Machida, there wasn't any finality leading up to Liddell's bout with Rich Franklin.

A sense of finality isn't necessary for a fighter to decide to retire, but with Liddell, there was never any clear sense of closure. After losing to Franklin, he admitted that he felt like he could still compete at a high level, but he just got caught.

With Tito Ortiz climbing back into relevance and Wanderlei Silva's future at a crossroads, both fighters would be intriguing opponents for "The Iceman."

Liddell won't be brought back as a sacrificial lamb for a light heavyweight contender. If he fights again, it will be against an aging legend like himself.

By year's end, Liddell will officially announce his decision to come out of retirement and make his Octagon return.

One thing is certain: He'll have that look in his eyes.