UFC: Predicting Next Year's Division Champions

The UFC currently features a handful of dominant champions that create the impression that everyone else in their division is just competing for second place. 

With the likes of Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva and Jose Aldo reigning over their competitors, etching the names of champions into the record books could as safely be done in stone as on paper.

At least it sometimes seems that way. After all, a champion is a champion for a reason. He is the best.

While this often holds true, the formula is wonderfully devious in its simplicity. Though it logically follows that the champion is the best his division has to offer, titles change hands, accolades fall by the wayside and new pack leaders emerge all the time.

So you can put away that chisel. In fact, put away your markers and pens as well. Nothing in MMA is certain, not even temporarily.

The UFC will see some of its champions lose their belt over the next twelve months. Some living legends will be replaced by upstart contenders, but of course, others will not. 

Read on for a full list of who will be sporting UFC gold a year from now.

Flyweight: Joseph Benavidez

In the first round of the UFC's flyweight grand prix, Joseph Benavidez did away with Japanese foe, Yasuhiro Urushitani.

Heading into the bout most analysts surmised that the only chance Urushitani had was to land a big punch that caught his American opponent off guard. In a somewhat twisted development, it was Benavidez, the grappler, who finished the fight with a crushing right hook.

Benavidez is poised to take on the winner of Demetrious Johnson vs. Ian McCall II later this year. Though neither 125-pound standout can be written off entirely, neither pose a serious challenge to the Team Alpha Male representative.

Benavidez is the best flyweight on the planet. By far.

He was actually the second-best bantamweight on the planet until he decided to shed 10 pounds to avoid running into Dominick Cruz for a third time. 

12 months from now, Benavidez will have captured and defended UFC gold. At that point, he will be well on his way to becoming one of the promotion's most dominant and highly regarded athletes.

Benavidez has the tools to be mentioned in the same vein as current champions Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones and Jose Aldo, and his name will soon be whispered during conversations of the top pound-for-pound fighters. 

Just give it a year.

Bantamweight: Renan "Barao" Pegado

As great a champion as Dominick "The Dominator" Cruz is, my chips will back Barao when the two square off. 

It was recently announced that Barao will take on mildly regarded bantamweight, Jeff Hougland, on July 7.

This bout is a gimme for the Brazilian, more of a promotional tactic to ensure a win and keep him active while current champion, Dominick Cruz, is engaged in battling rival, Urijah Faber, first behind the clipboard and subsequently in the cage.

After a decision loss in his inaugural MMA contest, Barao has reeled off a remarkable 28 straight wins. He is 4-0 in the UFC, owning wins over Brad Pickett and Scott Jorgensen.

A well-rounded combatant, Barao is mostly touted for his ground game, but has shown a penchant for striking during his time under the UFC banner.

While his inclination to throw hands with the likes of some of the bantamweight's finest strikers seems like a strategical fail, it has brought him nothing but victory. Victory in impressive fashion.

In addition to his advanced jiu-jitsu game, Barao possesses a bevy of vicious strikes, utilizing both his hands and feet in large measure.

If all goes to plan Barao will get his shot at the 135-pound strap later this year. Barring a catastrophic collapse against Hougland this July, the 25-year-old will meet the winner of Cruz vs. Faber.

Once this contest is officially booked, Zuffa should get a tailor on speed dial to have the bantamweight belt fit for a new waist at a moment's notice.

Featherweight: Jose Aldo

The UFC is running out of challengers to throw at the Brazilian kingpin.

The upcoming bout between Chan-Sung "The Korean Zombie" Jung and Dustin Poirier smells like a number one contender match, but neither participant will enter a fight against Aldo better than a four-to-one dog. And for good reason.

Both men are good strikers with solid submissions, but this combination is nothing new to Aldo, who has previously disposed of Mike Brown, Mark Hominick and Kenny Florian.

He has also bested wrestlers Urijah Faber and Chad Mendes with relative ease. It seems there are few surprises left in the featherweight division for the current champ.

That said, an external challenge is looming in the form of former lightweight champion, Frankie Edgar.

Edgar is set to rematch usurper, Benson Henderson, for the 155-pound crown. A second loss, combined with strong encouragement from the UFC brass, may see Edgar drop down and match Aldo.

Another potential threat to Aldo's spot on the featherweight throne will emerge if he decides to move to lightweight. Aldo is known to look ghostly at weigh-ins and is traversing his mid-twenties, a time when mass becomes more and more difficult to shed. A move to 155 may become a necessity sooner rather than later.

Despite the possibility of a jump up in weight or a tough defense against Frankie "The Answer" Edgar, it is most probable that Aldo remains the UFC featherweight champion for at least another 12 months.

He seems eager for new blood, but I take the safe bet here and say he remains at 145 for the time being.

Lightweight: Gray Maynard

I can understand why designating Gray Maynard—a fighter who has failed to capitalize on two chances to win a UFC title—the future champion is likely to be met with skepticism.

I am ready to be called an idiot. I'm even ready to read the dreaded comment, "you have no idea what you are talking about."

I am also ready to wear a smug grin in 12 months when Maynard is wearing gold.

Maynard has only been unable to defeat one man in his career. That man is no longer the champion. Even if Frankie Edgar wins his rematch with Ben Henderson, he will not be able to score a second win over Gray Maynard.

In both of their previous title bouts, Maynard has come within a mouse's eyelash of victory.

That he wasn't able to secure a win speaks volumes about Edgar's vitality and loads about Maynard's inability to finish.

That said, Gray Maynard is a rare talent and he will learn more from his loss to Edgar than he did from the draw. 

Remember Gray on The Ultimate Fighter? He was nowhere near the fighter he is now.

Look for the Gray who fought Edgar last October to experience a similar renaissance before fighting for the belt at the end of 2012.

Maynard will fight Clay Guida in June, a match that is his to lose.

Both fighters employ similar styles; As good as Guida is, Gray is on another level. He will beat Guida and start a fresh campaign for a title run.

The biggest obstacle to Gray winning the belt within the next 12 months is fan complacency; many will roll their eyes at the though of Maynard vs. Edgar IV.

If Edgar recaptures his title, Gray will have to take the long road and beat two more contenders beyond Guida. If Henderson remains champion, he may only need one win by his next.

Regardless of the path taken, Gray Maynard will be the UFC lightweight champion 12 months from now. 

Welterweight: Georges St-Pierre

This may not be the most sexy pick to make at welterweight, but it is certainly the most sound.

The three apparent contenders waiting for GSP to return from injury are Martin Kampmann, Jake Ellenberger and interim champion, Carlos Condit.

It is difficult to imagine Kampmann dealing with St-Pierre's takedowns. It is difficult envisioning Ellenberger surviving against GSP after he nearly succumbed to an out of shape Diego Sanchez in the third round of his last bout. It is difficult to believe Condit could avoid spending the better part of five rounds on his back.

The welterweight division is by no means lacking talent, but none of it compares to the current champion. Even the top three contenders pose little risk for the Tri-Star member.

The only serious threat to St-Pierre's title is the knee injury that is expected to keep him sidelined until fall. He will come back, but knee injuries are notorious sappers of explosiveness. For a fighter who relies on superior athleticism and technique, a knee injury is about the worst thing to encounter.

If GSP comes back from surgery at 100 percent, he will undoubtedly be the welterweight champion in 12 months.

Here's hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.  

Middleweight: Rousimar Palhares

I gave you GSP to help you recover from the Gray Maynard pick, then boom! Paul Harris comin' at ya!

Few fighters that participate in world-class organizations are able to consistently tap out opponents with leg locks. "Toquinho" is an exception.

But do not mistake the pull guard, grab a leg, end fight routine as the sign of a one-dimensional fighter. On the contrary, Palhares is developing into an all-around juggernaut.

Palhares is a submission master of all things bodily. Be it a neck, arm or leg, it is in grave danger when it comes within a 20-foot radius of "Toquinho."

Beyond his submission prowess, Palhares possesses a mental and physical strength that few middleweight fighters have.

In addition to being built like a cinder block, he fights with a ferocity rarely seen in MMA. Both of these attributes are very beneficial to a fighter that looks to get inside for a clinch.

Also to his benefit is that he is indifferent to being on top or bottom when the fight goes to the mat. It is much easier for someone to secure a takedown if the resulting positional details are negligible.

The book on defeating Palhares, the one authored by Dan Henderson, instructed fighters to keep distance and score points. Now, that monograph is as outdated as a Victorian instructional on how to be a proper lady.

Since his entrance into the UFC, Palhares has developed a solid standup game. No, it is more beautifully technical like Anderson Silva's, but he throws with some seriously bad intentions. And besides, he doesn't need a knockout, he just needs to get inside for the clinch so he can drag his opponent down.

Anderson Silva will face Chael Sonnen this June to determine the UFC middleweight champion. Regardless of whether Silva renews his tenure or forfeits it to the American, the wearer of the belt will only be keeping it warm for Palhares.

If Palhares fights Silva, he will beat him. If he fights Sonnen, well, can you imagine any other possible outcome?

Rousimar Palhares will be the UFC middleweight champion within 12 months. 

Light Heavyweight: Jon Jones

Jon Jones it yet to encounter an opponent that has caused him to break a sweat—pretty impressive for someone who has knocked off all but one of a division's top contenders.

Jones will meet arch-nemesis, Rashad Evans on April 21, in a match many believe will be his stiffest challenge to date.

"Bones" out-struck Shogun, out-wrestled Rampage and Bader and out-classed Machida. 

No one is unbeatable in MMA, but Jones at light heavyweight is as close to it as anyone has ever been.

The 24-year-old has flirted with a foray into the heavyweight division, a fancy that may become reality as he depletes the 205-pound division of viable contenders.

Still, that day will not come for awhile with Dan Henderson already lining up behind current number one contender, Rashad Evans.

Nobody, at least not in the next 12 months, will supplant Jones as UFC light heavyweight champion, and forfeiting the belt is not a realistic scenario for the immediate future.

Heavyweight: Junior Dos Santos

Junior Dos Santos has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom since his UFC debut in 2008.

Since that time he has amassed an 8-0 record, comprised of six knockouts and two decisions. He has done away with several deadly opponents and has never once been in significant danger.

Next up for Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem. 

Overeem is a dangerous striker in his own right, possessing elite K-1 level kickboxing and the power to make it count. He is also no stranger to submitting his opponents, registering 19 of his 36 wins by tap out.

Despite Overeem's impressive credentials, skills to match Dos Santos on the feet and abilities to finish fights, the Brazilian will remain champion after the two square off.

For starters, Dos Santos projects as the better all-around fighter. Also, Overeem has a tendency to lose focus after the first round of his fights. 

Overeem is undefeated since 2007, being taken past Round 1 only once. If he cannot finish Dos Santos in Round 1, and I say he can't, he will lose. Over his entire career, Overeem sports an underwhelming 6-5 record in bouts that have made it to the second round.

Beyond Overeem, the heavyweight threats facing Dos Santos consist mainly of Fabricio Werdum, Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez. Dos Santos has already beaten Werdum and Velasquez, and is the perfect foil to a knockout-prone Mir.

12 months from now, Junior Dos Santos will still be polishing his UFC heavyweight gold.