50 Bold Predictions for the UFC in 2012

2011 has been an awesome year for MMA, and there are still a half-dozen fantastic cards left for us to watch before the year is up. 

The most unpredictable sport in the world has given us everything we could want this year, even with its biggest star and heavyweight champion both stuck on the sidelines for almost the entire year. 

There is plenty to look forward to in the next couple months, but even more to watch for in the next year, and I went ahead and tried to predict the unpredictable. 

Thanks for reading and feel free to destroy me in the comments section. 

Just remember, they're called bold predictions for a reason.

Brock Lesnar Will Retire

The former UFC heavyweight champion is set to face Alistair Overeem at UFC 141 and if he loses it will be two in a row.

Lesnar isn’t exactly young, and he’s said plenty of times that he only competes to be the best. Another loss may convince him he doesn’t have what it takes.

Gilbert Melendez Will Not Be Successful in the UFC

In the past, champions from other organizations have struggled when entering the Octagon, and Melendez will be no different.

If he gets thrown into the fire and gets Frankie Edgar, he’ll be in for a world of trouble and it would be the same if he were fighting any of the top guys at 155.

BJ Penn Will Drop Back Down to Lightweight

Even if BJ Penn can get past Nick Diaz at UFC 137, there is no reason for him to stick around at 170 pounds with Georges St-Pierre at the top.

There are plenty of interesting fights at 155 for Penn, and he is a much better fighter at that weight.

Dominick Cruz Will Finish Urijah Faber in Their Rubber Match

The final fight in their rivalry will end with Cruz getting his hand raised, but more importantly, he’ll get it raised before having to wait for the judges to announce he won.

Cruz has been improving with every fight and Faber has gone a long time without being finished. I think Cruz lands a few shots and then sinks in a rear naked choke in the fourth to take the win.

Brian Stann Will Win on Fourth of July Weekend

How perfect of a situation is this?

A real American hero fighting on the July 4 weekend is a story in itself, but after Stann finishes his opponent, the crowd will go crazy in one of the most memorable moments in UFC history.

Rashad Evans Will Not Get a Title Shot

After months and months of preparing for Jon Jones, Evans is never going to get a shot.

Evans seems destined to keep being the next guy in line, and it will eventually hurt him, as he will lose to a fellow contender and lose his title shot.

Urijah Faber Will Retire

Faber seems to win every fight he’s in—except for title fights.

He’s been just OK since losing his belt to Mike Brown a few years ago, and after he loses his fifth straight title fight against Dominick Cruz, I think he’ll feel the need to end his career before it starts to lose its prestige.

Josh Koscheck Will Move to Middleweight

Koscheck has had success at welterweight, but after losing to GSP late last year it seems Kos has nowhere to go at 170.

A move up to 185 makes sense for Koscheck, and he’s admitted as much, so expect him to move up and take on Chris Leben sometime next year.

Because, honestly, who wouldn’t be at least a little excited for that one?

Ben Henderson Will Defeat Anthony Pettis

Their first battle was an instant classic and the second could be, well, almost as memorable.

While it’s impossible to one up the Showtime Kick, this will be an awesome fight and—even better—it will set up a potential rubber match between the two down the road.

Jon Jones Will Move Up to Heavyweight

Jon Jones beat two of the top-five light heavyweight fighters in the sport this year and he still has another one to go.

If Jones beats Lyoto Machida and then some mixture of Rashad Evans, Phil Davis and Dan Henderson, he will literally be out of challenges at 205, and moving up in weight would be a reasonable solution to that problem.

Joseph Benavidez Will Win the Flyweight Championship

The second-best fighter at 135 gets no love due to his two losses to current champion Dominick Cruz, but once the UFC adds the flyweight division it might as well hand him the belt.

Benavidez is the obvious choice to put in a flyweight title fight, and he wins the belt with ease, officially becoming the eighth UFC champion.

Jake Ellenberger Will Earn a Title Shot

The streaking fighter is a going to keep on winning in 2012 and is likely only a win away from a shot at GSP, anyway.

Whether it’s Jon Fitch, Penn, Diaz or Koscheck, Ellenberger will beat any of them and get his first shot at UFC gold.

Melvin Guillard Will Win a Submission of the Night Bonus

Not sure what is making me go with this one, but I guess it’s possible, right?

Guillard has knocked out the majority of his opponents and he has been submitted on frequent occasion, which makes him as unlikely a canidate as any for a SOTN bonus.

Guillard will tap out his first opponent in 2012 and make fans think he’s well rounded all of the sudden.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Will Retire

This has been a long time coming.

Nogueira has been in so may wars and has taken so much punishment that it is a matter of time before he hangs up his gloves.

If "Big Nog" loses to Frank Mir this December, expect him to take some time and then announce his retirement towards the beginning of the year.

Jake Shields Will Move Up to Middleweight

After suffering back-to-back defeats in the UFC’s welterweight division, it’s time for Jake Shields to move back up to 185.

Shields was extremely successful during his Strikeforce run at middleweight and it just makes sense for him to try and replicate that success inside the Octagon.

Phil Davis Will Defeat Rashad Evans

Dana White has said Evans is probably going to take another fight before getting his shot at Jon Jones, so why not make the fight that was supposed to headline UFC 133.

This matchup is going to end up costing Evans, though, as Davis will use his takedowns to fluster him and eventually submit him late in the fight.

Chad Mendes Will Win the Featherweight Title

The brightest prospect in the featherweight division is next in line for a title shot, and he has the perfect skill set to take out current champion Jose Aldo.

With the win, Mendes will shoot up the rankings and be a consensus top-five pound-for-pound fighter by the end of 2012.

Georges St-Pierre Will Finish a Fight

This seems like a bad joke, but at this point GSP finishing a fight seems unlikely no matter whom he is fighting.

However, he eventually has to put someone away, right?

Clay Guida Will Earn a Title Shot

His fans have been hoping he would get a shot for years, and it is now right there for the taking.

All Guida has to do is defeat Ben Henderson and he will almost certainly get a shot at Frankie Edgar’s belt.

The fight with Edgar probably won’t go well, but it would be a nice story for someone who has so many memorable fights in the UFC.

Lyoto Machida Will Defeat Shogun Rua in a Rubber Match

The first fight was awesome, the second fight was a little more on the violent side, but the third fight between Machida and Shogun needs to happen and it will this year.

Expect Machida to come out on top and win two out of three, but the entire MMA world will argue over who is actually the superior fighter.

Demetrious Johnson Will Lose the Flyweight Title Fight

It almost seems cruel to let “Mighty Mouse” lose two title fights in a year, but there is no way he beats Joseph Benavidez.

He’ll be a top fighter at 125, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him with the belt one day, but not yet.

Frank Mir Will Earn One Last Title Fight

Mir has quietly won two in a row over decent opposition, and a rematch with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is a very winnable fight.

If Mir can get another win after that he’ll have earned his shot at UFC gold, and with behemoths like Lesnar and Shane Carwin unlikely to fight him again, he has a real shot at getting another try at the title.

Jose Aldo Will Move Up to Lightweight

It’s been talked about for months, and it seems like it will happen sooner rather than later.

Since I already predicted Aldo will lose his belt to Chad Mendes, it seems like it would be the perfect excuse to move up to 155.

Frankie Edgar Will Not Lose in 2012

The man has more heart than any fighter in UFC history, and it has paid off as his toughest opponent is now miles away from another shot at his belt.

That’s not saying Edgar won’t have challenges, but expect him to not only beat, but finish Guida, Ben Henderson, Melendez or anyone else in 2012.

Shane Carwin Will Be Cut by the UFC

This might seem a little unlikely, but it’s going to happen.

Carwin has lost two in a row and isn’t exactly the hardest fighter to figure out. If his next opponent or two can stay away from his power and force him into the later rounds, he’ll be on the wrong side of his career and outside of the UFC.

Carlos Condit Will Beat Down Nick Diaz, Martin Kampmann

Let’s be honest, there is no chance Condit will defeat Georges St-Pierre at UFC 137.

However, the road back to the title for Condit should be a fun one and his opponents are obvious.

First, Condit will beat down fellow UFC 137 loser Nick Diaz, and shortly after that he’ll beat down Martin Kampmann and avenge his only UFC loss.

Shogun Rua Will Stay Healthy All Year

If there has been a knock on Shogun Rua, it’s that he can’t stay healthy for more than a fight at a time.

That will change in 2012.

Shogun is going to stay healthy for the entire year and fight at least three times. Count on it.

Diego Sanchez Will Keep on Winning

The fighter known as Nightm—I mean, "The Dream" has won two straight over tough fighters Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann and is looking to get back into title contention.

I think he does that, mostly because Nick Diaz is back in the UFC. The two fighters have not liked each other for years and have been looking to have a rematch of their classic bout for a while.

I think Sanchez wins the rematch and continues his recent success.

Matt Hughes Will Retire

Who am I to doubt Dana White?

Hughes hasn’t looked like himself in a while and it seems obvious that the game is passing him by. He’s had a remarkable career and there is no reason he has to keep taking punishment.

If he wants one last fight, throw him in there with someone he can beat and let him walk away with a win.

Anderson Silva Will Be Forced to Move to Light Heavyweight

Notice that it says "forced." You know, as in not willingly.

But wait, that must mean…

Chael Sonnen Will Defeat Anderson Silva

Yes, there will be a new middleweight champion in 2012 and his name is Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen will take out Anderson Silva, win "his" belt and blow up the media with his insane trash talk. 

Forrest Griffin Will Retire

It pains me to say this, but one of the most beloved fighters in MMA is going to retire this year.

Griffin just didn’t look like he had the desire to compete when he fought Shogun at UFC 134, and after he gives an uninspired performance in his next fight, it will become obvious that it is time to walk away.

Mayhem Miller Will Not Be on TV

Mayhem fans, enjoy TUF 14 while it lasts, because it’s going to be the last time you see your boy for a while.

After he loses to Michael Bisping at the TUF finale, he will fall to the middle of the pack at 185, leaving him on the prelims for the rest of the year.

Brian Bowles Will Win the Bantamweight Title

After losing to Urijah Faber at UFC 139, Bowles will come into the new year as motivated as ever.

Bowles will go on a three-fight win streak over the first half of the year, finally getting his rematch with Dominick Cruz in December. A big right hand will put Cruz down and out, and we have a new bantamweight champion.

Junior Dos Santos Will Be Heavyweight Champion All Year

I’m going on record and taking Dos Santos over Cain Velasquez on FOX later this year.

I’m also taking Dos Santos over the world in 2012.

Dos Santos has the standup game to take out anyone in the heavyweight division, and after he defeats Velasquez his main opposition will have to work to earn another shot.

Alistair Overeem Will Get Knocked out by Junior Dos Santos

I fully expect Alistair Overeem to defeat Brock Lesnar on the last card of 2011, but that doesn’t mean his UFC career will be easy.

Overeem will outstrike anyone in the division, except possibly Dos Santos, who has the best boxing of any heavyweight in the world. Overeem doesn’t have the best chin and Dos Santos is going to test it. 

Dan Henderson Will Earn a Shot at Jon Jones

It might not be the champion he asked for, but Dan Henderson is getting a shot at UFC gold one way or another.

After he beats Shogun Rua in November, Henderson will jump Rashad Evans and get a shot at Jones, because let's face it, everyone is jumping Rashad Evans for a shot at Jon Jones.

Nick Diaz Will Not Win a Fight

After being hyped as a champion for his UFC return, Diaz will lose to BJ Penn at UFC 137 and lose every fight he has in 2012.

The welterweight division is too full of top-level wrestlers for Diaz to be successful, and it will be tough for him to get wins in the UFC.

Gray Maynard Will Become the Ultimate Gatekeeper at 155

This isn’t exactly bold, but really what else is there for him to do?

He won’t get another shot at Edgar for at least a couple years, and he isn’t small enough to drop a weight class, so he’ll end up becoming one of the best gatekeepers of all time.

Cain Velasquez Will Fight Four Times in 2012

Velasquez will have been out of action for over a year by the time he fights Junior dos Santos in November, but I expect 2012 to be a lot busier for him.

Coming from a camp with guys like Josh Koscheck, who will fight on a moment's notice, Velasquez will fight no less than four times next year and all will be against high-profile opponents.

Michael Bisping Will Get a Title Shot

After years of sitting right on the outside of title contention, Michael Bisping will finally get a shot at the middleweight title.

After defeating Mayhem Miller and another contender, Bisping will face Chael Sonnen for the belt in his home country of England.

How awesome would that trash talk be?

Jon Fitch Will Not Get a Shot at the Title

Fitch has been the No. 2 fighter in the division for about three years now, and it almost seems unfair that he has only gotten one shot at the belt.

However, it still isn’t going to happen. Fitch is going to get passed over again and again until he finishes an opponent and I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

Rampage Jackson Will Star in Another Movie

I pity the fool who casts him in another movie.

As horrible as The A-Team was, there will still be someone who decides Rampage deserves another shot in Hollywood, putting his MMA career on hold once again.

Kenny Florian Will Retire

I think we’ve seen the last of Kenny Florian in the Octagon.

After losing a third straight title fight, it seems like there is no reason for Florian to keep competing, and honestly, he has enough going for him outside of the cage to make it worthwhile. 

Dana White Will Become the Most Well-Known Person in the UFC

One could argue and say he already is, but right now I think that award goes to Brock Lesnar.

I don’t believe White wants to become bigger than the fighters themselves, but it is only a matter of time before it happens.

Let's face it, the guy is everywhere, busting his ass for the sport. Soon he’ll be as recognizable as the average NFL quarterback.

The UFC Will Merge with Strikeforce

It seems like a matter of time, doesn’t it?

The UFC has literally no use left for Strikeforce, and after it finishes up the heavyweight grand prix, I think the UFC pulls the plug and allows the top fighters to join the big leagues.

Except Paul Daley. He’s not going anywhere near White’s Octagon.

UFC Will Buy Back Its Fight Library, Bellator Will Be on Spike TV

All that has to happen to put Bellator on Spike TV is the UFC has to buy their video library back from Viacom.

While Dana White has said he has no intentions of doing that whatsoever, if Spike starts successfully countering the UFC with its own fights, he may be left with no choice.

UFC on FOX Will Break Television Records

This isn’t exactly bold, but it will happen nevertheless.

If Velasquez vs Dos Santos doesn’t beat the numbers put up by Kimbo Slice and Elite XC there is something seriously wrong with the world, and I think the numbers will get bigger each time they are on network TV. 

The Ultimate Fighter Will Put Up Record Numbers

A new station, a new format and live fights once a week will make fans tune in more than ever before, and if FOX promotes the show at all, it will be a huge success.

Anyone want to put in an early request for coaches?

UFC 150 Will Be the Biggest Event in UFC History

UFC 100 was big, but Zuffa has so many more tools at its disposal now that it would be sad if it didn’t top it.

Give us a superfight, give us three title fights, give us the return of Chuck Liddell, anything to make the event worth the amount of time I’ve spent thinking about it.

Please, Joe Silva, make this a good one!