The Trajectory of Every Current UFC Champion

The UFC landscape has experienced significant shifts in recent months, with several champions losing their crowns and new titleholders emerging. Alex Pereira’s reign came to an end, Belal Muhammad was dethroned, and Alexander Volkanovski reclaimed his Featherweight belt in a thrilling victory. The depth of talent in the UFC has never been greater, making the path for current champions more challenging than ever. Each titleholder now faces intense competition and adversity as the divisions evolve rapidly. This article examines the near trajectory of every current UFC champion, highlighting the obstacles and opportunities that lie ahead in their reigns.

Flyweight Division: Alexandre Pantoja

Alexandre Pantoja enters his next fight against Kai Kara-France as the clear favorite, with expectations of a dominant victory by submission or decision. Pantoja’s well-rounded skill set and experience give him a significant edge over his opponent. However, his next challenge looms in the form of the winner between Brandon Royval and Manel Kape. Despite Pantoja’s previous wins over both contenders, the Flyweight champion’s advancing age and the intense pace set by these aggressive fighters suggest that his title reign may be nearing its end. The division’s fierce competition and youthful contenders will test Pantoja’s durability in the upcoming months. It’s likely that this upcoming title defense will be his last.

Bantamweight Division: Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili approaches his next title defense against Sean O’Malley with a strong chance to retain his Bantamweight Championship. His relentless wrestling and pressure have proven difficult for opponents to handle, and he will look to implement that strategy again. However, the rematch promises to be a tightly contested battle. O’Malley’s striking volume and ability to inflict damage over five rounds could sway the judges in his favor. Despite Merab’s toughness and resilience, a close decision loss seems likely as O’Malley aims to reclaim the belt through sustained offense.

Featherweight Division: Alexander Volkanovski

Alexander Volkanovski faces Movsar Evloev in his next title defense and is expected to secure a dominant decision victory thanks to his well-rounded skill set. Volkanovski’s precise striking, effective wrestling, and cardio advantage should allow him to control the fight across five rounds. The Featherweight Division remains unclear beyond this matchup, with no standout challenger poised to take the belt. Given the current landscape and Volkanovski’s accomplished career, he is likely to defend the belt two to three more times in a weak division before retiring.

Lightweight Division: Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachev recently vacated the Lightweight title to pursue new challenges in the Welterweight Division. Leaving the belt up for grabs. Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are already scheduled to face off at UFC 317, with Topuria favored to earn a dominant victory and claim the Lightweight Championship. This matchup signals a new era in the division, as Topuria’s dynamic skill set and momentum position him to become the next dominant force at Lightweight.

Welterweight Division: Jack Della Maddalena

Jack Della Maddalena is set to face Islam Makhachev in his next Welterweight title challenge. While Della Maddalena has impressive striking and momentum on his side, the odds favor Islam due to his dominant wrestling and grappling skills. This fight is expected to be a close, hard-fought battle, but Islam’s control on the ground will likely be the deciding factor. This will result in a narrow decision victory for the champion who is moving up for another belt in a new division.

Middleweight Division: Dricus Du Plessis

Dricus Du Plessis is scheduled to fight Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319 in a high-stakes Middleweight title bout. While Du Plessis brings power and striking to the cage, overcoming Chimaev’s relentless pressure and grappling will be a monumental challenge. Despite Dricus’s skills, it’s unlikely he will hand Khamzat his first loss. After facing adversity during the fight, Chimaev is expected to secure a submission victory and continue his dominant reign in the Middleweight division.

Light Heavyweight Division: Magomed Ankalaev

Magomed Ankalaev is predicted to face Alex Pereira in a highly anticipated rematch next. Despite Ankalaev’s technical skills and resilience, Pereira is expected to bring improved aggression and strategy to this fight. This intensity could allow Pereira to edge out a close decision victory, potentially ending Ankalaev’s Light Heavyweight title reign earlier than many expected. Ankalaev will need to adapt quickly and find ways to neutralize Pereira’s striking power and pressure if he hopes to regain control. The rematch promises to be a thrilling, closely contested battle between two elite fighters, but Pereira should be back on top of this division shortly.

Heavyweight Division: Jon Jones

Jon Jones is expected to finally face Tom Aspinall in what could be one of the biggest Heavyweight fights in recent memory. The bout promises a high level of skill and excitement, with Jones needing to navigate Aspinall’s power and athleticism throughout the fight. His experience and versatility will be crucial as he adapts to the challenge and showcases his full skill set. The fight is expected to be close and potentially controversial, but Jones is predicted to secure the victory. After this hard-fought battle, Jones is likely to retire from MMA, closing out his legendary career on a high note.

Strawweight Division: Zhang Weili

This is a crazy prediction, but I think Zhang Weili will move up to Flyweight and attempt to become a double champion by challenging Valentina Shevchenko for the belt. The matchup would be legendary and makes a lot of sense given Zhang’s dominant reign at Strawweight. I predict she will win a dominant decision in this high-profile fight. After achieving success at Flyweight, Zhang is likely to return to Strawweight, where she will defend her title once more in a relatively weak division before retiring. We do not have much more time to watch this legend of the game.

Flyweight Division: Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko remains one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, but I believe she will lose when Zhang Weili moves up to challenge her in a legendary Flyweight battle. This fight makes a lot of sense given Shevchenko’s technical mastery and long reign at Flyweight. Despite her skill, Zhang’s momentum and toughness will lead to Shevchenko dropping the title. After this loss, Shevchenko is likely to retire shortly, ending an incredible era in the division. We do not have much more time to witness this legend of the game.

Bantamweight Division: Juliana Pena

Juliana Peña faces a tough challenge ahead, as I believe she will be dominated by Kayla Harrison in their matchup. Harrison’s superior grappling and relentless pressure are expected to overwhelm Peña, ultimately leading to a submission victory. The Bantamweight Division currently lacks depth and clear contenders, making it difficult for Peña to regain her footing even after a win. With few top-level challengers emerging, the division feels stagnant, and Peña will need to reinvent herself to stay relevant amid the shifting landscape.