Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has made bold predictions about the future champions of the UFC. He anticipates major changes in four weight divisions by 2025, hinting at shifts in power dynamics within the sport. His insights come after a period of frequent title changes, with seven in 2024 and eleven in 2023. Bisping’s predictions, shared on TNT Sports‘ “Fight Week”, indicate a possible settling of champions in the upcoming years.
While reflecting on his previous predictions, Bisping admitted that he managed to accurately identify six champions last year, including notable names such as Alexandre Pantoja and Islam Makhachev. Looking ahead, he has confidently predicted that four fighters will emerge as new undisputed champions in their respective categories, all of whom have yet to hold the title.
In the women’s strawweight division, Bisping expressed his belief in Tatiana Suarez taking the championship. He remarked, “I’ve got to go with Tatiana Suarez – I did say that this time last year. Of course, she’s fighting Zhang Weili, so we’ll see how that plays out. I just think the wrestling that Tatiana Suarez has is going to cause a lot of problems for a lot of people. This time next year, one way or another, she’ll be the champ.”
On the topic of the women’s bantamweight title, Bisping was unequivocal in his selection of Kayla Harrison. He acknowledged the current champion, Julianna Peña, but stated, “Kayla Harrison, I believe, will be too big, too strong, too good at judo, too mentally strong, too fit. She’ll drag her down, she’ll get the submission, and she’ll also get the belt.”
For the middleweight category, Bisping predicted Khamzat Chimaev to seize the title. He commented, “It’s interesting because I’m looking at the rankings here. I never thought we’d see a year where Robert Whittaker wasn’t in the conversation… when Khamzat gets his chance, he’ll be victorious.” Bisping acknowledged the skill of the current champion, Dricus Du Plessis, but expressed confidence that Chimaev would rise to the occasion.
Finally, Bisping forecasted that Tom Aspinall would emerge as the heavyweight champion. He shared, “If there is an interim champion, it will be Tom Aspinall… Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall will go down as the biggest heavyweight fight the sport has ever seen.” He concluded his thoughts with a rousing anticipation that Aspinall will ultimately reign supreme.
As the UFC landscape continues to evolve, Bisping’s predictions provide an intriguing glimpse into what the future may hold for the sport, with fans eagerly awaiting the unfolding narrative in the coming years.
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