Former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping believes issues will look so much totally different within the UFC as soon as 2025 involves a detailed.
Throughout a current look on TNT Sports activities’ Struggle Week, ‘The Rely’ steered that 4 fighters will turn into first-time champions over the subsequent yr. Maybe unsurprisingly, a type of names is the undefeated Chechen monster, Khamzat Chimaev.
“It’s fascinating as a result of I’m trying on the rankings right here. I by no means thought we’d see a yr the place Robert Whittaker wasn’t within the dialog,” Bisping stated. “It simply exhibits the game is such a merciless mistress. Clearly, Khamzat Chimaev squeezed his enamel out final time, and yeah, I’m gonna must say Khazmzat. Dricus (Du Plessis) is an amazing champion.
“I believe him and Sean (Strickland) may have one other shut combat, however I believe regardless, when Khamzat will get his probability, he’ll be victorious. I imply, what he did to Robert Whittaker – I’ll by no means underestimate that man ever once more.”
Subsequent up on Bisping’s checklist was one other undefeated standout — Tatiana Suarez.
After going 10-0 in her combined martial arts profession, the Covina, California native will try to money on her first shot at UFC gold when she challenges Zhang Weili for the strawweight crown at UFC 312 on February 8.
“I’ve acquired to go together with Tatiana Suarez,” he stated. “I did say that this time final yr. After all, she’s combating Zhang Weili, so we’ll see how that performs out. I simply assume the wrestling that Tatiana Suarez has goes to trigger plenty of issues for lots of people. This time subsequent yr, a method or one other, she’ll be the champ.”
‘The Rely’ additionally believes 2025 will see former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison declare her first belt below the UFC banner.
“The ladies’s bantamweight champion, there’s solely going to be one title in dialogue: Kayla Harrison,” Bisping stated. “No offense to Julianna Peña, I believe she’s nice for the game, she’s a enjoyable individual. She’s enjoyable to take a seat and watch fights with as a result of she talks plenty of s-h-i-t the entire time.
“She’s nice, however Kayla Harrison, I consider, shall be too large, too robust, too good at judo, too mentally robust, too match. She’ll drag her down, she’ll get the submission, and she or he’ll additionally get the belt.”
Bisping picks Tom Aspinall to defeat Jon Jones in inevitable UFC title unification conflict
Final however not least is Tom Aspinall, the UFC’s reigning interim heavyweight world champion. Aspinall captured the non permanent title in November 2023 with a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Since then, he’s defended the belt in opposition to Curtis Blaydes whereas ready for Jon Jones to settle some enterprise with former two-time champ Stipe Miocic.
With Jones handing Miocic a decisive defeat at UFC 309, all indicators level towards Aspinall lastly merging his title with Jones’ undisputed heavyweight crown in what may very nicely turn into the most important combat within the division’s storied historical past.
“If there may be an interim champion, it is going to be Tom Aspinall,” Bisping stated. “Nevertheless, I don’t assume there shall be one. I consider that the explanation Tom isn’t combating at London is as a result of Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall will go down. The largest heavyweight combat the game has ever seen. Perhaps the most important combat interval that this sport has ever seen. Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and when the mud settles, ‘Tommy Aspinall, Aspinall, Tommy Aspinall! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na!’”
Final yr, Bisping went 6-12 on his year-end predictions, appropriately predicting that Alexandre Pantoja, Islam Makhachev, Dricus Du Plessis, Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall (interim), and Jon Jones would finish 2024 as world champions.
