Former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping believes issues will look rather a lot completely different within the UFC as soon as 2025 involves a detailed.
Throughout a current look on TNT Sports activities’ Struggle Week, ‘The Count’ urged that 4 fighters will change into first-time champions over the subsequent 12 months. Maybe unsurprisingly, a kind of names is the undefeated Chechen monster, Khamzat Chimaev.
“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,” 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 need to say Khazmzat. Dricus (Du Plessis) is an amazing champion.
“I think him and Sean (Strickland) will have another close fight, but I think regardless, when Khamzat gets his chance, he’ll be victorious. I mean, what he did to Robert Whittaker – I’ll never underestimate that man ever again.”
Subsequent up on Bisping’s record 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 got to go with Tatiana Suarez,” he stated. “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.”
‘The Count’ additionally believes 2025 will see former two-time PFL champion Kayla Harrison declare her first belt below the UFC banner.
“The women’s bantamweight champion, there’s only going to be one name in discussion: Kayla Harrison,” Bisping stated. “No offense to Julianna Peña, I feel she’s nice for the game, she’s a enjoyable particular person. She’s enjoyable to take a seat and watch fights with as a result of she talks lots of s-h-i-t the entire time.
“She’s great, but 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.”
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 towards 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 effectively change into the largest battle within the division’s storied historical past.
“If there is an interim champion, it will be Tom Aspinall,” Bisping stated. “However, I don’t think there will be one. I believe that the reason Tom isn’t fighting at London is because Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall will go down. The biggest heavyweight fight the sport has ever seen. Maybe the biggest fight period that this sport has ever seen. Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and when the dust settles, ‘Tommy Aspinall, Aspinall, Tommy Aspinall! Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na!’”
Final 12 months, Bisping went 6-12 on his year-end predictions, accurately predicting that Alexandre Pantoja, Islam Makhachev, Dricus Du Plessis, Alex Pereira, Tom Aspinall (interim), and Jon Jones would finish 2024 as world champions.
