Sean Sheehan 
As the MMA calendar is torn down and replaced for the new term, it’s time to set out what could be on the horizon in what looks like being a crucial and turbulent year in the world of cage fighting. So, I’ve dusted off my crystal ball and come up with a score of bold predictions for the year ahead. Feel free to keep me on my toes throughout the year when they turn out to be correct or, more likely, completely wrong.
1. Khabib Nurmagomedov becomes UFC lightweight champion.
2. Anderson Silva knocks out Nick Diaz.
3. Garry Cook replaces Dana White as UFC president.
4. World Series of fighting go out of business.
5. Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones fight three times.
6. A fighter refuses to wear the Reebok uniform and is cut from the UFC.
7. CM Punk doesn’t fight.
8. Rampage Jackson fights Fabio Maldonado.
9. Increased drug testing causes a champion to be stripped of his title.
10. Renan Barao recaptures the bantamweight title.
11. Demetrious Johnson, Chris Weidman and Ronda Rousey all go undefeated.
12. UFC host Metamoris on Fight Pass.
13. Michael Bisping retires.
14. BJ Penn, Cris Cyborg, Chris Leben and a Diaz brother sign for Bellator.
15. Conor McGregor defeats Dennis Siver and fights Jose Aldo for the title in Las Vegas.
16. Irish fighters will go 3-1 at UFC Boston.
17. Brock Lesnar returns to the UFC, wins one fight and gets a heavyweight title shot.
18. Rory MacDonald wins the UFC welterweight title.
19. George St-Pierre returns and fights Anderson Silva.
20. UFC will have a champion vs. champion Superfight.
