Predicting All 12 UFC Champions One Year From Now
6. Featherweight Champion - Brian Ortega
Max Holloway has had a tumultuous year. Holloway defeated José Aldo last June to become the Undisputed Featherweight Champion, and restore stability to the division after Conor McGregor left it ravaged. Holloway was scheduled to face Frankie Edgar but the latter had to pull-out due to injury, leading to a predictable rematch with Aldo.
Following that, Holloway was once more set to face Edgar but this time the champion was forced to pull-out. Two months later, Holloway offered to step-in and fight Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Lightweight title, but was pulled due to his dangerous weight cut. To compound the problems further, earlier this month Holloway was pulled from a fight against Brian Ortega at UFC 226, due to a concussion.
It's unclear right now when Holloway will fight again, with Dana White saying it won't be anytime soon. That leaves the division in a weird place. Should UFC create an interim title? Ortega defeated Frankie Edgar to get a title shot, so he will likely face the winner of Jose Also vs. Jeremy Stephens, with the ultimate goal being a unification fight with Holloway down the line. If and when that day arrives, Brian Ortega is your Undisputed Featherweight Champion.