3 UFC Titles That Will Change Hands In 2019 (And 3 That Aren’t Going Anywhere)
4. Going Nowhere: Lightweight (Khabib Nurmagomedov)
After a dominant victory over Conor McGregor last October, Khabib Nurmagomedov made it clear who the best lightweight in the world is. Unfortunately, the melee that ensued after the bout will likely result in a suspension for both fighters.
The pending suspension means fans will probably only get to see "The Eagle" compete once this year. Nurmagomedov's hiatus may prompt the UFC to create a dreaded interim belt. That being said, Dana White and company won't strip the pride of Dagestan of his title, with a big money rematch against McGregor looming.
UFC 229, the card McGregor and Nurmagomedov headlined, generated 2.4 million pay-per-view buys — making it the best selling UFC event of all-time. Given how successful the event was, the organization will certainly book the fight again. Moreover, with the UFC 229 post-fight brawl being used to promote the bout, a rematch could potentially surpass the 2.4 million buy mark.
As for the fight itself, there is little reason to believe McGregor will fare much better the 2nd time around. "The Notorious" one simply doesn't have the takedown defense or grappling ability to compete with a man who has been wrestling both humans and bears since he was a child.
Look for "The Eagle" to soar into 2020 as the undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion.