Issue 137
January 2016
The biggest things we think, hope and hear may happen in mixed martial arts in the year ahead
Rousey vs. Holm 2
The wish
Despite the first fight turning out to be a one-sided beatdown in favor of the challenger rather than much-fancied champion, it seems the rematch between Ronda Rousey and new champ Holly Holm is the overwhelming fans’ pick as the fight you most want to see in 2016. Holm completely tore up the script at UFC 193 in November to scalp ‘Rowdy’s record and claim Octagon gold. But after a likely prolonged hiatus from the Octagon and by shaping a new game plan, Rousey vs. Holm 2 looks destined to smash even more records than the original.
Chances?
Sorry Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino, but you missed your chance. This rematch is the biggest fight in women’s MMA, period. Sure the first fight was one sided, but could Rousey perform any worse? With movie commitments to take care of first, UFC 200 in the summer looks a surefire bet for the biggest fight in MMA.
Odds -500
Yeeha Cowboys!
The wish
After stadium events in Canada, Sweden and now Australia, surely 2016 will finally be the year the Octagon takes over one of the most iconic stadiums in the US with a trip to the home of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas. The last two years have been littered with talk of a UFC main event heading to the AT&T Stadium; Manny Pacquiao headlined back-to-back boxing events at the venue in 2010, attracting tens of thousands of fans on both occasions; plus, UFC president Dana White is a big fan of the idea and has repeatedly spoken about the venue as a destination for a pay-per-view event. But so far, nada.
Chances?
It would have to be one hell of a fight card to fill a 100,000-capacity venue and big fight cards usually mean only one thing too: Las Vegas. And with Sin City getting its own purpose-built sports arena in the spring, the time for a mega-capacity stadium event on US shores is dwindling. It could well be now or never for this dream in 2016.
Odds +150
Fedor: as real as it gets
The wish
The Russian master has regularly dangled his web of deceit to ensnare MMA’s dedicated fan base – but it seems FO readers are as eager as ever to see the former Pride heavyweight champ make his UFC debut. He teased us all in 2015 by revealing he would be returning from exile, only to announce he’d be fighting in Japan on New Year’s Ever rather than on a more competitive stage. But with the UFC top brass remaining unusually tight-lipped throughout, talk of Fedor using the Japan card as a way of dipping his toe back in the water before making a legitimate return to competition still seemingly infects us all.
Chances?
Has Fedor truly returned to add to his legacy, or is all about currency? Dana White admitted he gave up chasing the Fedor ghost a long time ago, but UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta is still keen, which means the door isn’t closed on ‘The Last Emperor’ yet. With the promotion pursuing a card in St Petersburg or Moscow in 2016-17, there would be no better ticket-seller to headline a Octagon invasion.
Odds +500
The return of Rush
The wish
The welterweight division has been hugely entertaining over the past two years, but the same question follows every fight between top contenders: how would they fare against Georges St Pierre? By walking away at the top, arguably the greatest champion in UFC history left a gaping hole in the division he dominated for more than half a decade. And despite cool movie roles and a lifestyle most could only dream of, the itch to compete reportedly remains. The Canadian is back training regularly at Tristar in Montreal and after protégé Rory MacDonald failed in his quest to capture his mentor’s old belt, the door has been left open for ‘Rush’ to finally return.
Chances?
This may not be as much of a fantasy as you might imagine. As well as coach Firas Zahabi, boxing trainer Freddie Roach – who worked with GSP throughout his career – also revealed he’s been called to arms for a pre-camp camp to test the waters and see if Georges has the hunger needed to return. Also, one of the main reasons he departed at the top was due to the unsatisfactory drug testing procedures at the time. But since, the UFC has appointed USADA to manage its drug testing program. Facilitated to drive cheats out of the Octagon, it may just draw GSP back in.
Odds +200
TUF: Hall of Fame
The wish
What if the UFC rounded up the likes of Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva, Rampage Jackson, Shogun Rua, Dan Henderson and Tito Ortiz for a special 205lb-ish icon edition of The Ultimate Fighter? And, why not, let’s get Matt Hughes and Matt Serra back in there too, as the coaches, and to settle their simmering beef in the finale. It would be the most trash-talk-tastic season ever. And would also open the door to sponsorships from the likes of Vicodin and various hip replacement clinics.
Chances?
OK, so this truly is fantasy stuff, but one thing UFC aren’t short of is legends and former champions desperate for one last roll of the dice. Dangle a title shot out for the victor – along with a bunch of other cash incentives – and watch them come running. MMA may have moved on from their heydays, but we all love a bit of nostalgia.
Odds +10,000
The return of ref cam
The wish
With 2016’s must-have new gadget tipped to be the first generation of virtual reality headsets, leading MMA broadcasters like Fox Sports and Spike TV will be looking to engage the new age and what better way than following through with an up-to-date version of the classic Pride Fighting Championships ref head cam prototype. Utilized a decade ago with varying success, the footage is shot by a camera either attached to the third man’s head, or on a chest plate. And while it missed more often than it hit when used in Japan, surely in 2016 some newly designed, state-of the-art equipment would offer a very special viewing experience.
Chances
According to gadget geeks, VR headsets are going to be the next big thing and from a fans’ perspective, what could be more enthralling as a viewer then standing in the actual cage between the two fighters – all in glorious HD and surround sound. The UFC actually experimented with tiny cameras in referees’ buttonholes at UFC on Fox 4 back in 2012, but the results were not good enough to make it onto the broadcast. Maybe its time to try again.
Odds +500
Reebok UFC icon range
The wish
So far Reebok’s UFC range has been focused primarily on athletes. Fight night kits, shorts and compression wear are all geared towards Octagon performance and brand recognition. But pre-launch last summer Reebok promised much more than just fighter-focused apparel. And who doesn’t want a classic ‘Tito Ortiz Big Bear Fight Camp 2007’ limited edition hoodie? Or a Randy ‘The Natural’ Couture or Chuck Liddell ‘90s-style tracksuit? That’s MMA nostalgia gold right there.
Chances?
Sources from inside the Reebok team have admitted the sports brand is working on lifestyle gear designed specifically for fans, but there has been no indication yet what that may entail. With brands like Roots of Fight still doing very well with their vintage designs, surely delving into the Octagon’s back catalogue of superstars and super-fights is the logical answer.
Odds -900
Big Nog & the Olympic Torch
The wish
With the Olympic Games heading to Brazil next summer the iconic Olympic torch relay that takes the flame nationwide en route to the Olympic stadium in Rio will be carried by a multitude of sports stars and celebrities from the samba nation. While it’s inevitable one of the Gracie family will be selected to represent jiu-jitsu, the task of representing MMA should be passed to a true icon and they don’t come much bigger than Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Chances?
With Anderson Silva’s damaged reputation still recovering, outside of Brazil at least, nobody embodies the Brazilian fighting ethos better than ‘Big Nog.’ Fedor Emelianenko carried the Olympic torch for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, so it’s inevitable MMA will be represented when the rings touch down in Rio. It would be the perfect career sign-off for one of the heavyweight division’s most incredible and inspiring athletes too.
Odds +300
Weight class hopping
The wish
Urijah Faber gave us a taste for it in 2015, moving up from 135lb for his featherweight main event against Frankie Edgar in Manila, but it’s the tip of the iceberg in terms of what fans hope will come in 2016. While Dana White is venomously against catchweight fights, crossing into another weight class entirely for just one bout could open up a larder of mouth-watering possibilities. Jon Jones vs. Cain Velasquez, Anthony Pettis vs. Matt Brown, Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson. They don’t even have to be title match-ups, but fights that we all agree would make for great TV.
Chances?
Ask yourself, how would you feel about paying PPV dollars for Anthony Johnson vs. Junior Dos Santos at heavyweight, Chris Weidman vs. Jon Jones at 205lb or Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone up at 155lb – even if it was for just one fight? Hopefully, UFC’s Faber-Edgar experiment in 2015 proved that weight class hopping can be main-event magic.
Odds +150
2015 Fans’ Wish List
How some of your picks from 12 months ago fared in the reality stakes
Return of the Brock (No)
Despite being high on every MMA fan’s wanted list for 2015, Brock Lesnar decided the competitive nature of MMA was too much to handle and the former UFC heavyweight champion opted to sign a new long-term deal with WWE instead... But we did get CM Punk, who is set to compete down at 170lb soon.
New York, New York (No)
So it didn’t happen in 2015, but with a date penciled in for Madison Square Garden in April and a court case pending, hopes are high that the Big Apple will finally welcome the Octagon in 2016. And with native New Yorker Jon Jones returning to arms too, there’s perhaps no more credible headliner.
McGregor into the mainstream (Yes)
Boy did this come true. The Irishman became a global superstar in 2015 and picked up the UFC interim featherweight belt. ‘The Notorious’ has brought attention to the smaller weight classes like never before and transitioned from fighter to celebrity with hugely lucrative results.
Game of Thrones: UFC vs. Bellator (No)
While Bellator’s co-promoted Dynamite event with Glory Kickboxing spiked interest in Viacom’s promotion in September, its challenge for UFC’s crown failed to materialize. Despite a rare ratings win in November when Bellator 145 outdrew UFC Fight Night 77, the Octagon continues to drive the industry.
...
