Between the UFC and Bellator, there are eight major title bouts scheduled before the end of 2018. How do they stack up in the big picture? What are the odds they all actually happen as planned? We’re so glad you asked.

1. Champ Max Holloway vs. Brian Ortega, UFC 231, Dec. 8

Max Holloway (left) and Brian Ortega.

The stakes: UFC featherweight title
The matchup: It doesn’t get much more legit than this. The UFC featherweight champion faces the division’s top contender in a fight we’ve waited months for. It’s not some interim title crap. It’s not a fight of convenience to plug holes on a pay-per-view. It’s just a good scrap between the two top dogs at 145 pounds, and everything about both men’s styles suggests this should be a firecracker of a fight.
The biggest threat to the fight: Whatever’s going on with Holloway’s health. After he showed up lethargic and slurring his words in July, he was pulled from the first attempt at this bout. He said doctors ruled out dehydration and post-concussion issues as the cause, and that the symptoms haven’t returned, even if the core cause remains unexplained. That lingering question mark is a cause for concern.

2. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, UFC 232, Dec. 29

Jon Jones (red) and Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165. (USA TODAY Sports)

The stakes: Vacant UFC light heavyweight title
The match-up: Who doesn’t love a rematch of a bloody, barbaric title fight from long ago? The first time they met back in 2013, Gustafsson surprised a lot of people by giving Jones all he could handle. Jones squeaked out a decision win, then later explained that it was mostly his own partying and lack of training that made the fight as close as it was. Here’s his chance to prove it. And, due to the overall weirdness of the division in general and Jones’ bizarre career arc in particular, it’ll be for the vacant light heavyweight title. Not a bad way to end the year.
The biggest threat to the fight: Jones. Just who he is as a person. He might crash a car into the lobby of the Bellagio two days before the fight or he might fail a drug test at absolutely any moment. The man keeps us guessing.

3. Champ Cris Cyborg vs. champ Amanda Nunes, UFC 232, Dec. 29

Cris Cyborg (left) and Amanda Nunes. (USA TODAY Sports)

The stakes: UFC women’s featherweight title
The matchup: You want superfights? The UFC’s got ‘em. This time we’re reaching down for the women’s bantamweight champion in the hopes that someone can give the women’s featherweight champ a real test. We might also be hoping for a fight that will get fans excited about seeing Nunes again. So far her title reign has been impressive without being super popular. A win over the most dominant fighter to ever do it women’s MMA, yeah, that might help.
The biggest threat to the fight: Chronic sinusitis. Maybe also USADA.

4. Champ Daniel Cormier vs. Derrick Lewis, UFC 230, Nov. 3

Derrick Lewis (left) and Daniel Cormier. (USA TODAY Sports)

The stakes: UFC heavyweight title
The matchup: OK, so this isn’t exactly No. 1 vs. No. 2. That thing I referenced earlier, that whole title fight of convenience thing for the purpose of plugging holes in a pay-per-view? Yep, that’s what this is. Fortunately, it’s also still weirdly fun, in large part because of the two very different personalities involved. Plus, while we all know that Cormier should win this fight every single time, the hubris of trying to squeeze it in now, and with the champ not quite at 100 percent, well, let’s just say that’s exactly the type of thing that might tempt those meddlesome MMA gods.
The biggest threat to the fight: Cormier’s hand. Maybe it’s not a great idea to admit you can’t make a tight fist with it less than a month out from the fight. The New York State Athletic Commission can hear you, you know. But then, if they’ll let Lewis fight less than a month after getting hit in the head about 100 times …

5. Champ Brent Primus vs. Michael Chandler, Bellator 212, Dec. 14

Michael Chandler (left) and Brent Primus.

The stakes: Bellator lightweight title
The match-up: Remember the first time they fought, when Chandler seemed like a favorite to smash right through the undefeated upstart, and then he was betrayed first by his own injured leg and then by the athletic commission official who cruelly yanked the stool out from under him? Primus hasn’t fought since claiming the belt via TKO due to injury, but Chandler has won two straight. Now it’s finally rematch time in Honolulu, so that should be fun.
The biggest threat to the fight: Chandler got hurt in the first one. Primus got hurt in the lead-up to the second one, forcing Bellator to reschedule. So maybe now everyone’s gotten it all out of their systems?

6. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk, UFC 231, Dec. 8

Joanna Jedrzejczyk (left) and Valentina Shevchenko. (USA TODAY Sports)

The stakes: UFC women’s flyweight title
The match-up: Oh, the tortured fate of the women’s flyweight title. It’s first winner got stripped without ever defending it. Then a bout for the vacant belt was planned for UFC 230, much to the dismay of everyone from fans to UFC commentators. Then that plan was scratched in favor of this one, pitting Shevchenko against the former strawweight champ a month later. It’s an improvement, for sure. Also still feels like the UFC is just trying to put a belt on Shevchenko, one way or another.
The biggest threat to the fight: Some sort of women’s flyweight curse? Look, all I’m saying is we’re about one more cancellation from just throwing this belt in the trash and giving up.

7. Champ Patricio Freire vs. Emmanuel Sanchez, Bellator 209, Nov. 15

Patricio Freire (left) and Emmanuel Sanchez. (Bellator)

The stakes: Bellator featherweight title
The match-up: You didn’t think we’d close out the year without Bellator squeezing in another title fight featuring a “Pitbull” brother, did you? Featherweight champ Freire is looking to defend his belt against a challenger who’s won four straight to earn some momentum. Also, it’s going down in Israel, so that’s something a little bit different for MMA.
The biggest threat to the fight: Don’t act like one or both of the “Pitbull” brothers couldn’t get into a hotel brawl in any country on the planet.

8. Champ Ilima-Lei Macfarlane vs. Valerie Letourneau, Bellator 213, Dec. 15

Ilima-Lei Macfarlane. (Bellator)

The stakes: Bellator women’s flyweight title
The match-up: The reigning champion MacFarlane gets a chance to defend her belt back home in Hawaii, as Bellator will once again do the old two events in two days thing. Letourneau has been good at flyweight, winning her last two in Bellator after exiting the UFC on a three-fight losing skid. Will it be an interesting fight? Sure, it ought to be. But it’s not exactly bursting with star power, and I’d be willing to bet that even a lot of hardcore fans have no idea it’s happening.
The biggest threat to the fight: Apathy.

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