Predicting UFC champions at end of 2023

As 2023 kicks off, many fighters are setting out to accomplish their New Year's resolution of winning a UFC championship. That dream will only come true for a select few.

Here's who we think will reign over each division at the end of the year.

Flyweight

Current champion: Deiveson Figueiredo
Champion at end of 2023: Brandon Moreno

Right off the bat, this one's tricky. It could very well come down to who wins the historic tetralogy bout between Figueiredo and Moreno at UFC 283 on Jan. 21. And that fight is so tough to call because Moreno submitted Figueiredo in 2021, but then Figueiredo beat Moreno by unanimous decision in 2022. All of that came after they fought to a draw in 2020. Neither man has a clear edge against the other, but Moreno's youthfulness gives us reason to side with him to get the belt back. Alexandre Pantoja is likely next for the winner. Pantoja, who beat Moreno on "The Ultimate Fighter" and then again in an official UFC bout in 2018, could be a dark-horse pick to end 2023 as the champ. But we'll say Moreno gets revenge.

Bantamweight

Current champion: Aljamain Sterling
Champion at end of 2023: Aljamain Sterling

It finally feels like the MMA world is starting to believe in Sterling. Some people questioned the decision in the Petr Yan rematch and the fact TJ Dillashaw went into his title shot severely injured. But Sterling is at least starting to feel like the rightful king of the bantamweights, and that won't change in 2023. "Funk Master" will win a competitive fight against the returning Henry Cejudo, who would be our second choice to end the year as champ. After that, Sterling should have no issue getting past Sean O'Malley, Marlon Vera, or Cory Sandhagen.

Featherweight

Current champion: Alexander Volkanovski
Champion at end of 2023: Alexander Volkanovski

The only way Volkanovski doesn't make it through another full year as featherweight champion is if he dethrones lightweight champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 284 on Feb. 11 and chooses to focus on that division. In that case, either Yair Rodriguez or Josh Emmett, who meet for the interim 145-pound belt at the same event, would be good selections. But Volkanovski will lose to Makhachev and then defend his title once later in the year, beating the winner of Rodriguez-Emmett and maintaining his position as one of the world's best pound-for-pound fighters.

Lightweight

Current champion: Islam Makhachev
Champion at end of 2023: Islam Makhachev

Makhachev took the torch from his teammate Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2022 and finally proved what many already knew - he's the best lightweight on the planet. Makhachev seems to be positioned to stay on top for years to come, so it's hard to see someone dethroning him in his first full year as lightweight champion. Makhachev will beat Volkanovski in February and then defeat whoever challenges him next, whether it's Beneil Dariush, Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, Rafael Fiziev, or someone else. No one is getting past Makhachev, in 2023 and for a long time.

Welterweight

Current champion: Leon Edwards
Champion at end of 2023: Khamzat Chimaev

Forecasting what will happen at 170 pounds this year is a tough task. Edwards, former champion Kamaru Usman, and Chimaev all have paths to gold at the end of 2023. The belt could change hands more than once. There's been some doubt about whether Usman will be ready to go in time for Edwards' first title defense, which the UFC likely wants to headline the London pay-per-view event in March. These unknowns are what make welterweight so unpredictable. If Usman isn't ready, Chimaev might slide in. But even if Edwards-Usman 3 is the next title fight, Chimaev will receive a championship opportunity by the end of the year and make the most of it.

Middleweight

Current champion: Alex Pereira
Champion at end of 2023: Robert Whittaker

Oh, yes, our boldest prediction of them all. Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Whittaker will somehow find his way back to the middleweight throne in 2023, four years after Israel Adesanya knocked him off it. This pick comes down to how an expected rematch between Pereira and Adesanya will play out. If Pereira wins again, Whittaker likely gets a title shot later in 2023. Stylistically, Whittaker - an underrated wrestler and one of the most competent punchers in the division - might just be the toughest test for Pereira at 185 pounds. Of course, Adesanya winning would be bad news for Whittaker because that would probably lead to another meeting with Pereira. But we'll go out on a limb and say Pereira is Adesanya's kryptonite, and Whittaker wrestles his way to the second chapter of the Bobby Knuckles era. What drama!

Light heavyweight

Current champion: Vacant
Champion at end of 2023: Magomed Ankalaev

Ankalaev arguably got robbed of a championship moment in 2022, but he won't let that happen again. When it comes to timing, this is far from an obvious pick. Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill are fighting for the vacant belt on Jan. 21. The winner will probably defend it against Ankalaev. However, after UFC president Dana White's criticism of Ankalaev's split draw against Jan Blachowicz, who knows if he wants to give Ankalaev another title opportunity so soon? Ultimately, Anakalev is the most talented fighter at 205 pounds not named Jiri Prochazka (who, from all accounts, is out until 2024). So, we'll go with him turning a disaster into having the light heavyweight title wrapped around his waist within a calendar year.

Heavyweight

Current champion: Francis Ngannou
Champion at end of 2023: Francis Ngannou

Whether or not Ngannou is still a UFC fighter at the end of 2023 is the biggest factor at play here. The heavyweight champ is set to enter free agency in the near future (or perhaps already has), and it's unclear how close or far he is from inking a new UFC deal. Ultimately, Ngannou will stay put after the UFC's offer satisfies him enough, and he'll successfully defend his belt once or twice, likely against Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.

Strawweight

Current champion: Zhang Weili
Champion at end of 2023: Zhang Weili

Zhang went 0-2 in 2021. But she looked like a woman on a mission in 2022, scoring a Knockout of the Year candidate against Joanna Jedrzejczyk and then destroying Carla Esparza to reclaim the belt. Yes, Rose Namajunas has beaten Zhang twice, but Zhang appears to have significantly improved. For instance, she looked physically stronger in the Jedrzejczyk rematch than she did before. Right now, no one - not even Namajunas - is stopping Zhang.

Women's flyweight

Current champion: Valentina Shevchenko
Champion at end of 2023: Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko had the toughest fight of her women's flyweight reign last year, edging Taila Santos by split decision. For once, she looked beatable. And for once, there's a bit of intrigue in the division heading into the UFC's 2023 campaign. The winner between Santos and Erin Blanchfield would be another good test for Shevchenko. However, Shevchenko is still the best, even if others are slowly catching up. That'll remain true through the end of the year.

Women's bantamweight

Current champion: Amanda Nunes
Champion at end of 2023: Amanda Nunes

The queen is back on top, and she's here to stay. Nunes reclaimed women's bantamweight gold in 2022 after the Julianna Pena stunner in 2021. And she did so easily, beating Pena in a 50-45, 50-44, 50-43 rout. Nunes and Pena may complete their trilogy this year, and Nunes will take the series 2-1 with ease. After that, there's no one in the division who will come even close to beating her. Retirement is the only way the Brazilian won't end the year as champ.

Women's featherweight

Current champion: Amanda Nunes
Champion at end of 2023: Amanda Nunes

Nunes is technically still the women's featherweight champion, too. But she didn't defend the belt in 2022 and probably won't again in 2023. Who would she face? The UFC has no reason to officially get rid of the division, so it'll be the same outcome as it's been each year. Nunes as champ, zero activity at women's 145 pounds.