What can we expect in MMA action for 2017? Will the UFC have another monster year or will the sale of the UFC to WME-IMG mark the beginning of a big downturn for the UFC? Is 2017 the year that Bellator will make huge gains and take away some of the UFC audience? Will Conor McGregor return late in the year and give fans a reason to shell out money for a big pay-per-view? Let’s answer some of those questions and look at 2017 MMA predictions.
Bet on UFC at BookMaker.eu
There is no question that the UFC is going to look different in 2017 under the new management of WME-IMG. We have already seen some of the early indications and very few of them have been positive. The UFC has gotten rid of some of their employees including commentator Mike Goldberg. They brought in Todd Grisham who had been with ESPN but it appears Grisham is not going to take Goldberg’s spot.
As I wrote about previously, the UFC doesn’t have any superstars who are going to attract big audiences anytime soon. Conor McGregor is the biggest current star but he is out of action until later this year. Ronda Rousey used to be the biggest UFC star but she may never fight again. There are no good answers at the moment as to who will lead the way as the UFC heads into 2017.
It doesn’t help the cause that the UFC still has an anti-trust lawsuit against them and that there are now multiple fighter associations. The UFC also has to face a real threat from Bellator as more and more top fighters are leaving the UFC for Bellator. We are going to get a good idea of just how much of a threat Bellator is to the UFC on January 21 when Tito Ortiz takes on Chael Sonnen at Bellator 170. Sonnen is listed as a -156 favorite at BookMaker.eu.
2017 MMA Predictions
GSP Returns
The UFC badly needs a star to fill the gap until McGregor returns so why not bring back Georges St- Pierre? He has already said he wants to come back and it would have already happened if the UFC had just given him what he wanted. With no star power on the horizon, the UFC may now be forced to give in to whatever demands GSP has. A matchup between GSP and Michael Bisping would be exactly the type of fight that the UFC needs to headline one of their big pay-per-view events in the spring or summer.
Mighty Mouse Breaks Silva’s Record
We don’t hear much about Demetrious Johnson but all he does is win. He has been the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world for quite a while and there are no real challengers in his way. Johnson won the UFC flyweight title in 2012 and has since successfully defended that title 9 times. He is one title defense away from tying Silva’s record of 10 title defenses. He should get that fight sometime in the spring or fall and he should break Silva’s record before 2017 is over.
Jon Jones Returns
It has been a while since we have seen Jones in action as he failed a drug test before UFC 200 and was suspended. His suspension ends in July so we should see Jones in action late in the year. A rematch with Daniel Cormier would make sense as would a bout against Anthony Johnson. Jones was supposed to fight both of those two before his suspension.
Miocic Sets a Record
Current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic will have a great chance to make history in 2017 as he just needs to make two title defenses to break the record for most successfully heavyweight title defenses. Granted, the record is only two so Miocic just has to win his next two fights to get to three successful title defenses. The heavyweight division behind him doesn’t look that strong with the top contenders being Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum, the latter he beat to win the title at UFC 198.
I am not going to make a prediction regarding McGregor although I do expect him to return late in 2017 but who he fights is hard to predict.
How to Bet
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker sportsbook! Real-time spreads, totals, props and money line are all available so start betting with BookMaker today.
