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MMA SQUARED: Prospects and Train Wrecks, how have my 2019 predictions gone so far?

Back in January I wrote a series about four prospects who I thought would get title shots in 2019. Who made it?

By Chris Rini
Chris Rini, MMA Squared, Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, UFC 245, Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff, Jedrzedczyk, Aspen Ladd, Tonya Evinger, Sijara Eubanks, de Randamie, Israel Adesanya, Gastelum, Whittaker, Silva, Chris Rini

First we have Alexander Volkanovski (seen here retiring Chad Mendes), who is set to challenge Max Holloway for the featherweight title in four weeks at UFC 245. One right, four to go.

Chris Rini, MMA Squared, Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, UFC 245, Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff, Jedrzedczyk, Aspen Ladd, Tonya Evinger, Sijara Eubanks, de Randamie, Israel Adesanya, Gastelum, Whittaker, Silva, Chris Rini

After a stellar 2018 (finishing Carla Esparza and Alexa Grasso) Tatiana Suarez seemed poised for greatness. However, she suffered an injury en route to a lackluster decision win against Nina Ansaroff and Joanna Champion has taken her place. Partial credit?

Chris Rini, MMA Squared, Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, UFC 245, Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff, Jedrzedczyk, Aspen Ladd, Tonya Evinger, Sijara Eubanks, de Randamie, Israel Adesanya, Gastelum, Whittaker, Silva, Chris Rini

Like Suarez, bantamweight Aspen Ladd made headlines smashing through Tonya Evinger and had a banger with Sijara Eubanks to start the year. However she suffered a huge setback, TKO’d by Germaine de Randamie in just 16 seconds. My bad.

Chris Rini, MMA Squared, Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, UFC 245, Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff, Jedrzedczyk, Aspen Ladd, Tonya Evinger, Sijara Eubanks, de Randamie, Israel Adesanya, Gastelum, Whittaker, Silva, Chris Rini

Finally, Israel Adesanya. I’m hardly the only person who saw this one coming, but who could have predicted it would be this amazing. Fight of the year (vs Gastelum), performance of the year (vs Whittaker) and late notice headline a card vs Anderson Silva.

Chris Rini, MMA Squared, Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, UFC 245, Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff, Jedrzedczyk, Aspen Ladd, Tonya Evinger, Sijara Eubanks, de Randamie, Israel Adesanya, Gastelum, Whittaker, Silva, Chris Rini

So I got two right, one wrong and one asterisk. Last year’s train wreck was Chuck Liddell’s ill-fated trilogy fight with Tito Ortiz. What could it be for 2019? Middleweights moving up?

Chris Rini, MMA Squared, Volkanovski, Chad Mendes, Max Holloway, UFC 245, Carla Esparza, Alexa Grasso, Tatiana Suarez, Nina Ansaroff, Jedrzedczyk, Aspen Ladd, Tonya Evinger, Sijara Eubanks, de Randamie, Israel Adesanya, Gastelum, Whittaker, Silva, Chris Rini

Take care of yourself and I’ll talk to you next week.

Chris

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MMA SQUARED by Chris Rini

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