During normal years, trying to predict the future of mixed martial arts is a fool’s errand.
After the white-knuckle thrill ride that was 2017? Forget about it.
If the last 12 months have proved anything, it’s that the impossible can and will happen in combat sports. For evidence of this phenomenon, one must look no further than the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor on Aug. 26.
First considered just a pipe dream, it turned into one of the biggest pay-per-view events of all time.
Who could have predicted that? Probably no one.
Still, as 2018 begins, there is at least some use in reflecting on MMA‘s last 365 days and projecting where it might be headed during the next calendar year.
Sure, many predictions are going to go horribly wrong; some, however, may well end up coming true.
With that in mind, here are the Bleacher Report MMA team’s best guesses about what to look for in 2018.