2014 did not see a lot of title changes in the UFC. The 12 pounds of gold will have only been wrapped around five new waists by the end of the year.
Johny Hendricks won the vacant welterweight belt at the beginning of the year, but Robbie Lawler took the belt away from him at the beginning of December. T.J. Dillashaw upset Renan Barao to claim the bantamweight belt, and Fabricio Werdum took home the interim heavyweight belt at UFC 180. This Friday, a belt will be awarded on the inaugural women’s strawweight champion.
Will 2015 see the belt exchange hands more often?
Champions typically defend their titles two or three times per year. That will put the total for title defenses between 20-30 for the upcoming year. The challengers will have to step their game up because the current slate of champions are some of the best in UFC history.
Let’s have a look at the current champions, their potential opponents and who will end up holding gold when 2015 comes to an end.