What an unbelievable year it has been in mixed martial arts. And what a year it is set up to be over the next twelve months. Big rematches, returns of legends and huge title fights are all likely in 2016 but it’s time to get a little more specific as I sit down and make 20 bold predictions for the year ahead. Lets just hope they are better than last year’s….

1. In no particular order; Conor McGregor will beat Frankie Edgar and win the lightweight title

2. Alistair Overeem becomes UFC heavyweight champion

3. Benson Henderson signs for Bellator

4. CM Punk wins his UFC debut

5. UFC London is the only UK event

6. Luke Rockhold, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and TJ Dillashaw all go undefeated

7. Nick Diaz gets a reduced ban, comes back to fight Robbie Lawler

8. Fedor beats Jaideep Singh, signs for Bellator

9. Cage Warriors returns on UFC Fight Pass

10. TJ Dillashaw knocks out Dominick Cruz

11. UFC 200 has three title fights and breaks 1.5 million PPV buys

12. GSP makes his comeback against Anderson Silva

13. Ben Askren returns to Bellator

14. Five top-10 ranked UFC fighters fail drug tests

15. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson wins the welterweight title

16. Jon Jones finishes Daniel Cormier

17. World Series of fighting gets taken over by Bellator

18. Peter Queally signs for the UFC

19. Ronda Rousey wins her rematch with Holly Holm

20. Ken Shamrock fights James Quinn McDonagh in Bellator