2019 was another big year for the sport of mixed martial arts. The Ultimate Fighting Championship touched down in no fewer than 15 different countries over 42 different events, significantly expanding its footprint across Oceania, Asia, Russia and the Middle East whilst solidifying their dominance as the major player in the United States. A potential superstar in Israel Adesanya was crowned in Melbourne before a record-breaking 57,000+ people, reigniting the UFC’s 185-pound division, which has been in a state of flux since Michael Bisping pulled the upset over Luke Rockhold way back in July 2016. Conor McGregor continued to write his career obituary, copping criminal charges for two separate assaults and coming under investigation for a second alleged sexual assault, all the while remaining conspicuously absent from the Octagon. Amanda Nunes, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Jon Jones and Valentia Shevchenko consolidated their dominance courtesy of a combined seven title defences in their respective weight classes, whilst several of their counterparts – Daniel Cormier, Robert Whittaker, Tyron Woodley, Max Holloway, TJ Dillashaw, Henry Cejudo, Rose Namajunas and Jessica Andrade – were toppled by challengers, inactivity or EPO.
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Jacob Debets 