Updated 12.40

AS 2014 DRAWS to a close, we can now reflect on what was the most prolific 12 months in the UFC’s history. The promotion staged 46 live events across 14 different countries and continues to stand alone as the sport’s marquee brand.

Of course, not every show was compelling viewing – there were a handful of duds – but the quality was largely on par with the quantity. And there’s also plenty more to look forward to.

Dana and co have pencilled in 45 events for 2015 and, although most of them have yet to be assigned bouts or locations, five of the first six are set in stone. So there’s more than enough raw material available to speculate on what some of the coming year’s bigger talking points will be.

Here’s five of them:

1. The continuing rise of Irish MMA

The sport made a quantum leap in Ireland during 2014, and the consensus seems to be that we’re in for more of the same. At the beginning of the calendar year, the island had two representatives in the UFC – Conor McGregor and Norman Parke. In the interim that number tripled with Cathal Pendred, Paddy Holohan, Neil Seery and Aisling Daly all being added to the roster.

The monumental and seismic show at the venue formerly known as the O2 Arena in July was the icing on the cake.

Of that group, only Seery and Daly will not be fighting at UFC FN 59 in Boston on 18 January. However, having won her promotional debut in such an impressive fashion earlier this month, Daly is an outside bet for a late call-up. Seery, on the other hand, faces Chris Beal in Stockholm a week later.

It will be interesting to see if more Irish fighters will be added to the ranks in 2015, though there are two viable candidates – Paul Redmond and Joseph Duffy. Both men currently compete in the Cage Warriors’ lightweight division and are widely-considered two of Europe’s best. Duffy, lest we forget, is the last fighter to beat McGregor and Parke, and has looked spectacular in his two bouts since returning from a stint in professional boxing during which he amassed a 7-0 record.

Redmond, a stable-mate of Neil Seery at Team Ryano, is one of the most revered submission artists on the scene and looks set for the big time.

Finally, the UFC have confirmed their return to Ireland in 2015. What remains unclear is whether it’ll be in a stadium with the one they call ‘The Notorious’ fighting for a world title.

2. A possible changing of the guard at the top of the light-heavyweight division

Since brutally taking the belt from Shogun Rua in 2011, Jon Jones has never looked back. At just 27 he owns the record for most consecutive title defences at 205 lbs, seven and counting. During that time he has dispatched some of the sport’s biggest names with a frightening ease.

It hasn’t all been plain sailing – Vitor Belfort caught him in an air-tight armbar at UFC 152, and one of the biggest upsets in history was momentarily in the offing, but the champion wriggled free, before eventually submitting the Brazilian. Alexander Gustafsson gave Jones the fight of his life at UFC 165 in one of the most enthralling bouts ever.

At this moment in time, Jones is indisputably the best fighter on the planet but a new nemesis awaits in the form of Daniel Cormier.

They were originally meant to fight at UFC 178, but Jones, as was the way in 2014, was forced to withdraw with an injury. The pair will kick off 2015 as the main event for UFC 182 on 3 January.

The disdain these two have for each other is palpable and it boiled over at a press event for UFC 178 when they traded blows in front of the fans and press in a Las Vegas casino. Not even the slightest amount of hype will be required to sell this one.

But there’s more to it than that. Cormier poses a legitimate threat to the champion. He is undefeated in his 15 professional fights, and all but two of those were at heavyweight. He represented America twice at the Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling and has no discernible weaknesses. Not bad for a guy who didn’t have his first professional fight until the age of 30. Mr Jones is in for a stern examination.

3. The return of Anderson Silva

When looking back over the last 18 months, Anderson Silva is unlikely to do so with any fondness. In July 2013 at UFC 162, he lost the middleweight belt he held for seven years to Chris Weidman. That December, in the re-match, he incurred a gruesome injury when Weidman checked (blocked) one of his leg kicks, breaking Silva’s left fibula and tibia. At 38, it looked as though the career of a man many consider the greatest martial artist ever had concluded.

But, after a successful surgery and rehabilitation process, the UFC confirmed in July that Silva would meet Nick Diaz. News of the match-up was greeted with incredulity, but mostly great excitement.

The styles of Silva and Diaz, though vastly different, are among the most pleasing in the game. From a purist’s point of view, seeing how Silva’s wonderfully accurate and fluid striking fares against the relentless volume punching of Diaz will be an absolute joy. They meet at UFC 183 on 31 January.

4. Vitor Belfort will be competing without the help of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)

The use of TRT in MMA was one of the most polarising topics in recent memory. Without universal guidelines or laws to properly police its use, a number of fighters exploited the situation. However, when the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned the substance, all doubt was removed.

Vitor Belfort, who has previously tested positive for steroids, was a frequent user of TRT. He fought on three occasions in 2013, each time in his native Brazil, where the use of TRT is permitted. All three of those bouts – against Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson – ended with Belfort knocking out his opponents via head-kick. Understandably, the validity of those victories were questioned.

Belfort was due to face middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC 173 in Las Vegas, but in light of the new blanket-ban on TRT in Nevada he elected to turn down the fight. Last February, it was revealed he had failed a random drug test because of elevated testosterone levels. He has now ceased all use of TRT, passed recent drug tests with flying colours, and been licensed to fight again. He and Weidman will square off at UFC 184 on 28 February. It should become evident very quickly if TRT was the basis of Belfort’s spectacular 2013.

5. The relentless global march of the UFC keeps moving forward

The promotion has worked tirelessly over the last decade to establish itself as a global brand. The result has been a steadily growing presence in some of the world’s major market places, the most recent example being November’s inaugural event in Mexico for UFC 180.

Dana White has said ventures into unchartered territory are in the offing, namely to Poland, Holland and Russia. If the promotion could break, or slightly fracture, the Russian market in 2015 it would be a massive boon. Major global sporting events are hardly commonplace in Russia and, with such a huge population, the attendances could be earth-shattering. That a number of Russian fighters are beginning to make waves in the UFC, only increases the chances of success.

– First published 10.30