Two title fights headline UFC 283
UFC 283, set to be held at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro on the morning of Sunday 22 January 2023, will feature two title fights centred around popular Brazilian athletes Glover Teixeira and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Teixeira (33-8) will have the chance to reclaim the light heavyweight championship when he faces Jamahal Hill (11-1, 1 NC) in the main event; while the comain sees two-time and current flyweight champion Figueiredo (21-2-1) face up to interim champ Brandon Moreno (20-6-2)... for the fourth time!
Teixeira was set to have a rematch with Jiri Prochazka – who defeated the Brazilian veteran at UFC 275 to win the light heavyweight belt – at UFC 282 last month. However, the Czech pulled out of the fight and honourably vacated the title due to a serious shoulder injury.
The vacant championship was then up for grabs between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev, but their match ended in a controversial draw, leading to this fight between Teixeira and Hill for the strap.
“He’s an incredible guy. Tough, tough opponent. Very good fighter,” Teixeira said of Hill, who is on a three-fight win streak – all by knockout or technical knockout.
“I’m just excited to be training for this, training to get the belt back, prove I’m the best in the world. That’s what I’m here for. I’m very excited. I just want to go out there and fight the best.”
The co-main sees a revival of one of MMA’s greatest rivalries, as Figueiredo and Moreno become the first to fight four matches against each other in UFC history.
They first battled to a draw at UFC 256 at the end of 2020, with Figueiredo retaining the title as reigning champ; Moreno then claimed a submission win to take the belt off the Brazilian at UFC 263 in mid-2021; before Figueiredo won by unanimous decision at UFC 270 a year ago to reclaim the title.
Moreno then won an interim championship bout against Kai Kara-France in July last year, leading to this first ever tetralogy fight between himself and Figueiredo. Their previous three fights have been outstanding and this clash promises to be another thriller.
Moreno’s manager, Jason House, has even likened their rivalry to the legendary boxing feud between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
“I’m so excited for this fourth fight with Figueiredo. You need that dance partner. If you want to leave a legacy in this sport, you need that dance partner,” said House.
“People are like, ‘Oh, do you like Figueiredo?’ Like, dude, I Iove them. I hope they’re making a ton of money, I hope we’re making a ton of money, and I hope these guys continue to make magic in the cage because I think they needed each other for both of their legacies. [They’re the] Ali-Frazier of the flyweight division.”
The rest of the main card features further Brazilian fighters, as Gilbert Burns, Jessica Andrade and Johnny Walker take on Neil Magny (welterweight), Lauren Murphy (women’s flyweight) and Paul Craig (light heavyweight) respectively.