5 reasons why 2023 could be one of the best years yet for the UFC
As December dawns upon us, there are only three UFC events left in 2022, meaning that it’s hard not to start looking forward to 2023.
2022 has undoubtedly been an excellent year for the UFC, but can 2023 top it and be even better? There’s definitely a chance that it can.
With some major stars rising up the ranks, others potentially returning, and big fights already on tap, 2023 could well be a true banner year for the world’s biggest MMA promotion.
Here are five reasons why 2023 could be one of the best years yet for the UFC.
#5. The UFC has plenty of fast-rising stars to keep an eye on in 2023
Every year seems to see a handful of new superstars break out in the UFC, but coming into 2023, there seems to be the potential for a bigger number than ever before.
It feels like every weight class has at least one or two fighters who could rise up to the top of the mountain in 2023. Some of these fighters appear to have the potential to become true poster-boys – or girls – for the promotion.
Fans across the world are already well aware of names like Khamzat Chimaev, Sean O’Malley and Alex Pereira, who both became true superstars in 2022.
However, 2023 could be the year that sees the likes of Adrian Yanez, Merab Dvalishvili, Magomed Ankalaev, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Jack Della Maddalena, to name just a handful, become truly big names.
And just like that! 😱
Jack Della Maddalena finishes Ramazan Emeev with a flurry of shots💥
#UFC275 https://t.co/tRhWnGeayt
Essentially, it feels like we’re about to hit a tipping point for the UFC. Older stars like Frankie Edgar, the Diaz brothers and Jose Aldo are all fading away or have already retired. It feels like their replacements are all beginning to come through and 2023 could be the year that really sees the changing of the guard.
If that happens, then the year could definitely become a legendary one for the promotion.
#4. COVID-19 restrictions ending means the UFC should be able to move around more often in 2023
One aspect of the UFC’s promotional style that’s been lacking in the last few years has been their willingness to keep the show on the road.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that saw the world practically shut down in 2020, the promotion would regularly break into new territories, whether that was different states of the US, Canada or Brazil, or new countries entirely, usually in Europe.
Since the onset of the pandemic, though, that’s all slowed down. The octagon has visited a few more places in 2022, namely Paris, London and Singapore. For the most part, though, shows have been US-exclusive, with the majority of the promotion’s Fight Night events taking place at the Las Vegas Apex.
It’s unlikely that the latter part will change too much in 2023. After all, it’s massively cost-effective for the UFC to produce smaller shows at home, even if they don’t draw crowds there per say.
However, given that the promotion has already booked returns next year to Australia and Brazil for the first time since 2019 and 2020 respectively, it’s safe to say that they intend to take the show on the road again.
We've got TWO title fights coming to #UFC284!
@PanteraUFC vs @JoshEmmettUFC is OFFICIAL for the interim featherweight title!
🛫🎟 Visit UFC.com/Perth to register for pre-sale tickets, Travel Packages, and VIP Experiences for #UFC284 in Perth! https://t.co/U9i8Q9aBPS
Will 2023 be the year that we finally see the octagon in Africa, for instance? Could we see a show take place in Italy for the first time? Or will we finally see the promotion head to other Brazilian states such as Amazonas and Bahia?
With most of the world’s COVID-19 restrictions finally over, this will hopefully be the case, making 2023 a more unique – and better – year for the promotion.
#3. Some of the UFC’s weight classes look more unpredictable going into 2023
At the start of 2022, it was hard to imagine the title picture in a number of the UFC’s weight classes changing before the end of the year.
At least nine of the promotion’s twelve divisions appeared to have dominant champions sitting at the top. The idea that welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and strawweight champion Rose Namajunas might lose their titles seemed crazy.
However, as 2022 comes to a close, it’s safe to say that many of the promotion’s title pictures have changed entirely. Usman, Adesanya and Namajunas have all lost their titles, while we’ve also seen a new champ in Islam Makhachev crowned at 155lbs.
ISLAM MAKHACHEV IS THE UNDISPUTED LW CHAMPION OF THE WORLD! 🏆
[ @MakhachevMMA | #UFC280 ] https://t.co/aJzHlS6fxF
The final show of 2022 will see a new champion crowned at 205lbs, while early 2023 will also see an interim featherweight title decided as undisputed champ Alexander Volkanovski attempts to make a run at 155lbs.
Essentially, it’s hard to even predict what might happen to most of the UFC’s titles in 2023, as a number of the new champions seem far more vulnerable than their predecessors ever did. That unpredictability, of course, only bodes well for what could be an excellent year.
#2. 2023 should see the return of some of the UFC’s biggest superstars
While 2022 has definitely seen the UFC produce some marquee shows, it’s arguably been lacking in terms of events that really piqued the interest of casual fans. For the most part, that’s because the promotion has been without a number of its biggest stars this year.
That could change in 2023, as it seems highly likely that both Conor McGregor and Jon Jones, who rank amongst the biggest drawing cards in MMA history, could return to action after lengthy layoffs.
We haven’t seen McGregor since he suffered a devastating leg injury in his 2021 bout with Dustin Poirier, while Jones has been out of action for even longer, since February 2020.
However, with rumors persisting that Jones could be ready to return as a heavyweight in the early part of 2023, and ‘The Notorious’ suggesting he’ll be up for a comeback by the summer, we could be in for some genuinely huge fights next year.
The return of the Mac in 2023? 🤔
(via @thenotoriousmma) https://t.co/pJx8dsmO2h
When you add in potential returns for former double champion Henry Cejudo, fan favorites Nick Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, and accomplished heavyweight Stipe Miocic, 2023 could well become the year of the comeback.
Adding these huge star names to the already stacked roster can only make things even better for the UFC, and assuming they all do return in 2023, it’s hard not to imagine the year being a massively successful one.
#1. 2023 is the UFC’s 30th year
One key factor that is largely being overlooked, but could turn next year into a big one for the UFC, is the fact that 2023 is the promotion’s 30th year.
As everyone knows, the promotion was born back in November 1993, when Royce Gracie defeated three opponents to become the inaugural tournament winner.
Okay, so it’s true that 2013 – the promotion's 20 year anniversary – wasn’t treated as any bigger of a deal than any other year. However, Dana White is renowned for looking to make a big deal of milestone events, and the promotion’s 25th anniversary show in 2018 was definitely treated as such.
More to the point, 30 years is a long time in any sport. The fact that the promotion has lasted through so many trials and tribulations over the years is a testament to the hard work of the likes of White and the Fertitta brothers, as well as all of its legendary fighters.
Therefore, once the year gets closer to November, it’s highly likely that this milestone will be talked about non-stop, and it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see a huge 30th anniversary show promoted that month.
Imagine if the UFC brought out the greatest 30 fighters to their PPV in November 2023 to celebrate its 30th anniversary? Would be pretty amazing. twitter.com/arielhelwani/s…
Given how UFC 100 and UFC 200 were treated, we can probably expect any kind of anniversary show to be truly special. That could well be the tipping factor in turning 2023 into a legendary year overall.