We are now totally into 2023, and a new year means new fights in the UFC. This year has so much potential that we know that FanDuel MMA will be getting lots of action this year, with so many great fighters due to enter the octagon.
This year we have to wonder about legend Conor McGregor, and if he will manage to become the first champion of 3 weight classes. Then there is the return of Jon Jones, and we consider if he will become the biggest and best MMA fighter of all time.
Let’s not forget the potential for the first ever quadrilogy fight in the history of the UFC, and how new challenges will likely appear for both Amanda Nunes and Francis Ngannou.
There is so much ahead in this year’s UFC action, and you don’t want to miss any of it. So, let’s take a look at what the potential best fights are for this year as we head into 2023, UFC first!
UFC May Be The Fastest Growing Sport
Reports show that MMA has been growing faster than any other sport these last few years, and it is likely to keep growing in a healthy manner for the years ahead too. The most significant factor is the UFC’s work by Dana White, and how the company managed to scale the ladder and become the biggest fighting organization across the globe.
Yet another contributor to the rising success of MMA is the crossover boxing fights outside of the organization. With UFC top names like Conor McGregor, and Floyd Mayweather (a boxing legend now retired), as well as amateur boxer Joke Paul fighting UFC-legend Tyron Woodley, it’s hard to be blind to why MMA is so successful.
Of course, big paychecks and lots of money backs up these crossovers, which makes them extra attractive to fighters in boxing and in MMA. But, that being said, a majority of top MMA fighters will want to become champions and break fighting records in the UFC, Pride, or Bellator.
They want to break records or be champions in title defenses, or becoming a champion in more than a single division, as doing so is a sure fire way to gain legendary status in MMA.
Now, there have been a few reports, with a complete list of champions in the UFC, double MMA champions, and upcoming bouts, as well as the potentially best and biggest fights in the UFC that we will see this year.
Some of these include potential fights between Jones and Ngannou, Nunes and Harrison, and so on. So this is what we will look into today.
Best Possible Fights
There are 3 main fights that would take the cake this year, so we want to focus on these, and why they would be so big. While both the women’s and men’s divisions have a lot of strength and power, the women’s division does have a bit of extra potential this year.
So, which fights will likely be rocking the FanDuel UFC odds this year? Let’s look!
Amanda Nunes Vs Kayla Harrison: Women’s Featherweight
This is the first fight we look forward to. Nunes has been defending the Featherweight title since December 2018, and there have actually been some rumors that the UFC want to end this weight class, simply because they struggle to find opponents for Nunes.
Well, as it turns out in PFL, the previous Judo Olympic and World Champion Kayla Harrison has the same issue. Harrison has never lost in the career, at 15-0, so a UFC switch could be a good move for her.
If we see these two fight it out, it will definitely be one of the top fights we could imagine seeing this year!
Carla Esparza Vs Rose Namajunas: Women’s Strawweight
Women’s strawweight also has a lot of excitement, as Rose Namajunas was believed to have the belt for many years to come, but Esparza won the title in 2022 in a fight that is believed to be the worst of all time.
Since this was Esparza’s 2nd victory over Namajunas, a 3rd fight between these two is not super likely to happen in 2023, even if Esparza were to lose the belt in her fight against Weili.
Neither one of these fighters wants a repeat of their previous fight, risking the belt and Namajunas finally beating Esparza, however, we have to wait and see.
Francis Ngannou Vs Jon Jones: Men’s Heavyweight
In men’s heavyweight things are hot too, with Ngannou currently holding the title, but his contract with the UFC is slowly ending, but meanwhile, the previous light heavyweight, Jon Jones is coming back into the Octagon, this would likely happen this year.
Jones has had a 2-year transformation to this body in order to reach the heavyweight division. If he succeeds in taking the belt in the heavyweight division, he will probably be seen as the best MMA fighter of all time. That being said, while Ngannou’s UFC future is not clear, a fight with Jones is a dream for pretty much every fan out there!
Overall
So many great fights we hope to see, which fight do you want to see the most?