2023 looks like an exciting year for UFC fans with top fights to be expected in all weight classes.
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Will Conor McGregor become the first champion of 3 weight classes?
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Jon Jones returns: Will he become the biggest MMA fighter of all time?
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First ever quadrilogy fight in UFC history early next year?
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New challenges for Amanda Nunes and Francis Ngannou?
Countless reports and studies show that MMA has been the fastest growing sport in the last couple of years and is projected to keep growing in a healthy trend in years to come.
A significant factor is, of course, Dana White’s work with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and how the company has
scaled up to become the most prominent fighting organisation in the world.
Another contributing factor to MMA’s rising popularity is the cross-over boxing bouts outside of the organisations, between top names, such as Conor McGregor and retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
YouTube celebrity and amateur boxer Jake Paul faced former UFC long-time champion, Anderson Silva, in the boxing ring and won on the 29th of October this year, as well faced UFC fighter Tyron Woodley last year, for example.
The big money and paychecks surrounding these cross-over fights, make them attractive to fighters from not just the MMA or boxing world.
However, most active, and top-tier MMA fighters seek to become champions and break records in an organisation such
as UFC, Bellator or Pride – The number of title defences, or becoming champion in more than one division, is a sure road to legendary status in the MMA world.
In a new infographic from UK betting company bwin, a complete list of double MMA champions (multiple organisations listed), current champions in the UFC, upcoming title bouts and the potential biggest fights in UFC during 2023 is revealed.
The blog post shares a Tale of The Tape match-up of potential fights between Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones, and Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison, to give insights into fighting records and physical advantages.
The post lists potential match-ups for all divisions, and here are three examples of top fights that could take place in the new year:
Women’s Featherweight Division – Amanda Nunes vs Kayla Harrison
Amanda Nunes has defended the featherweight title since 29 December 2018, and there have been talks about UFC wanting to end the weight class as they struggle to find opponents for Nunes.
In the fighting organisation PFL, former Judo Olympic and world champion Kayla Harrison is facing the same
problem. As Harrison has never lost in her MMA career (15-0), a switch to UFC and a new challenge would be the ideal move for her career. This fight would be one of the biggest fights.
Women’s Strawweight Division – Carla Esparza vs Rose Namajunas
Rose Namajunas was predicted to hold the belt for years to come, but Carla Esparza messaed that up, winning the title from Namajunas at UFC 274 (7 May 2022), in a fight that has been dubbed the worst title fight of all time.
As this was Carla’s second victory over Rose, Esparza vs Namajunas 3 is not unlikely to take place in 2023, even if Esparza loses the belt in her upcoming fight against Zhang Weili.
As neither one of the fighters wants to repeat what happened in their last bout, it will turn into a war with a lot at stake: Potentially the belt and Rose another shot at beating her nemesis.
Current heavyweight title holder Francis Ngannou’s contract with the UFC is coming to an end, and at the same time, former light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones is moving up to heavyweight.
After about a three year hiatus, everybody just wants to see Jones’ potential at heavyweight, and are ready to see him in their with anybody, even if that means jumping the line and facing the champ, Ngannou.
Ngannou, who is looking to possibly take his career outside the UFC has been calling for this fight for over a year now. Jones as well has voiced that he wants the fight. The build-up alone and backstory behind the two could make this one of, if not thee biggest fight in 2023.
Written by: Nomvelo for bwin
+44 20 8144 7420
https://sports.bwin.com/en/news/other-sports/ufc/big-fights-to-look-forward-to/
Image courtesy of: bwin
MMA Loki news room staff
