After a spectacular 2022, what does 2023 have in store for fighting fans? There’s a lot to look forward to next year, especially given the many possible matches we could see over the next 12 months, across all disciplines.
However, even before we get into potential skirmishes, there are some confirmed and almost certain skirmishes to look forward to. dealer have provided the market for some of these major fights and betting levels and fan interest will increase throughout the first weeks of the year.
Deiveson Figueiredo vs Brandon Moreno 4 – UFC 283 – Jan 21
Four encounters between two fighters is quite rare, but at UFC 283, we could see one of the biggest quarterfinals to date, as undisputed flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and interim champion Brandon Moreno attempt to put an end to one of the most intense and intense showdowns in MMA.
Moreno, from Mexico, and Figueiredo, from Brazil, first fought in December 2020 (4-star duel, Deiveson Figueiredo vs Brandon Moreno I). Most people thought Moreno was out of form at the time as Figueiredo seemed almost invincible at flyweight, but in the end the two fought to an interesting stalemate that the UFC rescheduled. fight.
The second match takes place in June 2021 (Deiveson Figueiredo vs Brandon Moreno II). This time it wasn’t a competition as Moreno beat the champion in the third round to claim his title. Almost certainly, the UFC decided to schedule a third bout between the two that was finally held last January.
This time, however, the outcome was very different as Figueiredo prevailed by unanimous decision after another fierce battle (Brandon Moreno vs Deiveson Figueiredo III). Unfortunately for Figueiredo, contract disputes prevented him from competing and the UFC had to offer him an interim title.
However, when Moreno defeated Kai Kara-France in July (Brandon Moreno vs Kai Kara-France 2), the quartet of Moreno vs Figueiredo was the only way to unification. If the first three battles between these two are any guide, we’ll be rewarded in what could be the last word in a remarkable showdown.
Islam Makhachev vs Alexander Volkanovski – UFC 284 – February 11
There are all sorts of possibilities for major head-to-head fights in 2023, but this encounter between Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski, scheduled to take place at UFC 284 in February, is a big one that we’re sure of. can be expected and it promises to be explosive.
Volkanovski is sometimes described as the best heavyweight in MMA, but that will be put to the test here as he rises a weight class, hoping to add the UFC lightweight belt to his collection. , becoming the only fifth person in UFC History to simultaneously hold titles in two different weight classes.
Standing in his way is another boxer who ranks high on the weight table: Islam Makhachev is almost invincible, who, like Volkanovski, has only lost once in his career. That loss came in 2015, while the opponent’s loss was even further back in 2013.
The two seem to be at their peak as warriors. Volkanovski is only 34 years old and Makhachev is 31 years old. With both renowned for their elite-level cardio, this fight promises to be an intense test of endurance with the potential winner going to be the best boxer in the world.
Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury – February/March
Heavyweight is boxing’s most important category and it promises a lot in 2023, with the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury clash already shaping up to be the most exciting bout in years; A dream match will attract the attention of match fans as well as non-boxing fans.
Since we saw Anthony Joshua recover to defeat Wladimir Klitschko in 2017, there has only been such an important match (Fight of the Year 2017 in The Ring magazine – Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko), with two undefeated global champions entering the ring to contest the title of best heavyweight boxer in the world.
Usyk already has a place in boxing history as the first undisputed four-belt cruiser class champion, and by beating Joshua twice, he amassed three heavy belts. Fury, returning from a brief retirement, brought the WBC belt to the competition, having defeated Klitschko and Deontay Wilder.
If the old saying that ‘style makes the battle’ still true, this match has it all. Southpaw Usyk is a pure fighter, while Fury’s combination of height, reach and speed is unlike anything the weight class has ever seen. This is a 2023 game that you won’t want to miss.
Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs Ryan Garcia – April
This undefeated lightweight boxer clash will take place in April. This match also raises the possibility that there will be more big fights between online fighters in the future.
Both fighters are still active in what you might call their best physical, and the prospect of a clash between the two is certainly exciting, given the strength and experience of the two. Davis forms a compelling contrast to Garcia’s size and speed, which cannot be underestimated.
With their style and approach, we could almost guarantee a knockout. Even better, both have vibrant young fan bases and can fuel a sport that sometimes struggles to develop itself for a new generation. This fight promises to be important in many ways.
