2023 UFC Predictions
2022 is fast drawing to a close, and, being MMA fans, our minds are turning toward what could be in store in the Ultimate Fighting Championship over the coming 12 months. Will the world’s greatest light heavyweight return to the cage? Is the UFC eyeing up London town as its next major host city? And will 2023 finally be the year that a former Women’s Strawweight prospect will make a triumphant return to the cage?
Let’s take a look…
Jones has the Heavyweight Belt in his Sights
It’s no secret that Jon’ Bones’ Jones is ready. He’s spent three years away from the Octagon, vacated his Light Heavyweight title and bulked up into beast mode. There’s nothing that he or the MMA world wants more come March 2023 than to be making a claim for the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World.
While the Light Heavyweight division was once undeniably Jon Jones’ domain, the heavyweight division is brand new territory for the former prodigy, and Francis Ngannou isn’t going to make conquering it easy.
The reigning kingpin of the heavyweights has been sidelined since the start of this year after aggravating a knee injury during his first successful title defense against Ciryl Gane. He’s eager to get back into the cage, but there’s the small matter of his aspirations to try out boxing, and the contract to finalize before he does so.
In an interview with Combate, Ngannou shared his thoughts on his pending contract renewal with the UFC, stating that he’s looking for a “better [contract] structure to have a better future”. He’s also adamant that any new contract has to allow him to enter the boxing ring, as he’s “going to box because I’m free” and is in charge of his own future.
Tatiana Suarez to Return?
If anyone out there remained unconvinced that female athletes belonged in the Octagon as much as males, the women’s Strawweight Division has set them straight in 2022. It’s been nailbiting to watch former champion Zhang Weili climb her way back to the top, first with that stunning spinning backfist that knocked Joanna Jędrzejczyk to the canvas, then with the victorious reclamation of her belt – in her home country, no less.
This is a division that’s not exactly lacking in talent, but we can’t help but miss the rising star Tatiana Suarez. Earmarked early on as one of the best strawweights to ever grace the cage, Suarez was last seen fighting at UFC 238 in June 2019, but has been sidelined with injuries since. However, according to MMA Junkie, she’s determined to make a comeback in Q1 2023.
From 2016 to 2019, Suarez carved out a textbook career path. Entering the promotion as the winner of TUF 23, she plowed her way through the likes of Nina Ansaroff and Carla Esparza to gain a blemish-free record of 8-0. It seemed that championship status was within reach but, sadly, she had to withdraw from fighting Roxanne Modafferi in a flyweight bout at UFC 266 due to her preexisting injuries.
Taking on the UK
Good ol’ Blighty’s provided the stage for not one but two UFC events in 2022. The promotion made a return to British soil after a three-year hiatus, running the sell-out UFC Fight Night Volkov vs Aspinall at the O2 arena in March, where the world was introduced to rising UK stars Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann. This was followed up with Fight Night 208 in July (also at the O2), where, once again, Pimblett and McCann absolutely demolished their opponents.
The UFC’s been developing quite the reputation for putting on explosive events in London, so it’s going to need to pull something major out of the bag for 2023. And major the return is rumored to be, as Dana White is currently considering hosting a stadium event at the legendary Wembley Arena. Who are the picks to headline this event? Why, it’s likely to be another trilogy in the form of Edwards vs Usman 3.
White is deadset on booking this trilogy event between Leon Edwards and Kamaran Usman after Edwards snatched the welterweight title from Usman at UFC 278. The promotion has never hosted an event of this size in London before. However, despite White’s reluctance to subject himself to British weather, the iconic Wembley Stadium would be the perfect setting.
