UFC Fighters You Should Watch In 2023
UFC fighters offer fans some of the highest quality entertainment out there. 2022 was eventful and packed with surprises as the league crowned and welcomed new fighters, fighters cemented their places, and new prospects emerged.
However, a new year marks new milestones, events, and championships, and fighters can display their skills to win titles and belts in the UFC. Bettors are even looking at UFC odds to help accurately predict some of this year’s champions.
Read on as we peek at some UFC fighters you should look out for in 2023:
Raul Rosas Jr.
Raul Rosas won the breakthrough fighter for 2022’s last quarter. He blazed through his debut breakthrough UFC fighter with a face-crank submission of Jay Perrin in the first round in December 2022. Beating Perrin made Rosas the youngest fighter to win his debut in UFC history.
UFC noticed and signed Rosas Jr through Dana’ White’s Contender Series, where the Mexican triumphed over Mando Gutierrez with a unanimous decision. Rosas, nicknamed El Nino Problema, has a seven-fight winning streak under his belt, and they date far back to his UWC Mexico era, where he dominated his first five opponents. Four of them, he won by submission and one via TKO.
Rosas Jr is still really young, with a long way to becoming a top 5 contender in the bantamweight division. However, his skills can definitely carry him to the championship and even history’s youngest UFC champion.
Jon Jones
Jon Jones suffers hindrances from the failed contract negotiations with the UFC. The former undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Champion last appeared against Dominick Reyes in February 2020, when he defended his title with a unanimous victory for the 13th time.
Jones, nicknamed Bones, is rumored to appear in two comeback fights this year. He may be the next challenger, up against Francis Ngannou, who is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion. He may also contend for the interim title match with top division contenders Curtis Blaydes or Stipe Miocic.
However, Jones’ appearances will excite UFC fans because he is still one of the MMA fighters of all time, and he seems eager to prove that he isn’t done competing at the top.
Khamzat Chimaev
Khamzat was already a big shot back in 2021, but he went on to win legendary status in 2022 after remaining undefeated and defeating top contenders for two impressive wins. He squared against Gilbert Burns, who contended with him in April 2022 for their three-round welterweight showdown. He fell short and lost to the Swedish-born fighter.
Because he beat Burns, Chimaev made his first-ever event headliner in September 2022, as he fought Nate Diaz for UFC 279. However, he was forced out of the match, fighting Kevin Holland instead in a catchweight bout. Chimaev made easy work of Holland with the famous D’Arce choke.
Chimaev may fight Colby Covington in a number one contender match in the welterweight division. He may also go up against Alex Pereira in the middleweight division for the 185-pound belt. From what we see, he might even win a title this year if he continues as he is.
Ilia Topuria
Ilia Topuria is an undefeated contender making rounds in UFC’s featherweight division. He triumphed over Jai Herbert and Bryce Mitchell in March and December 2022. These impressive victories earned the Georgian Mauler a boost to the 145-pound division, and he is now the ninth-ranked challenger. The 25-year-old appeared in five promotional fights, and he won four finishes.
Topuria’s road to the top of the division won’t be as easy as the 145-pound weight category. Some of the weight classes’ contenders are Calvin Kattar, Arnold Allen, Giga Chikadze, and Brian Ortega. However, with Topuria’s resilient fighting style, we can predict progress in his appearance.
Fans believe he’ll make it to the top five, citing that he needs two or more wins against the big shots to claim a title shot in the future.