UFC 283 is in the books and we have new champions at light heavyweight and flyweight.
The Rio de Janeiro card had incredible moments from top to bottom, ensuring the first major card of 2023 did not disappoint.
Full Card Results
Jamahal Hill def. Glover Teixeira via unanimous decision (50-44, 50-44, 50-44)
Brandon Moreno def. Deiveson Figueiredo (c) via third-round TKO (doctor stoppage)
Gilbert Burns def. Neil Magny via first-round submission (arm triangle)
Jessica Andrade def. Lauren Murphy via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25, 30-26)
Johnny Walker def. Paul Craig via first-round TKO (punches)
Ihor Potieria def. Mauricio Rua via first-round TKO (punches)
Bruno Ferreira def. Gregory Rodrigues via first-round knockout (punch)
Thiago Moises def. Melquizael Costa via second-round submission (neck crank)
Gabriel Bonfim def. Mounir Lazzez via first-round submission (guillotine choke)
Jailton Almeida def. Shamil Abdurakhimov via second-round TKO (punches)
Cody Stamann def. Luan Luiz Lacerda via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ismael Bonfim def. Terrance McKinney via second-round knockout (knee)
Nicolas Dalby def. Warlley Alves via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Josiane Nunes def. Zarah Fairn via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Daniel Marcos def. Saimon Oliveira via second-round knockout (strikes)
Jamahal Hill retires Glover Teixeira
UFC 283 will be noted as the night two Brazilian legends stepped away from the game, albeit under different circumstances. In the main event, Teixeira attempted to recapture the light heavyweight title in what many expected to be a toss-up fight for Hill. Though Hill did have vulnerabilities Teixeira could exploit, the only time this fight was up for grabs was during the ring walk.
Hill destroyed Teixeira. “Sweet Dreams” landed 232 significant strikes to 75 for Teixeira, winning every round and looking like he was taking it easy on him at times. The beating left Teixeira swollen and bloodied, making his post-fight retirement announcement all the better.
The 42-year-old Teixeira can hang his head high as he’ll be enshrined in the Hall of Fame one day. However, like many legends in their last show, they end up doing the job and ceding to the younger generation.
There should be no doubt that Hill is the champion. Though Jiri Prozchaka and even Magomed Ankalaev might have a say in that argument, they will have one hell of a fight ahead of them whoever ends up crossing Hill first.
Brandon Moreno scores definitive tetralogy win
Another fight that was even money was the fourth fight between Deivison Figuereido and Brandon Moreno. The flyweights engaged in the first tetralogy in UFC history with the series tied at 1-1-1, and the expectation that this was the final time they’d fight.
While the three previous fights were savage wars of attrition, this was a fairly one-sided bout as Moreno went right through a listless Figueiredo. Aside from Figuereido’s momentary success on the ground, Moreno pieced him up and drew a doctor’s stoppage when a cut above Figuereido’s eye compromised his vision.
It may not have been the end that fans were hoping for, but it was the end nonetheless. Figuereido made it clear that he’ll move up to bantamweight in his next fight, a grossly overdue move. Even so, both men can hold their heads up high for giving fans an amazing rivalry that will go down in UFC history.
Brazil’s big night
The Rio de Janeiro card featured amazing Brazilian talent all over the card. While Teixeira and Figeureido weren’t able to leave home with the gold, the rest of the card saw incredible performances that kept the crowd happy.
On the main card, Gilbert Burns submitted the resourceful Neil Magny to keep himself in striking distance of a future welterweight title shot. Jessica Andrade put on a horrific beating of Lauren Andrade that will no doubt be remembered by year’s end. Johnny Walker looked to finally regain his lost momentum stopping Paul Craig.
The preliminaries saw the successful UFC debuts of the Bonfim brothers, Gabriel and Israel, particularly Israel’s flying-knee KO of Terrance McKinney. Jailton Almeida’s destruction of Shamil Abdurakhimov shows that he is a promising fighter.
Perhaps the most sobering experience of the night was watching a tired and shot Mauricio “Shogun” Rua being trotted out to be slaughtered by Ihor Potieria. While it was considerate of the UFC to give Rua the main event of the prelims to say goodbye on his terms, they couldn’t have done a worse job in picking a suitable opponent for him. Potieria blasted Rua out before the end of the first, ending the career of the MMA legend.
All in all, the entire card was wrapped up with big energy and great moments. Here’s to hoping the troubled UFC 284 card in Perth will keep the momentum alive.
