Read about Jon Jones’s triumphant return to the UFC and his victory in the heavyweight championship. Get updates on other notable fighters and events in the MMA world in 2023.
| Fighter | Achievement |
|---|---|
| Jon Jones | Won UFC heavyweight championship |
| Aljamain Sterling | Defended UFC bantamweight title, but also suffered a knockout loss |
| Israel Adesanya | Regained and lost UFC middleweight title |
| Leon Edwards | Successfully defended UFC welterweight championship |
| Amanda Nunes | Retired after defending UFC women’s bantamweight title |
This article provides an overview of the notable events and achievements in the world of MMA in 2023. It covers Jon Jones’s return to the UFC and his victory in the heavyweight championship, as well as updates on other fighters such as Aljamain Sterling, Israel Adesanya, Leon Edwards, and Amanda Nunes.
Jon Jones, known as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), made a triumphant return to the octagon in 2023. After a 37-month layoff, Jones moved up to the heavyweight division to challenge for the UFC heavyweight championship . Despite doubts about his age and time away from competition, Jones proved his critics wrong.
Born and raised in Rochester, N.Y., Jones had previously been the light heavyweight champion. However, he had a disagreement with UFC president and CEO Dana White over his pay, seeking more to fight as a heavyweight. The 36-year-old fighter, who is also the brother of NFL players Arthur and Chandler Jones, finally agreed to the challenge and stepped into the octagon.
On March 4, in Las Vegas, the highly anticipated fight between Jones and heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane took place. After a brief interruption due to a low blow, Jones quickly took Gane to the ground and secured a submission victory, becoming the new UFC heavyweight champion.
Jones was set to make his long-awaited debut at Madison Square Garden in UFC 295 on November 11. However, he suffered a pectoral injury during training, postponing the matchup against former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. Fans are eagerly awaiting the rescheduled fight between these two legends.
In other UFC news, Aljamain Sterling had an eventful year as the UFC bantamweight champion. He successfully defended his title against Henry Cejudo but was knocked out by current bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley.
Israel Adesanya, a two-time UFC middleweight champion, had a mixed year. He regained the middleweight title but lost it for the second time in three matches to Sean Strickland. Strickland is now preparing for his first title defense against Dricus du Plessis.
Another highlight of 2023 was Leon Edwards defending his UFC welterweight championship against Colby Covington.
Amanda Nunes, one of the greatest women’s champions in MMA history, retired after defending her UFC women’s bantamweight title against Irene Aldana.
In addition to UFC news, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) acquired Bellator MMA, making ESPN the biggest home of MMA in the U.S.
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