Discover the best MMA events of 2023, featuring stunning knockouts, thrilling comebacks, and unforgettable moments. Relive the excitement of these top five events.
| Event | Highlights |
|---|---|
| UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2 | Justin Gaethje avenges loss to Dustin Poirier with a knockout. Alex Pereira debuts at light heavyweight and sets the stage for a two-division title run. Derrick Lewis delivers a flying knee knockout. Kevin Holland wins by quick submission. |
| UFC 285: Gane vs. Jones | Jon Jones returns and captures heavyweight title with a guillotine choke submission. Alexa Grasso shocks the world with a face crank submission win over Valentina Shevchenko. Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov have an epic battle. Dricus Du Plessis continues his rise with a win over Derek Brunson. |
| ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes 3 | Demetrious Johnson closes out trilogy with Adriano Moraes. Sage Northcutt makes a stunning comeback with a quick heel hook submission win. Zebaztian Kadestam upsets Roberto Soldić with a brutal knockout. Stamp Fairtex finishes Alyse Anderson with a vicious body shot. |
| UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan | Arman Tsarukyan knocks out Beneil Dariush in just 64 seconds. Jalin Turner finishes Bobby Green with a brutal knockout. Deiveson Figueiredo impresses in bantamweight debut. Miesha Tate puts on a career-best performance. |
| UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodríguez | Alexander Volkanovski dominates Yair Rodríguez to retain featherweight title. Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja engage in a five-round war for the flyweight title. Dan Hooker and Jalin Turner have a three-round war. Dricus Du Plessis pulls off a massive upset win over Robert Whittaker. |
These five events showcased the best that MMA had to offer in 2023. From incredible knockouts to unforgettable comebacks, these fights will be remembered for years to come.
The year 2023 has been filled with exciting mixed martial arts action, and it’s time to recognize the best events that took place. MMA News has compiled a list of the top five events that stood out among the rest. From shocking knockouts to incredible comebacks, these events had it all.
UFC 291: Poirier vs. Gaethje 2
The UFC’s trip to Salt Lake City in 2023 proved to be a night to remember. Justin Gaethje avenged his loss to Dustin Poirier with a stunning knockout in the main event. Alex Pereira also made a successful debut at light heavyweight, setting the stage for a two-division title run later in the year. The card was filled with other memorable moments, including Derrick Lewis’s flying knee knockout and Kevin Holland’s quick submission victory.
UFC 285: Gane vs. Jones
The T-Mobile Arena in March was the setting for an unforgettable night of fights. Jon Jones made his long-awaited return to the octagon and captured the heavyweight title with a guillotine choke submission. Alexa Grasso shocked the world with a face crank submission win over Valentina Shevchenko, becoming the new women’s flyweight champion. The event also featured thrilling bouts between Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov, as well as Dricus Du Plessis and Derek Brunson.
ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes 3
While the UFC dominated the top spots, ONE Championship made its presence known with this event in Colorado. Demetrious Johnson closed out his trilogy with Adriano Moraes in a successful return to the United States. Sage Northcutt made a stunning comeback after a four-year layoff, securing a quick heel hook submission win. Zebaztian Kadestam also delivered a brutal knockout, and Stamp Fairtex showcased her skills with a vicious body shot finish.
UFC Fight Night: Dariush vs. Tsarukyan
The UFC’s December Fight Night card in Austin, Texas, was a stacked lineup that delivered on its promise. Arman Tsarukyan made a statement by knocking out Beneil Dariush in just 64 seconds. Jalin Turner also made the most of a short-notice opportunity with a brutal finish of Bobby Green. Deiveson Figueiredo impressed in his bantamweight debut, and Miesha Tate put on a career-best performance. The event also featured back-to-back slam knockouts and a thrilling comeback by Rodolfo Bellato.
UFC 290: Volkanovski vs. Rodríguez
The pressure was on for the UFC’s International Fight Week event in July, and it did not disappoint. Alexander Volkanovski returned to featherweight and dominated Yair Rodríguez, solidifying his status as the champion. Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja engaged in a five-round war for the flyweight title, with Pantoja coming out on top. Dan Hooker and Jalin Turner had a three-round war, and Dricus Du Plessis pulled off a massive upset win over Robert Whittaker. Robbie Lawler also had a memorable knockout victory in what turned out to be his final fight.
These five events showcased the best that MMA had to offer in 2023. From incredible knockouts to unforgettable comebacks, these fights will be remembered for years to come.
