GET ready for something pretty special when the UFC delivers its first numbered event of the year with two championships belts on the line in front of a capacity Brazilian crowd in Rio de Janeiro.
Last March the roof almost came off London’s O2 twice in as many weeks (remember Storm Eunice?) when the Octagon landed back in the UK for the first time since the pandemic, resulting in one of the greatest nights in UK MMA history.
And now the anticipation is that it’s Brazil’s turn to truly celebrate the return of the sport they all but invented, when the UFC returns to a city known for its iconic carnivals.
The final event before the global lockdown restricted UFC to nearly three years of Fight Island-quarantined or Las Vegas Apex cards, took place in Brazil on March 14th 2020, when newly detected Covid-19 ensured the fights played out to an empty arena.
Almost three years later, Brazilian fight fans get the opportunity to congregate once more, with the UFC delivering a card laced with homegrown talent; from icons and rising prospects to two headlining title contenders.
Glover Teixeira and Deiveson Figueiredo carry the hopes of a nation into the main and co-main event, challenging for light-heavyweight and flyweight gold respectively.
At 43, Teixeira has been fighting professionally for over 20 years. A former sparring partner of Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, he defined his own legacy in 2021 by capturing 205lb gold for himself.
Last summer he lost the belt in his first defence – albeit in the ‘Fight of the Year’ against Jiri Prochazka. But with the Czech champion relinquishing due to long-term injury, Teixeira gets an opportunity to reign once more.
PROCHAZKA SUBMITS TEIXEIRA TO WIN THE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE 🏆 #UFC275 pic.twitter.com/YwrwkxBuoh
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 12, 2022
In contrast, the challenger in the opposing corner will be 12-fight relative novice Jamahal Hill, the Chicago-born Michigan-based knockout artist who only turned pro in 2017 – at which stage Glover had 24 fights and had already fought for the title.
The 31-year-old is ranked #7 but gets his chance after Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz fought to a frustrating draw in December, leaving the title vacant.
Experience, technique, grappling and submission skills fall firmly in favour of the former champion, who’s 33-8 record masks wins in six of his last seven. But 11-1 Hill has knockouts in four of his five UFC wins.
If Hill lands on the aged chin of Teixeira it could be over quick. But, similarly, if Glover lands a takedown then the green challenger finds himself in a world he’s ill equipped to escape from.
The co-main event has a lot more data to go off regarding an outcome, after all, it’s the first tetralogy (4th) fight in UFC history. But with a draw and a win a piece its obvious to see why Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno are going at it again.
Deiveson Figueiredo Fight Week!!!
Deiveson Figueiredo defends his UFC Flyweight title this coming Saturday when he faces former champion Brandon Moreno for the 4th time at UFC 283.#ViolentMoney #VMTV #MMA pic.twitter.com/0yRDiGxC3U
— Violent Money TV (@VM_TV_) January 16, 2023
With 17 finishes in his 21-2-1 career, ‘Figgy Smalls’ is a genuine threat anywhere the fight goes. But Mexican Moreno’s 11 submission wins include the only stoppage from their previous meetings.
Home advantage will play a huge part here as the champion looks to set a typically hot pace. Whether Moreno has the gas tank to live with him – and the vociferous home crowd – and turn the fight around in the final stages will dictate where this fourth and likely final meeting will be won and lost.
