2023 UFC Recap: Strickland Caps off a Lucrative Year for Several Underdogs
The Best Fighters Who Made Bank This 2023
It was another eventful year for the UFC. As the saying goes, “Expect the unexpected.” And there was plenty of that going around as we saw upsets, shocking performances, and surprising returns. But while fans took this all in with glee, bettors were either screaming in dismay or ecstasy. Yes, that’s how it feels to bet on the UFC as we unveil the year’s most memorable fights and fighters from a betting perspective. This is our 2023 UFC recap.
The Best UFC Bets For 2023
The Best Fighters
“Best Fighters” means something else when we’re discussing the UFC betting odds. We’re not simply throwing around the pound-for-pound best men and women, especially when you had to donate a kidney to afford their betting lines. Instead, we look at the best bang for your buck this 2023.
Best Fighter: Sean Strickland
Strickland is an easy choice. Whether you’re talking about betting or not, it’s tough to argue against his UFC results. He went 3-0 for the year and capped it off by upsetting Israel Adesanya to win the UFC middleweight title as a +540 underdog. Strickland was also a +120 dog when he beat Nassourdine Imavov and was only a slight favorite at -150 when he knocked Abus Magomedov out.
Best Underdog: Elves Brener
As great as Strickland’s 2023 was, we can’t say he’s been the most profitable. That honor belongs to Elves Brener who had two of the biggest upsets for the year. Brener started his year by edging Zubaira Tukhugov as a +500 underdog. He followed this up by finishing Guram Kutateladze at +550. In just two fights, Brener would have earned his backers a total of $1,050 for two $100 bets. Woof!
Comeback Fighter of the Year: Ariane Lipski
Lipski has come a long way from being mocked as the “Queen of Fraudulence”. She’s no fraud, at least not this 2023. She went 3-0 all as an underdog. Overall, she’d have earned her backers $705 in total if they bet $100 on her in each of her fights. Now on a four-fight winning streak in the division, she’s knocking on the door of contention.
Best End-of-Year Championship Bet: Sean Strickland
Strickland has quite the 2023 UFC recap. He cashed another sizable bet for his backers: becoming champion at the end of 2023. Unless he gets stripped of the title in the next few days, he’s entering 2024 as the champ. A bet on Strickland to be the champion at this point was paying 12-1 in most sportsbooks.
The Best Fights
Now, we move on to fights and events that proved to be highly profitable if bettors got it right. Spoiler alert: we’re not awarding a “Fight of the Year” as entertaining as that one is. But from a betting standpoint, it’s tough to quantify a fight for value outside of the results.
Upset of the Year: Grasso Over Shevchenko
This is another easy pick. Alexa Grasso shocked the world and submitted Valentina Shevchenko to win the UFC women’s flyweight belt. The Mexican was a +575 underdog when she made history. That submission win also rewarded prop bettors a cool $2,600 for a $100 wager.
Comeback of the Year: Barboza over Yusuff
Barboza continues to defy Father Time as he overcame an early beatdown to outlast Sodiq Yusuff. The Brazilian got knocked down and whooped in the first round. Yusuff went up 10-8 in some judges’ scorecards as he outstruck Barboza 42-13 in the opening frame. But the resilient Barboza withstood it and exploited a gassed Yusuff to win a decision. Live odds had Barboza as long as 13-1.
Event of the Year: UFC 290
The best UFC event of the year is UFC 290 for being highly entertaining due to all the upsets. Overall, there were six upsets in the event including four that were at +200 or longer.
Denise Gomes knocked Yazmin Jauregui out in just 20 seconds as a +310 underdog. And in the main card, Dricus Du Plessis stunned former champion Robert Whittaker around the same odds. Earlier in the evening, Robbie Lawler finished his legendary career by smoking Niko Price. The former welterweight champ was lined at +185.
That’s just half of it. Alonzo Menifield (+120) and Dan Hooker (+245) also won big. While Alexandre Pantoja, a +165 underdog, won a hard-fought decision against Brandon Moreno and captured the flyweight title.
All-in-all, this was a thrilling conclusion to International Fight Week and our 2023 UFC recap.
For UFC betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
