Yearly Recap: UFC’s Best Fighters of 2023
After Another Incredible Year of Fighting the Books, Let’s Recap the Best Fighters of the Year
Fight! 🥊
Another year of MMA fights is in the bag. It’s no surprise that Dana White and the UFC have spearheaded the industry while manufacturing the events that delivered some of the most unforgettable mixed martial arts moments while carving out legacies of specific competitors who’ve guaranteed their positions in the history books.
It’s a subjective topic, and not everyone agrees, but that’s the beauty of highlighting the “best” in a particular calendar year of UFC because it sparks debate and makes us rethink our choices. With that said, let’s jump straight into the fighters, I believe, who are the standout performers of 2023.
The Best Finishers in 2023: Mind Your Girl
It’s easy to shine the spotlight on the sport’s biggest names when compiling such lists, but as we love finishers in the octagon (and in the bedroom), let’s pay homage to the two most dominant fighters with the most stoppage victories in 2023, Brendan Allen and Roman Kopylov.
Brendan Allen finished 2023 as the only athlete to achieve three submissions, all executed via a rear-naked choke. “All In” began impressively by being the first individual to submit Andre Muniz, followed by a submission victory against Bruno Silva four months later, and concluded a successful year by defeating Paul Craig in mid-November.
Brendan Allen wants his next fight to be against the loser of Sean Strickland vs. Dricus Du Plessis🤔 pic.twitter.com/wJrKR7xP2n
— Jake Foley🇺🇸🥋 (@JFoMMATalk) December 19, 2023
Roman Kopylov dominated the competition in 2023 by achieving the sole feat of delivering three knockouts. In January, he defeated Punahele Soriano by executing a powerful kick to the body, followed by a series of punches.
In July, the Russian unleashed a head kick on Claudio Ribeiro, and in September, he concluded his year by overwhelming Josh Fremd with a nasty body shot.
Roman Kopylov lands a picture-perfect head kick KO 💥 #UFC291
(via @espnmma) pic.twitter.com/CzrwSqkohf
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) July 30, 2023
Twelve Months, Four Fights, and Four Wins
Naturally, MMA news regarding the promotions in women’s divisions has been centered around Amanda Nunes’ retirement, Alex Grasso’s shock title win over Valentina Shevchenko, and Zhang Weili’s return to the strawweight throne. However, let’s hand Loopy Godinez some deserved attention.
Godinez is the most recent fighter to achieve four wins in a single year, following Kevin Holland, Giga Chikadze, and Marcin Tybura in 2020. In addition, “Loopy” is the inaugural female to accomplish this achievement in the promotion’s history after her four consecutive wins in 2023.
Loopy Godinez, 4 fights in 2023. 4 wins in 2023.
My
Female fighter of the year pic.twitter.com/nEmclZo0Cz— unBROKEN MMA (@richiemgr) December 22, 2023
Alex Pereira Etched His Name in the History Books
I honestly couldn’t care less that Israel Adesanya successfully won his middleweight crown back from Alex Pereira in 2023.
Why?
“Poatan” transitioned to the light heavyweight division and joined the ranks of only nine fighters in history who have held championship belts in two distinct weight classes.
More impressively, he accomplished this remarkable achievement in just seven UFC fights, surpassing the previous record of ten fights held by Randy Couture, not to mention the fact that he handed Jiri Prochazka his first UFC defeat and has previously defeated the current (Strickland) and former (Adesanya) middleweight champions.
MMA rumors are now floating around that this Brazilian monster will attempt to become the first-ever three-division champion with a move up to heavyweight… can you imagine the scenes?
Does Alex Pereira have the best chance out of everyone active on the ufc roster right now to be the first ever 3 division champion? pic.twitter.com/u0uCVhoRNb
— Kota (@kotamarrello) December 21, 2023
Leon Edwards & Islam Makhachev: Put Some Respect on the Names
It feels like title defenses are few and far between in modern-day MMA. Still, it’s the welterweight king, Leon Edwards, and the lightweight G.O.A.T, Islam Makhachev, who completed 2023 with two successful championship campaigns that kept the term ‘active champion’ alive this year.
Two title defenses and No.1 pound-for-pound in the UFC 😤
2023 was Islam Makhachev’s year 👏
For More: https://t.co/Ud3tRFYhMY pic.twitter.com/e3slLi657V
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 26, 2023
Edwards and Makhachev were the sole champions who achieved multiple defenses this year and were also just 2 of 4 champions who kept their titles for the entirety of 2023.
Edwards maintained his hold on gold by participating in a rematch against Kamaru Usman and a grudge battle with Colby Covington, while Makhachev successfully defended against Volkanovski on two occasions.
Leon Edwards enjoying Christmas with his son and his three world championships 😁🏆 pic.twitter.com/FHbouKWJr5
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) December 26, 2023
Author: Sin City Sniper
Author: Sin City SniperBusting bookmakers and taking their money is his greatest joy in life. He’s been around the block more than once, knows the players both on and off the field of battle, and uses his experience to serve the bookies a heaping plate of humble pie washed down by a warm glass of their salty tears. You can find him in any number of Vegas books, sniping weak lines and getting paid to do it.
The opinions and view here expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Point Spreads or any of its affiliates. Point Spreads is not responsible and does not verify for accuracy any of the articles and content pieces included herein; moreover, besides being solely the opinion or views of the authors, these content pieces are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, anyone or anything.
Can’t get enough? Here’s more!
- 2023 UFC Recap: Strickland Caps off a Lucrative Year for Several Underdogs
- 2023 MMA Recap: Year of Upsets and PFL-Bellator’s Major Merger
- Edwards Tipped to Silence Covington at UFC 296
- 2023 PFL World Championship Odds: Which Underdogs Crash the Finale?
- Edwards vs Covington UFC Picks: Betting the Champ at a Golden Line
