With another action-packed year of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie takes a look at the best fights from January to December 2023.
As voted on by our entire staff, here are the top five and winner of MMA Junkie’s Fight of the Year.
Honorable mentions
Honorable mention: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko at Noche UFC
Alexa Grasso retained her title in a rematch against Valentina Shevchenko in their Noche UFC rematch, but she did not add a win to her record.
Grasso met Shevchenko in an immediate rematch for the women’s flyweight title. After five hard-fought, back-and-forth rounds, the judges couldn’t determine a winner. Two judges issued duelling 48-47 scores, while a third turned in a 47-47 score, resulting in a split draw.
Honorable mention: Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev at UFC 286
The lightweight clash between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev tore the house down as everyone expected it would at UFC 286 in London.
Former interim UFC champ Gaethje won a majority decision over Fiziev after an insane three rounds of high-paced action. Both fighters had their moments, but it was Gaethje who emerged victorious on the scorecards of a closely-contested affair.
Honorable mention: Clay Collard def. Shane Burgos at 2023 PFL Playoffs 3
Clay Collard and Shane Burgos delivered easily one of the best fights in PFL history when the stakes were extremely high for both men.
The two lightweights went toe-to-toe for 15 minutes in a 2023 PFL Playoffs semifinal bout, each leaving it all on the line in hopes of advancing to the $1 million final. In the end, Collard defeated Burgos by unanimous decision, which read 29-28 across all three judges’ scorecards.
Honorable mention: Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Moreno at UFC 290
Alexandre Pantoja’s (25-6 MMA, 10-3 UFC) long journey to gold came to a conclusion when he captured the UFC flyweight belt from Brandon Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in a memorable battle.
Pantoja made it 3-0 in head-to-head competition with Moreno when he secured a split decision over his rival. It was a back-and-forth fight throughout, but Pantoja’s ability to maintain position on the group and more than hold his own on the feet swayed the judges in his favor.
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The winner
Winner: Islam Makhachev def. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284
Makhachev walked into one of the most intense atmospheres in UFC history as champion. When he left, the belt came with him.
In front of a rowdy RAC Arena full of passionate fans who cheered on his opponent Volkanovski, the promotion’s lightweight champion Makhachev retained his title via unanimous decision. The bout served as the UFC 284 main event in Perth, Australia.
The matched the UFC-ranked No. 1 and No. 2 pound-for-pound fighters in the world against each other – a first-time happening. Volkanovski, the UFC featherweight champion, elevated to 155 pounds and served as UFC lightweight champion Makhachev’s first title defense.
Few crowds have paralleled the loudness of the environment when Volkanovski first, then Makhachev second, walked into RAC Arena. The two fighters met opposite receptions as the fans sang along to “Down Under” by Men At Work during Volkanovski’s walk, and booed during Makhachev’s walk.
The thunderous energy continued through the introductions and well into the first round, and reenergized when Volkanovski landed the first big punch of the fight. Makhachev stumbled backward but did not go down. Moments later, both men landed hard shots
Makhachev’s strike dropped Volkanovski down briefly. Volkanovski popped up but was taken down. Makhachev shimmied to the back but was unable to sneak in a choke before the round ended.
In Round 2, Volkanovski was first to land a significant blow. A punch dropped Makhachev, who popped up and took Volkanovski down again. Volkanovski rose back to his feet and they separated. Just as Volkanovski found his stride with successful strikes, Makhachev stunned him again. Volkanovski went on the retreat and recovered before some wall-and-stall and the end-of-round horn.
The pace slowed in Round 3, as both men were more calculated and patient with their attacks. Midway through the round, Makhachev took Volkanovski down. But like all the other instances with one exception, Volkanovski quickly worked his way back up to the feet. As the round progressed, the crowd loudened. Volkanovski’s technical striking found more success in the final minutes of the round, and was acknowledged by the Perth faithful upon the horn.
In Round 4, Makhachev returned to his roots when he completed a pristinely-timed takedown. Makhachev shifted to Volkanovski’s back and locked in a body triangle. Makhachev controlled Volkanovski but was unable to muster up much offense over the course of three minutes until the round ended. In the final 30 seconds, however, a fired-up Volkanovski threw blind punches over his head, which connected on Makhachev’s face.
With the bout potentially anyone’s at the beginning of Round 5, the crowd gave a standing ovation before the final frame. Makhachev popped Volkanovski with a good punch. The blow, which Volkanovski acknowledged, resulted in a cut.
Makhachev shot for a takedown, but once again Volkanovski escaped. With each positive action by Volkanovski, the Perth crowd frenzied. Another takedown attempt by Makhachev was stuffed and Volkanovski clinched.
As the clock ticked around the four-minute mark of the final round, Volkanovski landed a punch that visibly rocked Makhachev and sent him to the ground. The crowd exploded as Volkanovski rained down ground-and-pound until the final bell.
With experts and fans alike unsure of exactly which way the judges would lean, Makhachev’s name was announced – and down came the boos.
