2023 has been a year of breathtaking moments in the UFC, leaving fans wide-eyed and amazed. From Israel Adesanya’s triumphant comeback to reclaim his title to Jon Jones making a blazing return and securing a first-round victory, the octagon has been on fire. With thrilling matchups like Jones versus Miocic on the horizon, this year’s UFC events are poised to ignite the MMA world. Don’t blink or you might miss out on these 5 must-watch PPVs that are set to make the octagon explode with excitement.
5 UFC PPV Fans Cannot Miss
Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic
Jon Jones is scheduled to defend his UFC heavyweight title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11. UFC president Dana White announced this during the ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC 290. ESPN ranks Jones as the third-best pound-for-pound fighter globally.
Despite one loss due to disqualification, he maintains an undefeated aura. Following a three-year break, Jones made a triumphant comeback in March, securing the vacant heavyweight title with a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. At 35, Jones matches the UFC record with 11 successful light heavyweight title defenses alongside Demetrious Johnson. The upcoming Jones vs. Miocic bout is highly anticipated, marking a significant moment in Jones’ illustrious career.
Islam Makhachev vs Charles Olivera
UFC fans get ready for an electrifying showdown as Dana White, the UFC President, has officially announced UFC 294, slated for October 21st in Abu Dhabi. The main event is set to be an explosive rematch for the UFC Lightweight Championship between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira. Makhachev, the reigning champ who secured victory in their initial bout via submission, is geared up to conquer Oliveira once again and solidify his dominance.
Not only that, the co-main event promises to be just as thrilling, featuring a clash between Paulo Costa and Khamzat Chimaev. With these two high-stakes matchups, UFC 294 is gearing up to deliver an unforgettable night of action-packed entertainment for fight enthusiasts worldwide.
Israel Adesanya vs Sean Strickland
The UFC middleweight champion is getting ready to go head-to-head with Sean Strickland at UFC 293, scheduled for September 9th. This highly anticipated main event is set to take place at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia. This won’t be Adesanya’s first time defending his title on Australian soil – he previously faced off against Robert Whittaker in Melbourne at UFC 243 in October 2019, where he unified the middleweight championship.
Aljamain Sterling vs Sean O’Malley
The buzz is building for UFC 292, where Aljamain Sterling is in the final stages of preparing to defend his bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley. This event is locked in for August 19, 2023, and is set to take place at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Fight enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting this showdown, as anticipation and excitement continue to grow around what promises to be an action-packed night of MMA action.
Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko
While the official future PPV hasn’t been unveiled, educated speculations point towards a potential match that could see Conor McGregor making his return against Michael Chandler, although the likelihood is relatively low. Aside from this, another event not to be overlooked is the Grasso vs. Shevchenko bout, even though it might not be a PPV. This event holds great significance as the Mexican fighter defends her title on Mexican Independence Day, making it an occasion that fans wouldn’t want to miss.
