The UFC is back for its first pay-per-view card of the year, returning to Brazil with titles on the line and one legend of the promotion ready to hang his gloves up once and for all.
Follow along below for all the latest updates from UFC 283 as hometown hero Glover Teixeira takes on Jamahal Hill for the vacant light heavyweight title in the main event.
Watch UFC 283: Teixeira v Hill LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 22 January from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
UFC 283 ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything to know ahead of Brazil return
WILL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION FINALLY HAVE ITS CHAMP?
Teixeira and Hill will headline Sunday’s card as the UFC finally looks to crown a champion in the troublesome light heavyweight division.
It was supposed to be Magomed Ankalaev or Jan Blachowicz lifting the belt at UFC 282 but the fight controversially ended in a draw, seeing Dana White announce neither would get the next shot at the belt.
Rather, it is Teixeira and Hill who will face off for the championship and it would be a stunning result for either fighter.
Ngannou reveals reasons for UFC split | 01:14
At 43 years old, Teixeira continues to prove that he has what it takes to beat the best of the division, becoming the second-oldest champion in history when he defeated Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267.
Teixeira lost his title in an epic bout against Jiri Prochazka and was due for a rematch last December, only for his rival to pull out due to a shoulder injury, seeing the belt vacated.
Now Teixeira has another chance to get the title back and is ready to silence his doubters once more.
“I’m very happy to be here,” Teixeira said at the UFC 283 media day.
“When you want something, you have to figure out what you have to do to get there. I want to keep fighting for a long time. I’m here fighting at the highest level. I got the belt at 42, and hope to get the belt at 43 to make history.”
Standing in his way is Hill, a knockout machine who poses a very different challenge to some of Teixeira’s past opponents and has age well and truly on his side at 31 years old.
While Hill may be able to get highlight finishes, Teixeira certainly will have the advantage should the fight get to the ground, although he is not discounting his opponent this weekend.
“He’s a dangerous fighter,” Teixeira said.
“He’s proven. He’s the next guy. It’s going to be a good matchup and it’s going to be a good fight.”
‘I’M BRANDON’S NIGHTMARE’: HISTORY TO BE MADE IN RIVALRY
In the co-main event, one of the UFC’s biggest rivalries will have a new chapter when flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo fights Brandon Moreno.
This is not the first time these two have met inside the octagon — it’s actually the fourth, making the first quadrilogy in promotional history.
Both Figueiredo and Moreno have one win while the other fight between the pair ended in a draw, meaning Sunday’s bout could finally put the longstanding rivalry to rest.
It seems like Figueiredo is very confident in which way this fourth fight will go.
“I’m Brandon’s nightmare,” Figueiredo said via a translator at UFC 283 media day. “Unfortunately, this is the only fight that the UFC has to sell, Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno.
“I think the biggest difference is his fear of me. He can’t stand me and that’s what makes the biggest difference.”
Volk proves his class against Holloway | 01:58
HOMETOWN HERO’S CONFIDENT 10-MINUTE PREDICTION
Elsewhere, Gilbert Burns predicted his fight with Neil Magny will last “no more than 10 minutes” as he looks to make a statement in his return to Brazil.
Burns is coming off a unanimous decision defeat to Khamzat Chimaev last year and has title ambitions, as does Magny who bounced back with a submission over Daniel Rodriguez recently.
It will be tough for Magny to nullify Burns’ explosive power and the Brazilian is certainly confident of getting a finish on Sunday.
“There’s always a pressure on my back to finish these guys,” Burns said at media day.
“If I’m there, and I don’t know what’s going to be there on fight night when the lights come on, but if I’m there present, 100 percent in there, I’m going to finish Neil Magny.
“We’re not doing more than 10 minutes, if I’m present tomorrow.”
‘I’M REALLY GOING TO STOP’: LEGEND’S ONE LAST FIGHT
Other intriguing fights on the main card include Jessica Andrade and Lauren Murphy facing off in women’s flyweight action while light heavyweight finishers Paul Craig and Johnny Walker promise to bring fireworks.
There is also plenty to look forward to in the preliminary card, including Brazilian legend Maurício ‘Shogun’ Rua’s final fight in the UFC.
The former UFC and PRIDE champion confirmed at this week’s media day that his fight against Ihor Potieria will be his last, describing it as a “tough” decision.
“I wanted to have my last fight in Brazil,” Rua said.
“It’s going to be tough. Every fight is a lot of emotions, a lot of adrenaline and nervousness, but being the last fight and everything, I’m going to have to be focused and get through that.”
“I’m going to really stop. There’s a lot of people that retire and come back a year later, but I don’t like that. I’m retiring from all sport.”
WHEN IS UFC 283?
UFC 283 takes place on Sunday, January 22.
HOW TO WATCH
You can catch the prelims of UFC 283 on ESPN 2 or via Kayo Sports, with the prelims scheduled to begin at 12pm AEDT.
The main card can be viewed on Main Event or by Kayo and will kick off at 2pm AEDT.
Watch UFC 283: Teixeira v Hill LIVE on Main Event available on Kayo & Foxtel, Sunday 22 January from 2pm AEDT. ORDER NOW >
UFC 283 FULL FIGHT CARD
MAIN CARD (2pm AEDT)
Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill – for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship
Deiveson Figueiredo (c) vs. Brandon Moreno – for the UFC flyweight championship
Gilbert Burns vs. Neil Magny (welterweight)
Lauren Murphy vs. Jessica Andrade (women’s flyweight)
Paul Craig vs. Johnny Walker (light heavyweight)
PRELIMS (12PM AEDT)
Mauricio Rua vs. Ihor Potieria (light heavyweight)
Gregory Rodrigues vs. Brunno Ferreira (middleweight)
Thiago Moises vs. Melquizael Costa (lightweight)
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Mounir Lazzez (welterweight)
EARLY PRELIMS (10AM AEDT)
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Jailton Almeida (heavyweight)
Luan Lacerda vs. Cody Stamann (bantamweight)
Ismael Bonfim vs. Terrance McKinney (lightweight)
Warlley Alves vs. Nicolas Dalby (welterweight)
Josiane Nunes vs. Zarah Fairn dos Santos (women’s featherweight)
Saimon Oliveira vs. Daniel Marcos (bantamweight)
Follow all the action with live updates below! Can’t see it? Click here!
