UFC 283 is set to take place from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, 22 January (in Australia). The UFC Vacant Light Heavyweight Championship bout between former Champion Glover Teixeira and rising star Jamahal Hill will headline the UFC’s first PPV of 2023.
Find the full UFC 283 fight card, date, start times and live streams here.
The co-main event of UFC 283 sees UFC Interim Flyweight Champion take on UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo for the record fourth time. The fight marks the UFC’s first quadrilogy.
Read our full breakdown of the UFC 283 co-main event Figueiredo vs. Moreno 4 here.
Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill Breakdown
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Glover Teixeira will get the chance to reclaim the belt at UFC 283 in his home country of Brazil. Teixeira, a UFC veteran and MMA legend, became the oldest first-time champion in UFC history by defeating Jan Blachowicz in 2021 at the age of 42. He will cement himself among the all-time greats if he can become a two-time UFC champion.
Teixeira, a 22-fight UFC veteran, fought for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Jon Jones in 2014, losing by unanimous decision. He earned another title fight in 2021 on the back of a 5-fight win streak featuring wins over Thiago Santos, Anthony Smith (who will be the UFC 283 backup) and Nikita Krylov.
Teixeira made the most of his second opportunity and submitted Jan Blachowicz by rear-naked choke in the 2nd round to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. His first defence of the Championship came against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 275 in Singapore.
The two men would go on to have the fight of the year in a back-and-forth five-round classic, with Prochazka submitting Teixeira via rear-naked choke in the 5th round to claim the Championship. Teixeira was up on the judges’ scorecard going into the 5th round and was also clearly winning the 5th round before Prochazka submitted him.
The UFC booked the two men for an instant rematch of their title classic with the fight scheduled for UFC 282 in December. However, the fight was cancelled due to a Prochazka shoulder injury which led to his relinquishment of the title.
UFC 282: Blachowicz v Ankalaev Main Event Chaos – What Really Went Down?
Teixeira was taken off the card, with Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev instead fighting for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. However, the two men fought to a split draw, leaving the Title vacant and throwing the division back into chaos. This led to Dana White announcing in the post-fight press conference that UFC 283 would be headlined by Teixeira and Hill.
Jamahal Hill rises to his first UFC title shot and PPV main event off the back of a three-fight knockout streak, including wins over Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos. Hill entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series 21, with his only UFC loss being to Paul Craig.
Hill’s main tool has been his incredible knockout power, with his last three bouts being all highlight-reel knockouts. However, these fights have all been against strikers. Hill’s only UFC loss against Paul Craig showed some deficiencies in his ground game, with Craig pulling guard, snapping Hill’s arm and then scoring a TKO from the bottom. To be fair to Hill, Craig is one of the best submission artists in the UFC.
On the other hand, Teixeira has found his late-career resurgence by utilising his toughness and all-rounded MMA skillset. Teixeira has some of the best boxing in the UFC with slick combinations and head movement, combined with a BJJ background. While Teixeira may be in his 40s, he showed incredible toughness and endurance in his bout with Prochazka.
Teixeira has the perfect sparring partner for Jamahal Hill, the UFC Middleweight Champion Alex Pereira, who has trained closely with Teixeira for years. For Teixeira to train day in and day out with somebody with the power of Pereira, he must have developed the ability to avoid power shots out of necessity.
Hill will enter UFC 283, relying on his power to get the job done. The fight will likely end early if Hill is to come out of Rio as champion. Teixeira will keep the same game plan which helped him become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. While Hill may become a UFC Champion one day, Teixeira will be too good in every facet of MMA.
Prediction: Teixeira def. Hill via Submission, Round 2
Read our full breakdown of the UFC 283 co-main event Figueiredo vs. Moreno 4 here.