2023 in UFC
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Key people | Dana White (President), Vince McMahon (Executive Chairman of TKO Group Holdings) |
| Parent | TKO Group Holdings (since September 12, 2023) |
The year 2023 represented the 31st anniversary of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a premier mixed martial arts organization headquartered in the United States.
Formation of TKO Group through UFC and WWE merger
In April 2023, Endeavor Group Holdings revealed the combination of UFC with wrestling entity WWE, resulting in the establishment of TKO Group Holdings, a publicly listed company predominantly owned by Endeavor. Vince McMahon took on the role of executive chairman, while Dana White continued as UFC president. The merger was officially completed on September 12, 2023.
Anti-trust class action lawsuit
On August 9, 2023, U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware approved class action status for more than 1,200 former UFC competitors who fought between December 2010 and June 2017. They are pursuing $1.6 billion in damages, accusing Zuffa of wage suppression through anti-competitive conduct. The case is set to proceed to trial on April 8, 2024.
Regulations on betting following scandal
In February 2023, the UFC introduced regulations prohibiting fighters, coaches, and immediate family members from wagering on UFC matches. This policy change came after an inquiry into irregular betting activity surrounding a bout involving Darrick Minner, a trainee under UFC coach James Krause, at UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos.
Transition from USADA to Drug Free Sport International (2015–2024)
As the UFC's partnership with USADA concluded in 2023, the organization announced a new anti-doping alliance with Drug Free Sport International, which oversees testing programs for NCAA, MLB, NFL, and NBA. This collaboration will commence in 2024 following USADA’s contract expiration on December 31, 2023. Former FBI agent George Piro has been appointed as the independent administrator for the UFC’s anti-doping efforts.
Key UFC statistics for 2023
Below is an overview of the principal operational and financial statistics for UFC in 2023:
| Events | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Events | Pay-Per-View | Continents Hosted | Countries Visited | Host Cities | Fight Night Bonuses Awarded |
| 43 | 14 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 189 Totaling $9.45 million |
| Longest Duration Event | Shortest Duration Event | Top Grossing Live Gate | Lowest Grossing Live Gate | Maximum Attendance | Minimum Attendance (excluding APEX events) |
| UFC 286 2:57:58 |
UFC on ABC 4 1:31:36 |
UFC 295 $12,432,563 |
UFC Fight Night 221 $452,669.71 |
UFC 290 19,204 |
UFC Fight Night 221 2,361 |
| Title Fights Overview | |||||
| Undisputed Title Bouts | Number of Title Changes | Champions Who Retained Titles by Division | Total Champions Active | Interim Titleholders | Successful Title Defenses |
| 19 | 6 | 4 FW – Alexander Volkanovski LW – Islam Makhachev WW – Leon Edwards WSW – Zhang Weili |
16 | 2 FW – Yair Rodríguez HW – Tom Aspinall |
10 |
| Fighter Statistics | |||||
| Roster Size (as of Dec 31, 2023) | New Fighters Debuting in UFC | Fighter Releases or Retirements | Suspended Competitors | ||
| 606 | 125 | 102 | 20 | ||
2023 UFC Honors Awards
Beginning in 2019, the UFC has annually recognized outstanding achievements with its year-end accolades. Among these are the "UFC Honors President's Choice Awards," which highlight the "Performance of the Year" and "Fight of the Year," as determined by UFC CEO Dana White. Since 2020, fans have participated in selecting winners for the "UFC Honors Fan Choice Awards" through social media voting. These fan-driven categories include "Knockout of the Year," "Submission of the Year," "Event of the Year," "Comeback of the Year," and "Debut of the Year."
Recipients are honored with a commemorative trophy alongside a tire package courtesy of sponsor Toyo Tires.
2023 UFC.com Awards
| 2023 UFC.COM Awards | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Top Fighter | Notable Upsets | Outstanding Submissions | Prominent Newcomers | Memorable Knockouts | Standout Bouts |
| 1 | Islam Makhachev | Alexa Grasso triumphs over Valentina Shevchenko 1 UFC 285 |
Alexa Grasso submits Valentina Shevchenko 1 UFC 285 |
Diego Lopes | Josh Emmett knocks out Bryce Mitchell UFC 296 |
Islam Makhachev defeats Alexander Volkanovski 1 UFC 284 |
| 2 | Alexa Grasso | Sean Strickland beats Israel Adesanya UFC 293 |
Da’Mon Blackshear submits Jose Johnson UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos |
Bo Nickal | Israel Adesanya knocks out Alex Pereira 2 UFC 287 |
Alexandre Pantoja overcomes Brandon Moreno 2 UFC 290 |
| 3 | Leon Edwards | Bobby Green defeats Grant Dawson UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green |
Shavkat Rakhmonov submits Geoff Neal UFC 285 |
Ikram Aliskerov | Justin Gaethje knocks out Dustin Poirier UFC 291 |
Irene Aldana defeats Karol Rosa UFC 296 |
| 4 | Sean Strickland | Bobby Green defeats Tony Ferguson UFC 291 |
Jon Jones submits or defeats Ciryl Gane UFC 285 |
Elves Brener | Islam Makhachev wins against Alexander Volkanovski 2 UFC 294 |
Shavkat Rakhmonov defeats Geoff Neal UFC 285 |
| 5 | Alexandre Pantoja | Alexa Grasso draws with Valentina Shevchenko 2 UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 |
Ariane Lipski < br />defeats Casey O'Neill < br />UFC 296 |
Steve Erceg | Charles Oliveira< br />defeats Beneil Dariush < br />UFC 289 |
Jamahal Hill < br />defeats Glover Teixeira < br />UFC 283 |
| 6 | style="font-size:87%"]]Tom Aspinall | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Leon Edwards < br />defeats [ [ Kamaru Usman ]]3 [ [ UFC 286 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Erin Blanchfield < br />defeats [ [ Jéssica Andrade ]]< br />[ [ UFC Fight Night : Andrade vs. Blanchfield ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Luana Santos | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Tom Aspinall < br />defeats [ [ Sergei Pavlovich ]]< br />[ [ UFC 295 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Dan Hooker < br />defeats [ [ Jalin Turner ]]< br />[ [ UFC 290 ]] |
| 7 | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Benoît Saint Denis | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]] Ariane Lipski < br />defeats [ [ Casey O'Neill ]]< br />[ [ UFC 296 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Yair Rodríguez < br />defeats [ [ Josh Emmett ]]< br />[ [ UFC 284 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Nazim Sadykhov | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Robbie Lawler < br />defeats [ [ Niko Price ]]< br />[ [ UFC 290 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Justin Gaethje < br />defeats [ [ Rafael Fiziev ]]< br />[ [ UFC 286 ]] |
| 8 | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Justin Gaethje | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Tom Aspinall < br />defeats [ [ Sergei Pavlovich ]]< br />[ [ UFC 295 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Diego Lopes (fighter) < br />defeats [ [ Gavin Tucker ]]< br />[ [ UFC on ESPN : Sandhagen vs. Font ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]The Bonfim Brothers Ismael Bonfirm & Gabriel Bonfirm | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Edson Barboza < br />defeats [ [ Billy Quarantillo ]]< br />[ [ UFC on ESPN : Holloway vs. Allen ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Edson Barboza < br />defeats [ [ Sodiq Yusuff ]]< br />[ [ UFC Fight Night : Yusuff vs. Barboza ]] |
| 9 | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Alex Pereira | style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Dricus du Plessis < br />defeats [ [ Robert Whittaker (fighter) ]]< br />[ [ UFC 290 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % " ]]Rinat Fakhretdinov < br />defeats [ [ Kevin Lee ]]< br />[ [ UFC on ESPN : Strickland vs. Magomedov ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Jeka Saragih | style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Ismael Bonfim < br />defeats [ [ Terrance McKinney ]]< br />[ [ UFC283 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Alexa Grasso < br />defeats [ [ Valentina Shevchenko ]]1 [ [ UFC285 ]] |
| 10 | style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Jon Jones | style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Shavkat Rakhmonov < br />defeats [ [ Geoff Neal ]]< br />[ [ UFC285 ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Gillian Robertson < br />defeats Piera Rodriguez [ [ UFC on ESPN : Holloway vs. Allen ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Rinya Nakamura | style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Carlos Diego Ferreira < br />defeats Michael Johnson (fighter)< br>[ [ UFC Fight Night : Dern vs. Hill ]] |
style = " font- size :8 7 % "]]Alexa Grasso draws with Valentina Shevchenko2 [ [ UFC Fight Night : Grasso vs. Shevchenko2 ]] |
Releases and retirements
The following list details fighters who have either been released from their UFC agreements, have retired, or have transitioned to other organizations:
- Aaron Phillips – Released in June – Bantamweight
- AJ Fletcher – Released in October – Welterweight
- Alejandro Pérez – Released in January – Featherweight
- Aleksa Camur – Released in August – Light Heavyweight
- Amanda Nunes – Retired in June – Women's Bantamweight
- André Fialho – Released in October – Welterweight
- Ashlee Evans-Smith – Released in August – Women's Bantamweight
- Ashley Yoder – Released in October – Women's Flyweight
- Austin Lingo – Released in December – Featherweight
- Augusto Sakai – Released in March – Heavyweight
- Braxton Smith – Released in June – Heavyweight
- Bea Malecki – Released in June – Women's Bantamweight
- Blagoy Ivanov – Released in July – Heavyweight
- Brandon Davis – Released in January – Bantamweight
- Carlos Mota – Released in February – Flyweight
- Charles Rosa – Released in August – Featherweight
- Chase Sherman – Released in May – Heavyweight
- Chris Daukaus – Released in August – Light Heavyweight
- Cortney Casey – Released in September – Women's Flyweight
- Cynthia Calvillo – Released in April – Women's Strawweight
- Danaa Batgerel – Released in June – Bantamweight
- Damir Ismagulov – Released in July – Lightweight
- Darren Till – Released in March – Middleweight
- Derek Brunson – Released in September – Middleweight
- Don Shainis – Released in June – Featherweight
- Ed Herman – Retired in April – Light Heavyweight
- Erick Gonzalez – Released in June – Lightweight
- Francis Ngannou – Released in January, former Heavyweight champion
- Francisco Trinaldo – Released in January – Welterweight
- Gadzhi Omargadzhiev – Released in January – Welterweight
- Glover Teixeira – Retired in January, former Light Heavyweight champion
- Guido Cannetti – Released in March – Bantamweight
- Hannah Goldy – Released in October – Women's Strawweight
- Ian Heinisch – Retired in August - Middleweight
- Ilir Latifi – Contract concluded June - Heavyweight
- Istela Nunes – Released in August - Women's Strawweight
- Jay Perrin – Released January - Bantamweight
- Jake Collier– Released October - Heavyweight
- Jeff Molina– Released January - Flyweight
- Jennifer Maia– Contract ended October - Women's Flyweight
- Jinh Yu Frey– Released October - Women's Strawweight
- Ji Yeon Kim– Released May - Women's Flyweight
- Jessica-Rose Clark– Released May - Women's Bantamweight
- John Makdessi– Released October - Lightweight
- Johnny Muñoz Jr.– Released December - Bantamweight
- Jordan Wright– Released February - Light Heavyweight
- Joseph Holmes– Released June - Middleweight
- Jorge Masvidal– Retired April - Welterweight
- José Johnson– Released March - Bantamweight
- Journey Newson– Released June - Featherweight
- JP Buys– Released October - Bantamweight
- Juan Espino– Retired April - Heavyweight
- Kanako Murata– Released November - Women's Strawweight
- Kamuela Kirk– Released October - Lightweight
- Kevin Natividad– Released January - Bantamweight
- Kyle Daukaus– Released January - Middleweight
- Leah Letson– Retired January - Women's Featherweight
- Leomana Martinez– Released March - Bantamweight
- Lina Länsberg– Retired February - Women's Bantamweight
- Liudvik Sholinian– Released January - Bantamweight
- Mike Mathetha– Released October - Welterweight
- Makwan Amirkhani– Released June - Featherweight
- Mandy Böhm– Released August - Women's Flyweight
- Maria Oliveira– Released June - Women's Strawweight
- Martin Sano Jr.– Released June - Welterweight
- Marcelo Rojo– Released January - Featherweight
- Maurício Rua– Retired January, former Light Heavyweight champion
- Maxim Grishin– Released June - Light Heavyweight
- Michael Trizano– Released January - Featherweight
- Mike Breeden– Released October - Lightweight
- Mike Jackson– Released January - Welterweight
- Mounir Lazzez– Released June - Welterweight
- Nick Aguirre– Released December - Bantamweight
- Nick Fiore– Released June - Lightweight
- Omar Morales–Released June- Lightweight
- Orion Cosce–Released June- Welterweight
- Parker Porter–Released December- Heavyweight
- Raphael Assuncao– Retired March- Bantamweight
- Rafael Alves–Released March- Lightweight
*Raulian Paiva–Released January- Bantamweight *Robbie Lawler –Retired July, former Welterweigth champion * Ronnie Lawrence — Retirement — Bantamweight * Saidyokub Kakhramonov —Released January—Bantamweigth *Shamil Abdurakhimov —Released January—Heavyweigth *Sijara Eubanks —Released January—Women's Flyweigth * Shane Young —Released October—Featherweigth * Victor Rodriguez —Released January—Flyweigth *Vince Morales —Released January—Bantamweigth *Steven Peterson —Retired March—Featherweigth * Shannon Ross —Released December—Flyweigth *William Knight —Released February—Light Heavyweigth *Tafon Nchukwi —Released August—Middleweigth *Taila Santos —Released November—Women's Flyweigth *Takashi Sato —Released June—Welterweigth *Tanner Boser —Released August—Light Heavyweigth * Terrence Mitchell —Released December—Bantamweigth *Tony Gravely —Released June—Bantamweigth *Trevin Jones —Released June—Bantamweigth * Tucker Lutz —Released October —Featherweigth *Zak Cummings —Retired April —Light Heavyweigth *Zubaira Tukhugov —Released March —Featherweigth *Zhalgas Zhumagulov —Released July —Flyweigth *The Korean Zombie —Retired August —Featherweigth, former top contender *Zarah Fairn —Released September —Women's Featherweigth
First-Time UFC Competitors
The following athletes had their inaugural appearances in the UFC during 2023:
- Anshul Jubli – UFC Fight Night 218
- Bassil Hafez – UFC on ESPN 49
- Blake Bilder – UFC 284
- Bo Nickal – UFC 285
- Bogdan Guskov – UFC Fight Night 226
- Brendan Marotte – UFC Fight Night 230
- Brunno Ferreira – UFC 283
- Caio Machado – UFC Fight Night 232
- Carl Deaton III – UFC Fight Night 220
- Charles Johnson – UFC Fight Night 212
- Choi Seung-guk – UFC Fight Night 218
- Christian Leroy Duncan – UFC Fight Night 232
- Claudio Ribeiro – UFC Fight Night 217
- Clayton Carpenter – UFC Fight Night 219
- Daniel Marcos – UFC 283
- Dennis Buzukja – UFC on ESPN 50
- Diego Lopes – UFC 288
- Edgar Cháirez – UFC 290
- Eduarda Moura – UFC Fight Night 231
- Elves Brener – UFC 284
- Felipe dos Santos – UFC 293
- Francisco Prado – UFC 284
- Gabriel Bonfim – UFC 283
- Gabriella Fernandes – UFC Fight Night 220
- Ikram Aliskerov – UFC 288
- Irina Alekseeva – UFC on ESPN 45
- Isaac Dulgarian – UFC on ESPN 51
- Ismael Bonfim – UFC 283
- Ivana Petrović – UFC on ESPN 48
- Jack Jenkins – UFC 284
- Jacqueline Cavalcanti – UFC Fight Night 226
- Jafel Filho – UFC 286
- Jamal Pogues – UFC Fight Night 219
- Jamey-Lyn Horth – UFC on ESPN 45
- Jeka Saragih – UFC Fight Night 218
- Jesús Santos Aguilar – UFC Fight Night 218
- Jose Johnson – UFC on ESPN 51
- Joshua Van – UFC 295
- Kauê Fernandes – UFC Fight Night 231
- Kaynan Kruschewsky – UFC Fight Night 231
- Kevin Borjas – UFC 295
- Kevin Jousset – UFC 293
- Khusein Askhabov – UFC Fight Night 219
- Kiefer Crosbie – UFC 293
- Lee Jeong-yeong – UFC Fight Night 218
- Luan Lacerda – UFC 283
- Luana Santos – UFC on ESPN 51
- Mateus Mendonça – UFC Fight Night 217
- Mateusz Rębecki – UFC Fight Night 217
- Melissa Dixon – UFC Fight Night 230
- Melquizael Costa – UFC 283
- Mick Parkin – UFC Fight Night 232
- Mohammad Yahya – UFC 294
- Montserrat Rendon – UFC Fight Night 228
- Muhammad Naimov – UFC on ESPN 46
- Muin Gafurov – UFC 294
- Myktybek Orolbai – UFC Fight Night 232
- Nazim Sadykhov – UFC Fight Night 219
- Nick Aguirre – UFC Fight Night 217
- Nick Fiore – UFC Fight Night 217
- Nursulton Ruziboev - UFC on ESPN 48
- Nurullo Aliev – UFC Fight Night 220
- Park Hyun-sung – UFC Fight Night 218
- Payton Talbott – UFC Fight Night 232
- Rafael Estevam – UFC Fight Night 232
- Ravena Oliveira – UFC Fight Night 230
- Rayanne dos Santos – UFC Fight Night 233
- Rinya Nakamura – UFC Fight Night 218
- Rodolfo Bellato – UFC on ESPN 52
- Sedriques Dumas – UFC Fight Night 221
- Shamil Gaziev – UFC 296
- Shannon Ross – UFC 284
- Steve Erceg – UFC 286
- Tainara Lisboa – UFC on ABC 4
- Talita Alencar – UFC Fight Night 233
- Themba Gorimbo – UFC Fight Night 219
- Toshiomi Kazama – UFC Fight Night 218
- Trevor Peek – UFC Fight Night 220
- Victor Martinez – UFC Fight Night 220
- Vitor Petrino – UFC Fight Night 221
- Westin Wilson - UFC on ESPN 48
- Yi Zha - UFC Fight Night 218
- Yusaku Kinoshita - UFC Fight Night 218
- Zachary Reese - UFC on ESPN 52
Suspended competitors
The table below enumerates athletes who have been suspended by organizations such as the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), regional athletic commissions, or the UFC itself due to infractions involving banned substances or behavioral violations.
| ISO | Fighter | Alias | Weight class | Suspension start | Length | Substance detected / Details | Issuing body | Return eligibility date | Ref. | Additional remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flags | Carlos Felipe | Boi | Heavyweight |
|
18 months | Presence of Boldenone and related metabolites | NSAC |
|
Incurred a $4,200 fine plus $489 in prosecution costs | |||||
| Template:Flags | Geraldo de Freitas | Spartan | Bantamweight |
|
2 years | Detected exogenous testosterone and/or its precursors | USADA |
|
||||||
| Template:Flags | Raphael Pessoa | Bebezão | Heavyweight |
|
2 years | Substances found: 7-Keto-DHEA, AOD-9064, Hydrochlorothiazide and metabolites | USADA |
|
This marks his second USADA suspension; also evaded sample collection in January 2021. | |||||
| Template:Flags | Ashlee Evans-Smith | "Rebel Girl" | "Women's Bantamweight" | "2022-01-03" | "14 months" | "Dehydroepiandrosterone" | "USADA" | "2023-03-03" |
The Ultimate Fighter
The subsequent The Ultimate Fighter installments are planned for airing throughout 2023:
| Season | Weight category | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler | Lightweight | Kurt Holobaugh | Austin Hubbard |
| Bantamweight | Brad Katona | Cody Gibson |
Previous events
| # | Event name | Date held | Location (venue) | City | Nation | Attendance | Reference | Fight of the Night recipients | Performance of the Night recipients | Bonus amount | Reference | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 673 | UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington | Dec 16, 2023 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada | United States | 19,039 | [1] | Irene Aldana | vs. | Karol Rosa | Josh Emmett | Ariane Lipski | $50,000 | [2] |
|- |}
See also
- List of UFC champions
- List of UFC events
- List of current UFC fighters
- 2023 in Bellator MMA
- 2023 in Professional Fighters League
- 2023 in ONE Championship
- 2023 in Absolute Championship Akhmat
- 2023 in Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki
- 2023 in Rizin Fighting Federation
- 2023 in Brave Combat Federation
- 2023 in Legacy Fighting Alliance
- 2023 in Road FC