The UFC returns for it's first numbered event of 2023 for UFC 283 when they travel abroad to Brazil for a double title fight card, with two hometown fighters battling for crowns.
In the main event the vacant light heavyweight title will be on the line for the second pay-per-view event in a row, when former champion Glover Texieira takes on first-time challenger Jamahal Hill after the controversial ending to 2022.
In the co-main we'll see a fourth fight between flyweight rivals Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno as they look to finally settle the score, having gone 1-1-1 in their previous trilogy against one another.
We'll take a look at the main event and provide you with our best free UFC picks to see if we can earn you some extra cash while watching an incredible fight card.
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UFC 283 information
- Saturday, January 21st, 2023
- Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Main card starts 10pm ET
- Light Heavyweight Championship bout (205-pounds)
- 5 x 5 minute rounds
Glover Teixeira vs Jamahal Hill
This is a huge fight in the light heavyweight division to crown the next champion of the weight class, following the sudden forced vacation of the title by former champion Jiri Prochazka and then the controversial ending to UFC 282.
Teixeira has held the belt previously, defeating Jan Blachowicz at UFC 267 with a dominant submission win in the second round, before an all-time classic fight against Prochazka at UFC 275 saw him lose the belt at his first defence via submission in the final minute of the fight, when he was up on the scorecards.
He was set to fight against Prochazka in a rematch at UFC 282 before injury forced the Czech fighter out, and Blachowicz vs Magomed Ankalaev was promoted to the main event as a title fight.
That controversially ended in a draw though, and UFC president Dana White was so infuriated that he moved on immediately and made this fight on the same night during the post-fight press conference.
Teixeira has a professional record of 33-8, with 18 wins by knockout and 10 wins via submission throughout his career.
Hill on the other hand has come into the UFC and taken it by storm, winning seven of his eight fights to date including each of his last three in a row via knockout.
One of those seven wins was overturned to a no contest after a positive test for marijuana, while his only other defeat came to submission specialist Paul Craig who dislocated his elbow with a nasty submission and pounded him out for a win.
Since then he has won three in a row, knocking out all of Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker and Thiago Santos to claim this unexpected title shot. He was scheduled to fight against Anthony Smith in March before this fight got put together on such short notice.
Hill has a professional record of 11-1 with seven of those wins coming via knockout.
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Route to victory
Both of these fighters love a striking battle, but it's Hill who has the huge advantage when it comes to one-punch knockout power.
Teixeira has got excellent boxing skills with good power too, and he's also solid defensively when it comes to the striking department using parries and slips. His chin has been excellent throughout his career too, managing to withstand the barrage that Prochazka threw at him last time out.
Hill will have to use his counter striking instincts and land flush to get the win here, because if the fight goes down to the mat then he will be in big trouble.
Glover is a world class grappler, with great power in his wrestling techniques and formidable ground and pound skills. Hill is comfortable on the ground, but the last time he tried to battle with a specialist he got his arm snapped in half.
The hometown favorite will surely look to use that to his advantage after getting into a war last time out and losing, plus the fact he is well into his 40's means he won't have long left at the top no matter what happens.
UFC picks - Teixeira gets it done
There is a reason that despite winning six of his last seven fights (including the one no contest), Hill wasn't in line for a title shot just yet.
Hill is currently ranked at number seven in the world, but with other fighters already booked up or having had their opportunity in the past, he was next up.
But Texeira was in a full camp to fight Prochazka last month and he is a far more dangerous striker and more complete fighter than Hill is, while Hill was prepping for Smith who was dominated by Teixeira not too long ago and presents an even bigger challenge.
Technically the veteran certainly has the advantage wherever the fight goes, but Hill has got a huge puncher's chance and there is no doubt that if he lands clean he will get the win here.
But with such a tough athlete in front of him with so much experience and a mission that he has been on course to accomplish for the best part of seven months, it's hard to look past Teixeira becoming the two-time champion.
Expect an excellent display of mixed martial arts with a variety of striking and grappling to get the advantage and claim a submission win in the latter rounds.
UFC picks - Glover Teixeira via Submission
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