UFC 2023: Every Major Fight Happening This Year

Another year of UFC action has passed its midway point, as fans come to terms with Conor McGregor's long-awaited return being delayed until December.

McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in July 2021 and was due to fight Michael Chandler this spring or summer, but now, bout has been scheduled for December. Thankfully for the UFC, new stars have emerged elsewhere to keep audiences engaged.

Chandler and Conor Credits:(Yahoo Sports)

 In one of the biggest fights of the year, lightweight champion Islam Makhachev defeated featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski in February. It was a close encounter but Islam emerged victorious.

Islam and Volkanovski Credit:(MMABETZ.COM)

Then, in March, after a three-year absence, the great light-heavyweight fighter Jon Jones made the move to heavyweight, submitting Ciryl Gane to win the title that had been left open when Francis Ngannou exited the UFC. In November, Jones will square off against GOAT heavyweight Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden.

Jones and Gane Credit:(Marca.com)

In other news, Britain's Leon Edwards, who had won the welterweight championship from the "Nigerian Nightmare" seven months prior, defended it against Kamaru Usman in London.

Leon vs. Usman Credits:(MMA Fighting)

The "Last Stylebender" knocked out the Brazilian to win the middleweight title that he had lost to Pereira the previous year, and April then got underway with Israel Adesanya defeating longtime adversary Alex Pereira.

Adesanya vs Pereira credit:(MMA News)

Recently in August, "Sugar" Sean O'Malley defeated Jamaican-American Aljamain Sterling to win the bantamweight title, capping off a quick ascent through the rankings. 

Sean vs Aljamain Credit:(Youtube)

There will be many more significant fights in the future 

Saturday 9 September – UFC 293 – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia

Main card

Israel Adesanya (C) vs Sean Strickland (middleweight title)

Tai Tuivasa vs Alexander Volkov (heavyweight)

Manel Kape vs Felipe dos Santos (flyweight)

Justin Tafa vs Austen Lane (heavyweight)

Tyson Pedro vs Anton Turkalj (light-heavyweight)

Saturday 21 October – UFC 294 – Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Islam Makhachev (C) vs Charles Oliveira (lightweight title)

Paulo Costa vs Khamzat Chimaev (middleweight)

Nassourdine Imavov vs Ikram Aliskerov (middleweight)

Saturday 11 November – UFC 295 – Madison Square Garden, New York City, US

Jon Jones (C) vs Stipe Miocic (heavyweight title)

Saturday 16 December - UFC 296 - T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, US

Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler

The anticipation for these fights is beyond the limit, let's see who emerges victorious and who tastes the dust.