UFC
UFC in 2023: Here’s all the statistics a true nerd needs to know!
UFC divisions in 2023. Photo via Instagram (@ufc)
Now that 2023 has come to a close, it’s time to take a closer look at the statistics behind all the fantastic UFC action.
Check out Frontkick’s guide to learn more about fights, knockouts, submissions and athletes to keep an eye on in 2024. If you are a MMA nerd – do not miss this!
Flyweight
Alexandre Pantoja. Photo via Instagram (@pantoja_oficial)
After a few years in the shadows, the men’s flyweight division has lately become very interesting with fighters like Brandon Moreno, Muhammad Mokaev, Amir Albazi and champion Alexandre Pantoja.
The flyweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 38
- Knockouts: 11
- Submissions: 10
- Decisions: 16 Other: 1
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Deiveson Figueiredo
- Champion at end of 2023: Alexandre Pantoja
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Amir Albazi
Bantamweight
Sean O’Malley. Photo via Twitter (UFC)
The men’s bantamweight division is perhaps the most stacked in the promotion right now. The top 10 currently features no fewer than six former flyweight band bantamweight champions. Champion Sean O’Malley will face Marlon ”Chito” Vera on March 9, at UFC 299.
The bantamweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 55
- Knockouts: 16
- Submissions: 9
- Decisions: 27
- Other: 3
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Aljamain Sterling
- Champion at end of 2023: Sean O’Malley
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Deiveson Figueiredo
Featherweight
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The men’s featherweight division is one of the few that has the same champion in the beginning and end of the year.
One of 2023’s standout fighters is rising star Ilia Ilia Topuria who defeated Josh Emmett to claim a title shot in February next year.
The featherweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 60
- Knockouts: 17
- Submissions: 12
- Decisions: 31
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Alexander Volkanovski
- Champion at end of 2023: Alexander Volkanovski
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Lerone Murphy
Lightweight
Alexander Volkanovski and Islam Makhachev. Photo via Twitter (UFC)
The lightweight division is still one of the crown jewels in the UFC, and perhaps the deepest of them all. Reigning champion Islam Makhachev defended his strap twice in 2023, and it will be interesting to see who the promotion decides to match hik with in 2024.
The lightweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 77
- Knockouts: 35
- Submissions: 10
- Decisions: 30
- Other: 2
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Islam Makhachev
- Champion at end of 2023: Islam Makhachev
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Benoit Saint Denis
Welterweight
Leon Edwards. Photo: Adam Hagy – USA TODAY Sports
The welterweight division is widely considered to be one of the best in the promotion.
With veterans like Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington fighting to maintain their positions against upcoming fighters like Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry Machado, it’s fair to say that the weight class is absolutely stacked going into the next year.
The welterweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 61
- Knockouts: 14
- Submissions: 20
- Decisions: 27
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Leon Edwards
- Champion at end of 2023: Leon Edwards
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Shavkat Rakhmonov
Middleweight
Photo via Twitter (UFC)
The middleweight division has seen three different champions in 2023! Alex Pereira started the year with the belt around his waist but Israel Adesanya returned to win back the title in April.
However, Sean Strickland was waiting in the wings, and when the time was right, he won the title with a masterclass performance at UFC 293 in September.
The middleweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 56
- Knockouts: 25
- Submissions: 11
- Decisions: 18
- Other: Two
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Alex Pereira
- Champion at end of 2023: Sean Strickland
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Bo Nickal
Light heavyweight
Alex Pereira. Photo: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Light heavyweight has been a division of many changes during the past couple of years. 2023 started with a title fight where Jamahal Hill won the vacant title as he defeated former champion Glover Teixeira.
When Hill vacated the title due to an injury, former middleweight champion Alex Pereira defeated former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka to win his second UFC belt.
The light heavyweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 35
- Knockouts: 13
- Submissions: 5
- Decisions: 16
- Other: 1
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Vacant
- Champion at end of 2023: Alex Pereira
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Khalil Rountree Jr.
Heavyweight
UFC divisions in 2023. Photo: USA Today Sports
The heavyweight division had quite a year!
When former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones finally returned to action after two years, it took him less than a round to win the vacant heavyweight strap at UFC 285 in March.
A superfight between Jones and Stipe Miocic fell through, and the division got a new interim champion as Tom Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Will we see a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall, or is the UFC set to still make the superfight happen?
The heavyweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 35
- Knockouts: 14
- Submissions: 5
- Decisions: 15
- Other: 1
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Vacant
- Champion at end of 2023: Jon Jones
- Interim champion at end of 2023: Tom Aspinall
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Jailton Almeida
Women’s strawweight
Photo via Instagram (@zhangweilimma)
Strawweight is an extremely deep division with some of the absolute best fighters in the UFC.
The future of the weight class is very interesting, with fighters like Tatiana Suarez and Loopy Godinez coming up, as well as the champion Zhang Weili hinting at a move up to flyweight to challenge Alexa Grasso for the title.
The strawweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 35
- Knockouts: 9
- Submissions: 6
- Decisions: 20
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Zhang Weili
- Champion at end of 2023: Zhang Weili
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Josefine Knutsson
Women’s flyweight
UFC divisions in 2023. Photo via Instagram (@alexa_grasso)
The women’s flyweight division has become one of the most interesting one’s in the UFC in 2023.
With the dominant champion Valentina Shevchenko being defeated twice by Alexa Grasso, and a new wave of interesting fighters like Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot lurking in the top five, the division is the most stacked female division right now.
The women’s flyweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 34
- Knockouts: 4
- Submissions: 8
- Decisions: 22
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Valentina Shevchenko
- Champion at end of 2023: Alexa Grasso
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Natalia Silva
Women’s bantamweight
Pannie Kianzad. Photo via Instagram (@panniekianzad)
When the G.O.A.T Amanda Nunes retired from MMA and vacated her titles, she created a vacuum in the women’s bantamweight division.
One could imagine that the UFC would immediately put together a title bout, but going into 2024, the belt is still up for grabs.
However, veteran Raquel Pennington is scheduled to face Mayra Bueno Silva for the title on January 20.
The women’s bantamweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 19
- Knockouts: Zero
- Submissions: 4
- Decisions: 14
- Other: 1
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Amanda Nunes
- Champion at end of 2023: Vacant
- Fighter to keep an eye on in 2024: Mayra Bueno Silva
Women’s featherweight division
Amanda Nunes. Photo: USA Today Sports
The feature of the women’s featherweight division is not good. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if the UFC decided to dissolve the division altogether.
The promotion added the weight class almost entirely for superstar Cris Cyborg, who debuted in 2016. In 2023, the division only saw four fights.
The women’s featherweight division in 2023:
- Number of fights: 4
- Knockouts: Zero
- Submissions: Zero
- Decisions: 4
- Champion at beginning of 2023: Amanda Nunes
- Champion at end of 2023: Vacant
Read more: Complete list: Here’s the top 10 Best UFC fights In 2023