The UFC returns to Rio de Janeiro this week, touching down in Brazil for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. UFC 283 brings with it two title fights, both featuring hometown favorites, plus a plethora of other Brazilian talents.
The last time the octagon graced Brazilian soil was March of 2020, when the final UFC card prior to a forced sabbatical played out in an empty arena in Brasilia. Nearly three years later, the promotion is back, with ex-light heavyweight champ Glover Teixeira looking at another chance to claim 205lb gold.
Opposite Teixeira will be Jamahal Hill, rather than Jiri Prochazka. Prochazka, who beat Teixeira for the belt last June, had been expected to feature in a rematch with Glover in December. But with the Czech fighter hurt and relinquishing the belt, in came Magomed Ankalaev. That’s a fight Teixeira turned down, saying he needed more time to prepare for a stylistically different opponent. Ankalaev was paired up with Jan Blachowicz instead for the vacant title at UFC 282, only for the fight to end in a draw.
The UFC then pivoted, opting to pair up Teixeira and Hill for the still vacant strap. The legitimacy of the winner may end up in question given the circumstances and Prochazka’s injury — but there’s little question that the UFC 283 main event has a certain amount of appeal.
So too does the co-feature, which sees Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno face off for the fourth time. Their career series being tied at 1-1-1, the winner might just settle the argument of who the better flyweight is once and for all, with a fifth fight a very slim possibility.
Weigh-ins for UFC 283 take place Friday morning in Rio — check below for results!
UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill Weigh-In Results
Light Heavyweight: Glover Teixeira (205) vs. Jamahal Hill (204.5) — for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship
Flyweight: Deiveson Figueiredo (c) (125) vs. Brandon Moreno (ic) (125) — for the UFC flyweight championship / title unification bout
Welterweight: Gilbert Burns (170) vs. Neil Magny (171)
Women’s Flyweight: Jéssica Andrade vs. Lauren Murphy (125.5)
Light Heavyweight: Paul Craig (205) vs. Johnny Walker (205)
Preliminary card
Light Heavyweight: Shogun Rua (205) vs. Ihor Potieria (205)
Middleweight: Gregory Rodrigues (186) vs. Brunno Ferreira (185)
Lightweight: Thiago Moisés (155.5) vs. Melquizael Costa (155)
Welterweight: Mounir Lazzez (170.5) vs. Gabriel Bonfim (171)
Early preliminary card
Heavyweight: Shamil Abdurakhimov (263) vs. Jailton Almeida (232)
Lightweight: Terrance McKinney (156) vs. Ismael Bonfim (156)
Welterweight: Warlley Alves (171) vs. Nicolas Dalby (170)
Women’s Featherweight: Josiane Nunes (145.5) vs. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos (146)
Bantamweight: Luan Lacerda (136) vs. Cody Stamann (135.5)
Bantamweight: Saimon Oliveira (136) vs. Daniel Marcos (136)
Backup Fighter: Alexandre Pantoja (125)
Backup Fighter: Anthony Smith (206.5)*
* Smith missed weight as a back-up fighter for the UFC 283 main event. He initially weighed in at 209 pounds, continued his cut, then weighed in again at 206.5lbs.
