What’s At Stake For UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill

Wander Roberto/UFC

The UFC is back on Pay Per View for the first time in 2023 (Saturday, January 21, 7 p.m. PST / 10 p.m. EST on ESPN+), and for the second straight event, the light heavyweight title is up for grabs. With former champion Glover Teixeira taking on seventh-ranked Jamahal “Sweet Dreams” Hill for the vacant belt, the UFC 283 PPV card features another title fight, as current champion Deiveson Figueiredo faces interim champ Brandon Moreno for the fourth time, along with a trio of exciting fights.

It’s a cool fight card, especially for hardcore MMA fans, rich and deep with talented fighters up and down the lineup. UFC 283 features legends, rising prospects, and record holders, and has real potential to be a wild night of fights.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the key matchups on the UFC 283 PPV card.

STREAM UFC 283 PPV HERE – 1/21

Glover Teixeira (+110) vs. Jamahal Hill (-130)

To better understand the UFC 283 main event between Teixeira and Hill and why the light heavyweight belt is vacant, here’s a bit of context.

Rewinding back to December 2022, former champion Jiri Prochazka relinquished the belt after suffering a devastating shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out of action for at least a year. With no champion to defend the belt, the UFC booked Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 282 main event. However, after the pair fought to a draw, the division remained without a champion to close out the year.

Later on fight night, it took UFC President Dana White all 30 minutes to announce the Teixeira vs. Hill matchup for UFC 283, perhaps as a sort of stop gap, but still it was a very clever booking to keep the division moving.

On paper, Teixeira vs. Hill is a classic striker-versus-grappler matchup, with Teixeira owning a significant advantage on the ground, and Hill having the decisive edge on the feet. But really, this matchup is a lot more than that. It’s a battle between experience and youth, with the 43-year-old Teixeira having a full 15 years of professional experience over Hill, who turned pro in 2017.

Teixeira, who boasts a 33-8 professional record and is coming off a Fight of the Year performance, is a well rounded MMA fighter with 18 wins by knockout and another 10 via submission, complemented by nine fight night bonuses. Having shared the cage with legends like Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Teixeira has seen just about everything an MMA fighter can in competition, so there’s really no chance that Hill will present anything new at UFC 283.

Conversely, Hill, who is 11-1 (1 No Contest) as an MMA pro, has legit power, slick striking, and is still on an upward trajectory. Entering the UFC 283 main event riding a three-fight win streak (all via knockout), Hill has shown flashes of domination. He uses his height and length to manage distance and tag opponents on the feet. Still, he has shown some susceptibility on the ground.

The main question in this fight is if Teixeira, who has been knocked out early before, can avoid and evade Hill’s power for 25 minutes. It’s a tough task, but given his strengths on the ground and ability to land the takedown, I believe a third or fourth round submission by Teixeira is the most likely outcome here. And, given that he’s currently listed at +110 at the sportsbooks, Glover Teixeira is a great play for the gambling circuit.

Deiveson Figueiredo (-115) vs. Brandon Moreno (-105)

For the first time in UFC history, two fighters will square off for a fourth time with a title on the line. And, if the last three matchups are any indicator, we’re in for a spectacular fight on Saturday.

Dating back to December 2020, Figueiredo and Moreno have fought to a draw and split the other two bouts. The rivalry has become one of the greatest in UFC history.

Entering UFC 283 on the heels of a year-long layoff, Deveison Figueiredo has quite a few question marks heading into this co-main event against Moreno.

With finishing skills on both the feet and on the ground, Figueiredo is nasty inside the cage. He can box and grapple, and, as evidenced at UFC 270, he’s brought his wrestling to new heights under the tutelage of former champion and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo. However, weight management has always been an issue for the current champion.

For Moreno, UFC 283 represents an opportunity to unify the belt he lost a year ago to Figueiredo in a highly contested decision that earned Fight of the Night honors.

Claiming the interim title last July with a TKO win over Kai Kara-France at UFC 277, Moreno’s mettle has never been in question. He’s a tenacious fighter with a natural finishing instinct. He walks head on into incoming traffic, never afraid to bring the action, a classic in fighter.

STREAM UFC 283 PPV HERE – 1/21

However, at UFC 283 he faces a different type of challenge.

Relocating to Glory MMA in Kansas City last year, Moreno made serious improvements under the guidance of now-former coach James Krause. However, when Krause became embroiled in an ongoing FBI investigation concerning alleged illegal gambling and fight fixing, Moreno lost access to the team that brought him back into the title picture.

As a result of the investigation, Krause and all fighters associated with Glory MMA have been barred from participating in UFC events for the time being, forcing Moreno to once again relocate and assemble a new team heading into this fourth fight with Figueiredo.

As evidenced by the odds, Figueiredo and Moreno are evenly matched; however, the former does have the power advantage.

And, while I do favor Deveison Figueiredo to retain his title and best Brandon Moreno at UFC 283, I’ll wait until weigh-ins to put any money down on this one, just in case the champion struggles on the scales.

Gilbert Burns (-360) vs. Neil Magny (+470)

While the odds on this UFC 283 featured bout between fifth-ranked welterweight Gilbert “Durinho” Burns and twelfth-ranked Neil Magny are wide open, this fight promises to deliver action.

Coming off one of the top fights of 2022, his wild affair versus Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 273, Burns is trying to earn another crack at the UFC title.

Initially more of a grappler, Burns has developed legit striking skills since moving back up to 170 pounds in 2019. The added weight has allowed “Durinho” to maximize his massive punching power, and combined with his BJJ black belt skills, along with tremendous aggression and ability to fight in the pocket, Burns has become one of the most potent performers in the welterweight division.

For his part, Magny owns an important distinction in UFC history, recently passing welterweight GOAT Georges St-Pierre for most career wins at 170 pounds.

Magny has never been the flashiest fighter. He’s not necessarily a natural finisher, and as a result he also has the most decision wins in UFC history. However, Neil Magny knows how to fight MMA in all facets. He’s a consistent performer who knows the game in and out, so Burns will not present anything new here.

Regardless, Gilbert Burns is the stronger fighter in all aspects of mixed martial arts. He’s the heavier hitter with crisper combinations and a more dynamic ground game, so look for Gilbert Burns to earn the finish, perhaps even a TKO in the second round.

STREAM UFC 283 PPV HERE – 1/21

Best of the Rest

While UFC 283 may not feature the biggest or most recognizable names, it’s plenty deep with great fights and fighters scattered around the card.

Former women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade, one of the biggest punchers in women’s MMA history, returns to action after pulling off the first standing arm-triangle in UFC history. She takes on Lauren Murphy in a flyweight bout that very well could determine the next title challenger at 125 pounds.

Opening the UFC 283 PPV on ESPN+ are a pair of all-action light heavyweights. Fan favorites Paul Craig and Johnny Walker will go head to head in a fight that no doubt will be a wild affair. Walker, known for his high flying striking attacks and flashy style, will see his limits tested by Craig, an unconventional but dazzling submission artist who owns the UFC record for latest finish in a three round fight. No doubt this fight will be a barn burner.

And then there’s the retirement fight of MMA legend Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who bids farewell to one of the most historic careers in mixed martial arts. A former UFC champion, “Shogun” made his bones in Japan’s PRIDE organization, and at one point, he was the best MMA fighter in the world.

While it’s been more than a decade since Shogun’s prime, he remains a legend. This last fight is really a celebration of one of the greatest careers in MMA, that bridged the gap from PRIDE to the current incarnation of the UFC.

STREAM UFC 283 PPV HERE – 1/21

UFC 283 Fight Card

UFC 283 Pay Per View Main Card (on ESPN+ PPV) 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST

• Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill – for the UFC light heavyweight title
• Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Brandon Moreno – for the UFC flyweight title
• Gilbert Burns vs. Neil Magny
• Jessica Andrade vs. Lauren Murphy
• Paul Craig vs. Johnny Walker

UFC 283 Prelims (on ESPN+ & ESPN) 9 a.m. PST / 12 p.m. EST

• Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Ihor Potieria
• Gregory Rodrigues vs. Bruno Ferreira
• Thiago Moises vs. Melquizael Costa
• Mounir Lazzez vs. Gabriel Bonfim

UFC 283 Early Prelims (on ESPN+ & ESPN) 7 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. EST

• Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Jailton Almeida
• Terrance McKinney vs. Ismael Bonfim
• Warlley Alves vs. Nicolas Dalby
• Josiane Nunes vs. Zarah Fairn Dos Santos
• Luan Lacerda vs. Cody Stamann
• Saimon Oliveira vs. Daniel Marcos

*fight card subject to change
** all odds current as of time of writing

Dan Shapiro is a writer, editor, musician, and producer currently based in Los Angeles. In addition to covering some of the biggest fights in combat sports history, he’s also hunted down the world’s best sushi, skied the northern hemisphere in July, and chronicled Chinese underground music for publications like CNN, the New York Daily News, VICE, and Time Out. Dan also conjured up a ghost at the Chateau Marmont while out on assignment for RoadTrippers. Follow him on Twitter here.