UFC 283: Preview & Predictions

UFC 283: Preview & Predictions

By Cathal Geeney

Glover Teixeira v Jamahal ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill

The UFC light-heavyweight title will be on the line this weekend for the second consecutive PPV with Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill facing off for the coveted 205-pound strap.

It has been a turbulent time for the light-heavyweight division of late as Jiri Prochazka was initially scheduled to rematch Glover Teixeira for the title at UFC 282 last December. However, a shoulder injury sustained by the reigning champion, Jiri, which forced him to vacate the belt, set the dominoes in motion for a series of changes.

Magomed Ankalaev was introduced as the replacement for Jiri, but Glover insisted on more time before facing off against the Russian. The UFC did not oblige and instead replaced Glover with Jan Blachowicz. After Ankalaev and Blachowicz fought to a draw, the UFC brass then immediately made the Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill fight official for the vacant belt in Rio de Janeiro this weekend.

While the last number of weeks have been a rollercoaster of emotion for the light heavyweight fighters and fans alike, few can complain with the outcome. Which is getting to see a legend of the sport in Glover Teixeira, who is still performing at his prime, go up against Jamahal Hill, a rising star who is capable of producing a knockout blow at any moment

This will likely be Glover’s last shot for the title as he is due to turn forty-four this year. The Brazilian veteran will be eager to get back in the win column after a disappointing defeat to Jiri where he was winning the fight on the judges’ scorecards but appeared to have a lapse in concentration and was submitted with only thirty seconds remaining on the clock.

This weekends match up is a classic case of striker versus grappler. Glover Teixeira will do all in his power to get this fight to the ground. The Connecticut resident has incredible takedown skills and will work to get this fight to the mat from a clinch or a straight takedown shot. And once on top, the remarkable ‘old man strength’ is on display. Teixeira has one of the best top control games in the sport, reigning down big blows while always ready to sink in a submission. Since debuting in 2002, Glover has clocked up thirty-three victories with only five going to the judges’ scorecards.

The advantage for Hill is that the fight starts on the feet. The thirty-one-year-old is still gaining experience, with only thirteen professional fights on his record, but he has already demonstrated an incredible ability to finish opponents. He will use his lead right hand to set up a powerful straight shot, or else land a crisp counter. The number seven ranked light heavyweight is coming off three successive knockout victories and confidence will be high.

Hill last suffered a defeat when the referee stepped in after he was caught in a submission by Paul Craig which dislocated his shoulder. This called into question the grappling ability of Jamahal. It was important for Hill to show that he can defeat a grappler as was the case in his previous outing against Thiago Santos. Jamahal demonstrated a hunger to fight takedowns and get back to his feet when he had been taken down. He also showed that he has a gas tank capable of coming through these wrestling exchanges and still being able to finish the fight with strikes.

Teixeira is not necessarily the fastest striker, and is susceptible to getting caught, but he does a lot of things well to negate this. Expect to see Teixeira apply pressure while always looking to rely on his head movement, feints and wrestling to stop that clean shot getting through. There have been many moments in the forty-three-year old’s career where it appears as if he is on the cusp of being finished, but he has a toughness that few can match.

The styles of both fighters should make for an exciting match which is unlikely to go the full five rounds.

Prediction:

I am surprised to see Teixeira enter the fight as an ever so slight underdog. While Hill is more than capable of landing a killer blow, I still like Glover’s chances in this one. If he can use all the tricks up his sleeve to prevent that big shot from landing, I am confident he will be able to overpower Hill on the ground and find a finish. While Jamahal came through the test of Thiago Santos, I see Glover as being a level above when it comes to getting his opponent to the canvas and keeping him there. Glover Teixeira to regain the light-heavyweight title by submission or technical knockout.

Deiveson ‘Daico’ Figueiredo v Brandon ‘Assasin Baby’ Moreno

Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno continue to make history as they will be the UFC’s first quadrilogy fight. Everything will be on the line for this showdown. Both men hold a victory over the other, with their first fight being a draw, while both men also carry a belt, Figueiredo holding the flyweight title and Moreno holding the interim flyweight title.

This will be the fourth straight time that Figgy faces Moreno, whereas for Moreno, he picked up the interim flyweight title when Figueiredo was injured, after stopping Kai Kara-France with a beautiful body kick followed by punches.

All three fights have been massively entertaining, particularly as both fighters made adjustments throughout the trilogy. The first meeting was a thrilling encounter in which the action went back and forth. Figueiredo went in as the defending champion and pushed the pace, throwing powerful shots, while Moreno took all Figueiredo had to offer and kept replying with flurries of his own. An illegal groin kick resulted in a point deduction for Daico, which ultimately was the difference between a victory and a draw for the Brazilian.

Their second encounter was a vastly different story as Brandon dominated and secured a third round submission victory. He controlled the pace and established his jab early on, while Figueiredo did not appear to be the same fighter that we had seen up until that point.

Their most recent meeting was a very close encounter in which all three judges scored it 48-47 in favour of the Brazilian. While Moreno threw significantly more strikes that Deiveson (259 strikes for Brandon, 169 for Deiveson), Daico was a lot more accurate and landed with more power. There were plenty of grappling exchanges and clinches on display with both fighters showing a great ability to scramble and fight to get back to their feet.

This meeting will be a fascinating bout and will likely close the chapter on a huge part of flyweight history. I expect to see two of the best fighters in 125-pound history leave it all out there in another thrilling bout.

Prediction:

Both fighters are so highly skilled it makes it difficult to pick a winner. Moreno does not possess the word ‘quit’ in his vocabulary. He will keep coming forward and looking to find a way to have his hand raised. He has shown this time and again. If Moreno does not unify the flyweight division, it will not be for lack of want.

The same may not be applicable to Figueiredo. In their second meeting he looked off. He has spoken of issues with weight and illness affecting him in the past. He has also previously missed weight when he came up against Joseph Benavidez for the first time back in February 2020.

Ultimately though, I believe Deiveson Figueiredo at his best is a better mixed martial artist than Brandon Moreno and for that reason I am taking the Brazilian. I believe Figueiredo is the more technical and powerful striker and can match the grappling of Moreno.