Ringside Report December 21, 2023. The UFC 2023 Year in Review and Predictions for 2024 episode. Hosted by Dave Simon, Fred Garcia and AJ D’Alesio.
Dave, Fred and AJ reviewed 2023 in MMA, including their fight of the year, fighter of the year and the pay-per-view of the year.
The guys made predictions for 2024 and looked back at championship predictions for 2023.
The co-hosts revisited their predictions for UFC champions at the end of 2023, which they had made at the end of 2022. Their review offers a fascinating insight into how the year unfolded compared to their expectations.
Table of Contents
Revisiting our predictions for 2023
Heavyweight Division (up to 265 pounds)
- Fred’s Prediction: Jon Jones
- Dave’s Prediction: Francis Ngannou
- AJ’s Prediction: Ciryl Gane
- Actual Champion: Jon Jones
Fred correctly predicted Jon Jones as the heavyweight champion. Dave, who predicted Francis Ngannou, acknowledged Ngannou’s technical status as champion due to his absence from the UFC. AJ’s prediction of Ciryl Gane fell short, as Jones defeated Gane.
Light Heavyweight Division
- Fred’s Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev
- Dave’s Prediction: Glover Teixeira
- AJ’s Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev
- Actual Champion: Alex Pereira
None of the hosts correctly predicted the light heavyweight champion. Fred and AJ chose Magomed Ankalaev, while Dave opted for Glover Teixeira. The actual champion, Alex Pereira, surprised them all.
Middleweight Division (185 pounds)
- Unified Prediction: Alex Pereira
- Actual Champion: Sean Strickland
In this 2023 UFC Year-in-Review, all three hosts predicted Alex Pereira would be the middleweight champion. However, the division took an unexpected turn, with Sean Strickland becoming the champion and Pereira moving to light heavyweight.
Welterweight Division (170 pounds)
- Fred’s Prediction: Kamaru Usman
- Dave’s Prediction: Leon Edwards
- AJ’s Prediction: Kamaru Usman
- Actual Champion: Leon Edwards
Dave accurately predicted Leon Edwards would be the welterweight champion. Fred and AJ’s choice, Kamaru Usman, did not retain his title.
Lightweight Division (155 pounds)
- Unified Prediction: Islam Makhachev
- Actual Champion: Islam Makhachev
All three hosts correctly predicted Islam Makhachev to be the lightweight champion.
Featherweight Division (145 ponds)
- Unified Prediction: Alexander Volkanovski
- Actual Champion: Alexander Volkanovski
All three hosts were correct in predicting Alexander Volkanovski as the featherweight champion.
Bantamweight Division (135 pounds)
- Fred’s Prediction: Henry Cejudo
- Dave’s Prediction: Aljamain Sterling
- AJ’s Prediction: Henry Cejudo
- Actual Champion: Sean O’Malley
Fred and AJ incorrectly predicted Henry Cejudo, while Dave’s choice of Aljamain Sterling also didn’t materialize. Sean O’Malley emerged as the champion, surprising the hosts during our 2023 UFC Year-in-Review.
Flyweight Division (125 pounds)
- Unified Prediction: Deiveson Figueiredo
- Actual Champion: Alexander Pantoja
All three hosts predicted Deiveson Figueiredo would be the flyweight champion, but Alexander Pantoja claimed the title.
Women’s Strawweight (115 lbs)
- Unified Prediction: Zhang Weili
- Actual Champion: Zhang Weili
The hosts were united and correct in their prediction of Zhang Weili as the women’s strawweight champion.
Women’s Flyweight (125 lbs)
- Fred’s Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko
- Dave’s Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko
- AJ’s Prediction: Manon Fiorot
- Actual Champion: Alexa Grasso
Neither of the hosts correctly predicted the women’s flyweight champion. As she claimed the title, Alexa Grasso defied Valentina Shevchenko’s and Manon Fiorot’s predictions.
Women’s Bantamweight (135 lbs) and Featherweight (145 lbs)
- Unified Prediction: Amanda Nunes
- Actual Champion: Amanda Nunes (Retired, Vacant title as of next PPV)
All three hosts correctly predicted Amanda Nunes to be the champion in both divisions. However, Nunes retired, and the bantamweight title is set for contention between Raquel Pennington and Mayra Bueno Silva.
The tables below summarize each host’s predictions compared to the actual champions at the end of 2023:
Dave Simon’s Predictions vs. Actual Champions
| Weight Class | Dave’s Prediction | Actual Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Francis Ngannou | Jon Jones |
| Light Heavyweight | Glover Teixeira | Alex Pereira |
| Middleweight | Alex Pereira | Sean Strickland |
| Welterweight | Leon Edwards | Leon Edwards |
| Lightweight | Islam Makhachev | Islam Makhachev |
| Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski | Alexander Volkanovski |
| Bantamweight | Aljamain Sterling | Sean O’Malley |
| Flyweight | Deiveson Figueiredo | Alexander Pantoja |
| Women’s Strawweight | Zhang Weili | Zhang Weili |
| Women’s Flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko | Alexa Grasso |
| Women’s Bantam/Feather | Amanda Nunes | Amanda Nunes (Retired) |
AJ D’Alesio’s Predictions vs. Actual Champions
| Weight Class | AJ’s Prediction | Actual Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Ciryl Gane | Jon Jones |
| Light Heavyweight | Magomed Ankalaev | Alex Pereira |
| Middleweight | Alex Pereira | Sean Strickland |
| Welterweight | Kamaru Usman | Leon Edwards |
| Lightweight | Islam Makhachev | Islam Makhachev |
| Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski | Alexander Volkanovski |
| Bantamweight | Henry Cejudo | Sean O’Malley |
| Flyweight | Deiveson Figueiredo | Alexander Pantoja |
| Women’s Strawweight | Zhang Weili | Zhang Weili |
| Women’s Flyweight | Manon Fiorot | Alexa Grasso |
| Women’s Bantam/Feather | Amanda Nunes | Amanda Nunes (Retired) |
Fred Garcia’s Predictions vs. Actual Champions
| Weight Class | Fred’s Prediction | Actual Champion |
|---|---|---|
| Heavyweight | Jon Jones | Jon Jones |
| Light Heavyweight | Magomed Ankalaev | Alex Pereira |
| Middleweight | Alex Pereira | Sean Strickland |
| Welterweight | Kamaru Usman | Leon Edwards |
| Lightweight | Islam Makhachev | Islam Makhachev |
| Featherweight | Alexander Volkanovski | Alexander Volkanovski |
| Bantamweight | Henry Cejudo | Sean O’Malley |
| Flyweight | Deiveson Figueiredo | Alexander Pantoja |
| Women’s Strawweight | Zhang Weili | Zhang Weili |
| Women’s Flyweight | Valentina Shevchenko | Alexa Grasso |
| Women’s Bantam/Feather | Amanda Nunes | Amanda Nunes (Retired) |
2023 UFC Year-in-Review Analysis of Predictions
Heavyweight Division
- Fred was the only one to accurately predict Jon Jones as the heavyweight champion. Dave and AJ’s predictions were not realized.
Light Heavyweight Division
- All three hosts missed the mark, with Alex Pereira, not their predicted fighter, becoming the champion.
Middleweight Division
- Surprisingly, Sean Strickland emerged as the champion, defying the hosts’ unanimous prediction for Alex Pereira.
Welterweight Division
- Dave’s prediction of Leon Edwards was accurate, while Fred and AJ’s choice of Kamaru Usman did not come to fruition.
Lightweight Division
- All three hosts correctly predicted Islam Makhachev to be the champion.
Featherweight Division
- The hosts were united and correct in predicting Alexander Volkanovski as the featherweight champion.
Bantamweight Division
- Sean O’Malley’s emergence as champion surprised all the hosts, who had different predictions.
Flyweight Division
- Despite a unanimous prediction for Deiveson Figueiredo, Alexander Pantoja claimed the title.
Women’s Divisions
- The hosts correctly predicted Zhang Weili as the strawweight champion. Alexa Grasso’s championship was a surprise in the flyweight division, especially with the predictions favouring Shevchenko and Fiorot. Amanda Nunes, as predicted, remained the bantamweight/featherweight champion but retired, leaving the title vacant.
The predictions and their outcomes highlight the dynamic and unpredictable nature of MMA. While educated, the hosts’ insights and guesses faced the reality of the ever-changing landscape of UFC, underscoring the sport’s excitement and unpredictability.
2023 UFC Year-in-Review Recap
Ringside Report MMA co-hosts Dave Simon, AJ D’Alesio, and Fred Garcia reflected on the 2023 UFC Year-in-Review, discussing their picks for the Fighter of the Year and the best pay-per-view event of the year. Their insights provide a comprehensive look at the standout moments and athletes in UFC for 2023.
Fighter of the Year 2023: Sean Strickland
After presenting various nominees and their 2023 accolades, Dave Simon surprisingly chose Sean Strickland as his Fighter of the Year. Strickland’s year included a unanimous decision victory over Nassourdine Imavov, a TKO win against Abus Magomedov and a dominating performance against Israel Adesanya to become the new UFC middleweight champion.
AJ D’Alesio agreed with Dave’s choice, highlighting Strickland’s impressive training camps and consistent performance in the octagon. Fred Garcia also concurred that while other fighters like Kevin Pereira and Islam Makhachev had notable years, Strickland’s undefeated streak and championship win made him the choice for Fighter of the Year.
2023 UFC Year-in-Review: Notable Mentions for Fighter of the Year
- Justin Gaethje: Noted for his wins over Rafael Fiziev and Dustin Poirier.
- Leon Edwards: Recognized for defending the welterweight title twice.
- Islam Makhachev: Praised for beating Alexander Volkanovski twice.
- Alex Pereira: Acknowledged despite a loss to Israel Adesanya and subsequent victories.
- Tom Aspinall: Mentioned for his impressive victories over Marcin Tybura and Sergei Pavlovich.
- Alexa Grasso: Highlighted for her submission win over Valentina Shevchenko and a draw in a rematch.
Analysis and Discussion
The co-hosts’ choice of Sean Strickland as the Fighter of the Year underscores the importance of consistent performance and significant victories in high-stakes matches. Strickland’s journey from a lesser-known fighter to UFC middleweight champion highlights MMA’s unpredictable and dynamic nature.
The recognition of fighters like Gaethje, Edwards, Makhachev, Pereira, Aspinall, and Grasso reflects the diverse talent pool in UFC and the various paths athletes take to succeed in the sport.
The discussion by our expert hosts Dave Simon, AJ D’Alesio, and Fred Garcia during this 2023 UFC Year-in-Review offered a unique perspective on the year 2023 in UFC, celebrating the achievements of fighters who made a significant impact and the events that hosted these pivotal moments. Their insights and analyses thoroughly recap a memorable year in UFC history.
2023 UFC Year-in-Review Highlights and Key Moments
In their 2023 retrospective episode, the co-hosts of Ringside Report MMA, Dave Simon, AJ D’Alesio, and Fred Garcia, discussed some of the most memorable moments and fighters of the year in UFC. Their insights provide a comprehensive look at the standout performances and events in the UFC for 2023.
Fight of the Year 2023
Dave Simon kicked off the discussion by nominating several fights for the title of ‘Fight of the Year’, including Kamaru Usman vs. Leon Edwards at UFC 286, Max Holloway vs. Korean Zombie at a UFC Fight Night in Singapore, and Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285. However, his pick for the fight of the year was Islam Makhachev vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 284. AJ D’Alesio agreed, highlighting Shafqat vs. Neil as another impressive fight and siding with Makhachev vs. Volkanovski as his top pick. Fred Garcia didn’t prepare a specific pick but concurred that the Makhachev vs. Volkanovski fight, with its high stakes and tight competition, was a classic.
Knockout of the Year 2023
Dave Simon suggested several candidates for ‘Knockout of the Year’, including Josh Emmett’s knockout of Bryce Mitchell, Israel Adesanya’s knockout of Alex Pereira, and Islam Makhachev’s head kick on Volkanovski. His final choice was Justin Gaethje’s knockout of Dustin Poirier at UFC 291. AJ agreed, particularly emphasizing the significance of Gaethje’s victory and its impact on his career trajectory.
Submission of the Year 2023
In the category of ‘Submission of the Year’, Dave Simon highlighted Alexa Grasso’s neck crank on Valentina Shevchenko and Brendan Allen’s rear-naked choke on Paul Craig. However, he ultimately chose Jon Jones’ guillotine choke on Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 as the most impressive submission. AJ D’Alesio agreed with this choice, praising Jones’ performance and acknowledging his status as one of the greatest martial artists ever.
Pay-Per-View Event of the Year 2023
Discussing the ‘Pay-Per-View of the Year’, Dave Simon mentioned several events, including UFC 284, UFC 285, UFC 291, UFC 294, and UFC 295. He ultimately decided on UFC 295, held on November 11th at Madison Square Garden, as the year’s event. This event featured significant victories such as Alex Pereira’s knockout of Jiri Prochazka and Tom Aspinall’s knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. AJ D’Alesio concurred, finding it difficult to pick one event over the other due to the high quality of all the mentioned pay-per-views.
Analysis and Discussion
The conversation among the co-hosts of Ringside Report MMA showcased UFC’s highlights and key figures in 2023. Their selections for ‘Fight of the Year’, ‘Knockout of the Year’, ‘Submission of the Year’, and ‘Pay-Per-View Event of the Year’ reflect the moments that defined UFC in 2023. These highlights underline MMA’s dynamic and unpredictable nature, from the intense and closely contested bouts to the stunning knockouts and submissions. The co-hosts’ insights provide a well-rounded overview of the year, celebrating the achievements of fighters who made a significant impact and the events that hosted these pivotal moments.
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