There were 8 UFC identify adjustments this yr, when you come with championships being vacated because of leaving or trauma. Without a doubt, 2023 has been marked by means of fluidity and most likely a passing of the torch to the then pace.

With the entire fluctuations, it’s an finest while to have a look at the UFC’s sections and the way they stacked up. There are 3 main pay-per-view playing cards too much within the yr and a minimum of 5 extra identify fights. That doesn’t rely the alternative height contender battles that experience additionally been scheduled ahead of the yr ends.

So, what are the ones main bouts nonetheless to come back, ones that can come to a decision champions and doable then challengers? And which sections within the UFC arise out some of the remains as we proceed into the general quarter of the yr?

Our panel of 10 ranked the burden categories and Marc Raimondi, Brett Okamoto and Jeff Wagenheim resolution those questions beneath.

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Suga Sean brings males’s bantamweight to height spot

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1. Males’s Bantamweight: 135 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Rob Font vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Dec. 2

That is the UFC’s marquee weight magnificence, led by means of one of the crucial recreation’s greatest stars in newly topped champ, Sean O’Malley. Impactful doable fights? Hurry your pick out. As a result of O’Malley rose to the height so briefly, there are plethora of brandnew and thrilling identify protection matchups. And since he’s so just right at selling himself, there’s a storyline to each considered one of them.

On height of all that, there are a couple of rematches that can draw. Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is predicted to be then to problem for the identify. There’s additionally Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan. All just right rematches. Unused matchups come with Merab Dvalishvili, Henry Cejudo and Cory Sandhagen. O’Malley has lifted a section already in a just right playground to an entire brandnew degree. So, who’s the then O’Malley ready to ascend to greatness? It’s Umar Nurmagomedov, who’s a possible 2024 breakout candidate. — Okamoto

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2. Light-weight: 155 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 294 on Oct. 21

The UFC light-weight identify shall be at the order in a rematch between Makhachev, the flow champion, and Oliveira, the previous titleholder, at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi. Makhachev and Oliveira are two of the arena’s height pound-for-pound combatants, and the second one tussle between the two of them must be an absolute barnburner. Makhachev completed Oliveira by way of second-round submission once they met ultimate October, however Oliveira appeared implausible in dispatching Beneil Dariush in his following tussle at UFC 289 again in June. This is likely one of the very best fights within the UFC for the remains of 2023.

One tussle that’s not but at the books additionally has a ton of implications that reach to the mainstream. Conor McGregor, the most important superstar in UFC historical past, is meant to fulfill Michael Chandler some time, although it is going to no longer occur this yr. The tussle shall be at 170 kilos, in all probability. However Chandler is a height light-weight and there are main implications for the section, particularly if he wins. The then UFC Battle Evening major tournament, on Oct. 7, could also be one to look at: Serve Dawson is unbeaten in 9 UFC fights and takes on wily veteran Bobby Inexperienced. — Raimondi

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3. Welterweight: 170 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Leon Edwards (c) vs. Colby Covington, UFC 296 on Dec. 16

Leon Edwards will guard his identify on Dec. 16 in opposition to Colby Covington, who’ll be combating for the primary while in 21 months and is coming off a 2-2 stretch. It will be proper consistent with the UFC’s erratic 2023 narrative for Covington to win the belt. That may displace a pound-for-pound top-five man in Edwards however would reinvigorate two careers — Covington’s and Kamaru Usman’s. The ex-champ is in exile off at the edge of the identify image as a result of two losses to Edwards, however Usman can be proper again within the combine if the belt have been across the waist of Covington, whom he’s crushed two times.

That December tussle card additionally includes a welterweight matchup that might top to another twist within the highway. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Shavkat Rakhmonov will tangle in a top-10 showdown between the section’s conceivable week — Rakhmonov is 17-0 with all finishes — and a 40-year-old who does no longer need to be relegated to being a factor of the moment. — Wagenheim

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4. Ladies’s Flyweight: 125 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Jennifer Maia vs. Viviane Araujo, Oct. 14

There are not any main fights at the books but for the remains of the yr, following 3 excess ones within the ultimate a number of weeks. Alexa Grasso retained the UFC girls’s flyweight identify in opposition to former champ Valentina Shevchenko by way of a break up draw at Noche UFC. Within the weeks ahead of that, Erin Blanchfield gutted out a win over Taila Santos and Manon Fiorot edged former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, who has moved up.

UFC president Dana White has mentioned the Grasso vs. Shevchenko trilogy will occur then because of the arguable nature of that end result. That might let go Blanchfield vs. Fiorot as a herbal identify eliminator some time, most likely ahead of the top of the yr. Araujo and Maia are ranked combatants who will meet on Oct. 14 as they jockey for place. Maycee Barber, Tracy Cortez and Natalia Silva are all emerging contenders coming off obese wins that shall be located in obese fights then. Veterans Katlyn Chookagian and Lauren Murphy are nonetheless recreation, as effectively. — Raimondi

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5. Males’s Featherweight: 145 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Sodiq Yusuff vs. Edson Barboza, Oct. 14

It’s an implausible, dynamic weight magnificence that’s deeper than it will get credit score for for the reason that guy on the height, Alexander Volkanovski, has some way of constructing issues glance simple. Along with Volkanovski, you’ve gotten the previous champ, Max Holloway, who has been necessarily absolute best on the weight in opposition to any person however Volkanovski. So, it’s a story of a sunny 1A, 1B and later the remains. One would possibly suppose that might construct for a dearth of storylines, however it doesn’t.

Ilia Topuria has injected brandnew pleasure into the 145-pound section, and the eventual go back of Brian Ortega from shoulder trauma will do the similar. Yair Rodriguez got here up trim in opposition to Volkanovski this yr, however he’s nonetheless in his high and one of the crucial amusing combatants within the recreation. The dim horse is Movsar Evloev, who hasn’t been extraordinarily energetic and doesn’t elevate essentially the most thrilling combating taste, however shall be a significant defect if he can keep wholesome. — Okamoto

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6. Middleweight: 185 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev, UFC 294 on Oct. 21

There were plethora of divisional shake-ups to this point in 2023, however arguably none have been extra surprising than Sean Strickland’s dominant, five-round disenchanted of Israel Adesanya. That unmarried end result created a listing of brandnew doable matchups with brandnew stakes. Evident attractive matchups come with Strickland vs. Adesanya 2, Adesanya vs. Dricus du Plessis, a du Plessis identify tussle in opposition to any person and Strickland vs. Robert Whittaker. However the UFC’s greatest tussle may well be between Chimaev and Costa then presen. If Chimaev returns to method and can also be the rest that resembles “active,” the 185-pound section may become essentially the most thrilling weight magnificence within the recreation in 2024. Chimaev brings that a lot pleasure and intrigue. He simply must be wholesome and energetic. — Okamoto

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7. Ladies’s Strawweight: 115 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Jessica Andrade vs. Mackenzie Dern, UFC 295 on Nov. 11

It may well be contradictory to name this one of the crucial UFC’s best weight categories hour stating that its champion may well be the game’s maximum dominant. However that’s strawweight for you. Zhang Weili is coming off an intensive beatdown of Amanda Lemos ultimate presen, however as transcendent because the champ is, there are attention-grabbing demanding situations forward.

Stylistically, a identify protection in opposition to undefeated Tatiana Suarez would put Zhang’s garden recreation to a horrific check. But when the UFC have been to keep an tournament in China ahead of the top of the yr, as CEO Dana White has mentioned he needs to to effect, the unhidden major tournament can be Zhang in opposition to any other Chinese language 115-pounder, Yan Xiaonan. Later vision a 13-fight unbeaten streak finish with a couple of losses, Yan defeated contenders Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade to position herself in high place for a identify shot. — Wagenheim

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8. Heavyweight: 265 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Jon Jones (c) vs. Stipe Miocic, UFC 295 on Nov. 11

It doesn’t get a lot larger than the principle tournament at Madison Sq. Ground. Jones will guard his UFC heavyweight identify for the primary while in opposition to Miocic in November in Unused York. Miocic is a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion and essentially the most completed champ the section has ever not hidden. In the meantime, Jones is essentially the most dominant brightness heavyweight within the recreation’s historical past, coming off a one-sided victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March to win the heavyweight strap. That could be a large tussle, and the result will circumstance the section. There may be hypothesis that both one or each may surrender in a while, resignation a void on the height of heavyweight.

The 2 combatants who would get advantages maximum from a Jones or Miocic leaving will be the heavy-handed Sergei Pavlovich and the well-rounded Tom Aspinall. Either one of them are knocking on the identify problem door and might be then in order for a shot. Most likely the 2 may meet in a identify eliminator in early 2024. The alternative obese heavyweight matchup ahead of the top of this yr is Curtis Blaydes vs. Jailton Almeida on Nov. 4 in Brazil. Almeida is pink sizzling and might be one of the crucial week stars of the section. — Raimondi

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9. Males’s Flyweight: 125 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Alexandre Pantoja (c) vs. Brandon Royval, UFC 296 on Dec. 1

There’s a bundle extra motion right here than there impaired to be. Demetrious Johnson reigned for 6 years then turning into the UFC’s first flyweight champion in 2012. Later Henry Cejudo used to be the champ for a few years. However because the summer season of 2020, the belt has modified arms 5 instances, with Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno having two runs with the identify. It’s develop into a recreation of musical chairs.

Alexandre Pantoja gained the belt from Moreno in July and is already booked for his first identify protection on Dec. 16 vs. Brandon Royval. Pantoja already owns a 2021 submission win over Royval. He additionally has 3 victories over Moreno (one in an exhibition on “The Ultimate Fighter”). Pantoja fought Figueiredo in 2019 and misplaced, however Figueiredo is ready to construct his bantamweight debut (Dec. 2 vs. Rob Font). Discuss transferring portions. — Wagenheim

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10. Luminous Heavyweight: 205 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Jiří Procházka vs. Alex Pereira, UFC 295 on Nov. 11

The Jon Jones curse remains to be in complete impact at 205 kilos. Jones in any case moved to heavyweight in 2023, however this section has been a multitude since he vacated his identify in 2020. There were some superior fights and singular performances, evidently, however the latest hierarchy of the section and the belt has been downright tricky to practice. Procházka claims the belt and later suffers a severe trauma. A vacant identify tussle results in a draw. Jamahal Hill grabs the identify, and later he suffers an important trauma of his personal.

It now does appear to be in a just right playground, with an amazing vacant identify tussle between Procházka and Pereira booked for November in Unused York (at the similar card as Jones, deny much less). The title to accumulation an optical on on this section is Aleksandar Rakic. He’s were given some obese wins and a few obese losses, however in the long run, it doesn’t really feel like we’ve not hidden his complete doable but. — Okamoto

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11. Ladies’s Bantamweight: 135 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: Miesha Tate vs. Julia Avila, Dec. 2

This section has long gone calm because the summer season. In June, Amanda Nunes rode off into the sundown, retiring because the UFC girls’s bantamweight and featherweight champion. And deny identify tussle has been scheduled for the vacant belt. Julianna Peña and Raquel Pennington appear prone to be the 2 members in a identify tussle, however not anything is at the books for the remains of the yr. And there isn’t a sunny spot for that bout until it reveals its means onto the UFC 295 card on Nov. 11, which already has two identify fights.

Mayra Bueno Silva gave the impression of a possible brandnew face of the section then she completed Holly Holm in June. However she’s since been suspended because of a doping violation. It’s hazy when she may well be again and that win over Holm shall be overturned to a deny tournament. There are not any alternative main fights within the section scheduled ahead of the top of the yr, excluding for Miesha Tate vs. Julia Avila on Dec. 2. If Tate wins, together with her title worth, she might be thrust into a significant contender tussle in 2024. — Raimondi

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12. Ladies’s Featherweight: 145 lbs

Best possible too much tussle in 2023: N/A

That is by means of a ways the most important section in girls’s MMA — in competitor measurement. Yeah, that’s a small-minded shaggy dog story, however jokes are about all we’ve for this unwanted depot of a weight magnificence. Bellator and PFL govern to cobble in combination a captivating tussle between 145-pound girls now and later, however within the UFC, the bell has been ringing for years. It become loud and ominous when Amanda Nunes vacated her identify in June and retired. The UFC not too long ago got rid of girls’s featherweight from its divisional ratings web page on-line.

It needn’t finish this fashion. The vacuum created by means of the depart of Nunes might be stuffed with alternative. There’s deny inheritor obvious sitting round then to the Octagon — Cris Cyborg, Kayla Harrison and Larissa Pacheco compete in another way formed cages — so the UFC belt is a drop ball looking ahead to anyone to dive on it. The tussle promotion may do worse than to keep a rematch of ultimate yr’s Macy Chiasson split-decision win over Norma Dumont and wrap the strap across the winner. If the matchmakers favor one thing brisker for a identify bout, put Chiasson in with Josi Nunes. It might be the beginning of a moment Nunes week. — Wagenheim