Two fighters who are undefeated in the featherweight division are set to face off in the main event at UFC 298. Whittaker is looking to get back on track, while Ian Machado Garry is looking to silence his critics.

UFC 297 marked the UFC’s first return to Toronto since UFC 231 in December 2018. And while it wasn’t an all-timer card, we still ended up seing two new champions crowned at the end of the night.

A cracking year for mixed martial arts and the UFC are over. The UFC closed the curtains on 2023 at the T-Mobile arena in Las Vegas, when Leon Edwards defended his welterweight title against Colby Covington, but that was a bit of a dull affair.

Was that the best fight night of the year? I would maybe go as far as to say it might be a top 5 event of year including PPV’s, and I don’t even think that’s a reach.

In a shocking turn of events, Madison Square Garden delivers once again! Two new champions, a main card full of finishes and a fight of the year contender on the prelims. All action in NYC!

Whenever the UFC takes over NYC and Madison Square Garden, it’s usually spectacular. From McGregor becoming double champ to Masvidal winning the BMF belt and some absolutely incredible wars along the way. This year looks to be no different.

The UFC are making their first trip back to São Paulo since 2019 when future light heavyweight Champion Jan Blachowicz took on Jacare Souza, and once again they’re bringing in the heavy hitters.

ISLAM. F’ING. MAKHACHEV.

UFC 294 marks the return to Abu Dhabi, and once again Islam Makhachev is part of the main event. We’re also seeing Khamzat Chimaev for the first time in over a year, but we saw some big changes two weeks out from the event.

3 PPV’s, 5 title fights and a plethora of bouts that will get the majority of mixed martial arts fans excited, is it fair to say that the UFC, at least on paper, has hit the jackpot to end off 2023?

This sport is just bonkers. I didn’t see a realistic path to victory for Sean Strickland against Israel Adesanya, not in the standup, not in the grappling and I certainly didn’t think he’d be able to outpoint the now former champion, but that’s just what he did.

The UFC are heading back to Sydney for the first time in 6 years, and unsurprisingly middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is at the top of the bill. Last time ‘Stylebender’ fought in Australia was when he became the undisputed champ after knocking out Robert Whittaker in front of a record breaking attendance at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne. He is now looking for his 6th middleweight title defence, and the first since he won back his belt from Alex Pereira earlier this year.

The Accor Arena witnessed another seminal moment for French MMA this weekend, as Ciryl Gane, Manon Fiorot and Benoit Saint-Denis picked up very impressive wins.

9 French fighters on the card, 7 wins and 2 losses. Considering two of the fighters were matched up against each other, that’s a brilliant night for the French MMA scene. And at the top of the bill we had three potential champions in Ciryl Gane, Manon Fiorot and Benoit Saint-Denis who all looked fantastic.

An incredible set of fights in Singapore culminated in a very bittersweet moment in the main event, where Max Holloway once again showed that he isn’t going anywhere.

Cory Sandhagen picked up a win against Rob Font at UFC Nashville, while Tatiana Suarez made easy work of former champion Jessica Andrade.

Cory Sandhagen is looking to continue his good run, while Fob Font will want to build on the great win last time out against Adrian Yanez. Jessica Andrade will try to snap her losing streak, but are facing a tough task in Tatiana Suarez.

Nine finishes, only two decisions and a brutal knockout worthy of winning the BMF title. Safe to say that UFC 291 really lived up to the expectations. Much was said about the elevation in Salt Lake City, but most of the fights didn’t even get far enough for that to be relevant.

After Leon Edwards produced a spectacular moment at UFC 278 last year the UFC are returning to Salt Lake City, Utah and the card is looking very tasty. There’s also a lot on the line, be it title implications or for some it may be time to hang up the gloves if they come up short. For all these fights, elevation will play a huge part just like it did last year. Fighters like Poirier, Gaethje and Michel Pereira are used to expend a lot of energy so it will be interesting to see how the elevation will affect them.

After his fifth title defence at UFC 290, can we now say that Alexander Volkanovski is the greatest featherweight of all time?

I can’t lie, most of this piece will be dedicated to Ilia Topuria’s masterclass against Josh Emmett and what his next move should be, but a few other prospects really shone as well, and deserves praise for some excellent performances.