Israel Adesanya and 4 other former champions who may take back their belts in 2023
Israel Adesanya was one of several champions to be dethroned in 2022. With the new year approaching, take a look at five former champions, including four who lost their belt in 2022, who may reclaim their spot as champions in 2023.
While Jiri Prochazka would certainly make this list if healthy, it is currently unknown if he will be able to compete in 2023.
#5. Israel Adesanya
Israel Adesanya is arguably the biggest name on the UFC roster outside of former double champ Conor McGregor. The former middleweight champion was dethroned by kickboxing rival Alex Pereira via a fifth-round TKO at UFC 281 after defending his belt five times.
While the No.1-ranked middleweight has lost all three fights to the current champion, two of which took place in kickboxing, he will likely be the first middleweight to challenge Pereira for his title.
Despite his three consecutive losses to Pereira, Israel Adesanya remains the betting favorite for a potential rematch, as each of their previous meetings were very close fights.
While Israel Adesanya lost their first kickboxing meeting via unanimous decision, many felt that he deserved to win the fight. The former middleweight champion appeared on his way to victory in both their second kickboxing meeting and their only mixed martial arts meeting before being knocked out late in the fight.
Don't be surprised if Israel Adesanya is able to reclaim his spot atop the rankings in 2023.
#4. Kamaru Usman
Kamaru Usman is another former champion who appeared on his way to victory in his sixth title defense. The No.1-ranked welterweight lost his belt to Leon Edwards via a fifth-round knockout at UFC 278.
Usman, who was less than a minute away from winning the fight, will likely face the new champion in his first title defense at UFC 286 in London.
As is the case with Israel Adesanya, Usman remains the betting favorite ahead of UFC 286 despite being the challenger. Unlike Adesanya, however, Usman defeated his opponent with a unanimous decision victory back in 2015.
The No.1-ranked welterweight appeared en route to another victory over Edwards, which would have tied Anderson Silva's UFC record of 16 consecutive wins. While his shocking defeat left him less than a minute short of doing so, Usman appears as likely as any former champion to reclaim his title by avenging his loss.
#3. Glover Teixeira
Glover Teixeira holds the distinction of being the oldest first-time champion in UFC history. He captured the light heavyweight title for the first time at UFC 267 just two days after turning 42.
The No.2-ranked light heavyweight was unsuccessful in his first title defense at UFC 275, however, as he lost to Jiri Prochazka via fifth-round submission. As is the case with Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman, Teixeira was ahead in the fight before being submitted with less than 30 seconds left.
Teixeira was set to challenge Prochazka for the light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 282. However, the latter was forced to pull out due to injury and honorably vacated the title.
While Teixeira also pulled out of the UFC 282 title fight, the bout between Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev ended in a draw, leaving the belt without a champion.
The former light heavyweight champion will face Jamahal Hill for the vacant strap at UFC 283 in the main event of the first pay-per-view card of 2023. While he enters the fight as the underdog, don't be surprised if Teixeira reclaims the light heavyweight title to kick off the year.
#2. Brandon Moreno
Brandon Moreno will be the first former champion to have an opportunity to reclaim his title in 2023 as he will face Deiveson Figueiredo in the co-main event of UFC 283. The fight will make UFC history as it will mark the first tetralogy bout to take place in the promotion. In their three previous meetings, all for the UFC flyweight championship, Moreno and Figueiredo are 1-1-1.
Figueiredo would have won the first meeting at UFC 256. However, a one-point deduction led to the fight ending in a majority draw.
Moreno picked up a third-round submission at UFC 263 in their second meeting, while Figueiredo reclaimed his title via unanimous decision at UFC 270. As the pair will need a fourth bout to settle the score, it is clear that this matchup could go either way.
#1. Jon Jones
Jon Jones is arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. While he has been inactive for nearly three years since vacating the light heavyweight title following UFC 247, 'Bones' is reportedly set to return to the octagon at UFC 285.
Jones, who will be making his heavyweight debut, is a long-time light heavyweight champion, as his dominance over the division lasted for nearly a decade.
While heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou represents one of the toughest fighters on the UFC roster, if Jones' skills translate to heavyweight, he has a very good chance of becoming a two-division champion.
