PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 11: A general view of the Octagon during the UFC 221 event at Perth Arena on February 11, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC announces 2023 first quarter dates, venues and schedule
The UFC has released its 2023 first-quarter schedule.
After the UFC 282 press conference on Thursday, the promotion ran a video showcasing some of the key fights taking place in the first quarter of 2023. The news confirmed many of the previously-reported events, but it also revealed a handful of locations and venues that were not announced prior, including seeing the promotion going to a new venue in Las Vegas.
The full UFC 2023 first-quarter schedule is as follows:
We're kicking our 30th anniversary off with a 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆 💥 pic.twitter.com/g7l1VLveXQ
— UFC (@ufc) December 9, 2022
UFC Fight Night @ UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 14
The UFC kicks off 2023 at the UFC Apex with the main event of the card seeing Kelvin Gastelum taking on Nassourdine Imavov. Also on the card is a fascinating welterweight scrap between Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
UFC 283 @ Juenesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 23
The first pay-per-view of 2023 sees the flyweight title up for grabs as Deiveson Figueiredo takes on Brandon Moreno for the fourth time. The card also sees Gilbert Burns take on Neil Magny while Jessica Andrade takes on Lauren Murphy and Paul Craig faces Johnny Walker among other fights.
UFC 284 @ RAC Arena in Perth, Australia on February 11
The UFC returns to Australia for a massive card as in the main event, Islam Makhachev defends his lightweight strap against Alexander Volkanovski. The card also sees an interim featherweight title between Yair Rodriguez and Josh Emmett while Robert Whittaker returns against Paulo Costa.
UFC Fight Night @ UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 18
The card does not have its main event booked but the likes of Jim Miller, Gerald Meerschaert, and Joe Solecki have been booked on the card.
UFC Fight Night @ UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 25
Headlining this Fight Night card is a banger of a light heavyweight fight between Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann.
UFC 284 @ T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 4
Bo Nickal will make his debut on the card. This has also been the event rumored to be Jon Jones’ heavyweight debut.
UFC Fight Night @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 11
The UFC heads to a new venue on March 11 and in the main event, Anthony Smith will take on Jamahal Hill.
UFC 286 @ O2 Arena in London, England on March 18
The promotion heads back to England with Leon Edwards to likely defend his belt against Kamaru Usman.
UFC Fight Night @ AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas on March 25
The UFC concludes the first quarter in Texas with the only fight announced being Maycee Barber vs. Andrea Lee.
Of note, the UFC did not confirm the February 4 card in Seoul, South Korea.
