MMASucka’s UFC 283 Staff Picks

A massive night is in store for both MMASucka staff picks and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

UFC 283 will take place later today, January 21st from the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This marks the promotion’s long-awaited return to the city for the first time since May of 2019 and return to Brazil since March of 2020.

Early prelims will begin at 5:30pm ET (2:30pm PT) live on UFC Fight Pass with the preliminary card at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+. Five fights compose the main card beginning at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT) on pay-per-view available for purchase through ESPN+.

Results from UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill will be available here at MMASucka.

The Fights

UFC’s light heavyweight championship is in the line in the night’s main event as Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill will battle for the vacant title. This comes after Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Blachowicz fought to a five-round split draw at UFC 282 in December for the vacant belt, and in turn of scheduling their rematch, the UFC elected for a title fight between Teixeira and Hill.

In June of last year, Teixeira fought to a “Fight of the Year” against Jiri Prochazka losing the back-and-forth battle by submission in the fifth round. The former divisional champion looks to reclaim the title in his home country of Brazil while, once more, looking to become the second-eldest champion in promotional history at 43 years of age. Teixeira’s opponent, Hill, signed with the promotion after a successful appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in mid-2019. A rising standout he has become in just seven octagon fights, currently riding a three-fight win streak including his first promotional headliner against Thiago Santos last August by fourth-round knockout.

History will be made in the co-main event as current flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo and challenger Brandon Moreno will meet for a record-breaking fourth time. December of 2020 saw their first fight end in a majority draw with Figueiredo retaining his strap. A rematch in mid-June the following year saw Moreno find success with his third-round rear-naked choke becoming Mexico’s first-ever UFC champion. Fight three in January of 2022 saw five additional back-and-forth rounds but with Figueiredo taking back the belt and becoming a two-time promotional champion. Moreno had competed in one fight since taking the interim title with his third-round finish of Kai Kara-France in July.

Although not counted towards staff picks, former UFC light heavyweight champion Shogun Rua will retire from mixed martial arts in his preliminary-headlining bout with Ihor Potieria.

Three additional fights make up the night’s main card including fighters like former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns and former women’s flyweight champion Jessica Andrade. See our MMASucka staff picks for UFC 283 further below.

Staff Picks

MMASucka staff picks are composed of five promotions throughout all of 2023: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator MMA, ONE Championship, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).

UFC and Bellator events will feature picks from the entire main cards. PFL will feature select fights from the main and preliminary card while DWCS sees all fights counted from the event. ONE returns to our picks for the first time since 2020 and will feature only mixed martial arts (MMA) fights selected from cards with a minimum of at least three matchups. Wesley Riddle won staff picks in 2022 with a record of 264-135.

In the first pay-per-view of 2023, who are the MMASucka staff picking to win at UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill? Find out below.


Staff Records after UFC Vegas 67:

1. Andrew Harbaugh: 6-2
2T. Nate Freeman: 5-3
2T. Tim Wheaton: 5-3
2T. Roemello Reyes: 5-3
2T. Joshua Yule: 5-3
6T. Jeremy Brand: 4-4
6T. Wesley Riddle: 4-4
6T. Michael DeSantis: 4-4
6T. Andrew Benjamin: 4-4
6T. Frazer Krohn: 4-4
6T. Brandon Joint: 4-4
6T. Brian Knight: 4-4
6T. Jack Goodwillie: 4-4
6T. Ben Jamieson: 4-4

*Note – not all staff pick for every event*


Paul Craig (16-5-1), +160
vs.
Johnny Walker (19-7), -190

Light Heavyweight Division
– 205 lbs. –

Jeremy Brand: Craig via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Walker via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Craig via Round 1 SUB
Tim Wheaton: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Brandon Joint: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Julio Monteros Jr.: Craig via Round 3 SUB
Brian Knight: Craig via Round 2 SUB
Jack Goodwillie: Craig via Round 1 SUB
Roemello Reyes: Craig via Round 1 SUB
Ben Jamieson: Walker via Round 2 TKO

Staff picking Craig: 11
Staff picking Walker: 2


Lauren Murphy (16-5), +380
vs.
Jessica Andrade (23-9), -475

Women’s Flyweight Division
– 205 lbs. –

Jeremy Brand: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Andrade via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Andrade via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Andrade via Round 1 TKO
Brandon Joint: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Brian Knight: Andrade via Split Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Roemello Reyes: Andrade via Round 2 TKO
Ben Jamieson: Andrade via Round 1 SUB

Staff picking Murphy: 13
Staff picking Andrade: 0


Gilbert Burns (20-5), -460
vs.
Neil Magny (27-10), +370

Welterweight Division
– 170 lbs. –

Jeremy Brand: Burns via Round 2 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Burns via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Burns via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Magny via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Burns via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Burns via Unanimous Decision
Tim Wheaton: Burns via Unanimous Decision
Brandon Joint: Burns via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Burns via Majority Decision
Brian Knight: Burns via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Burns via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Magny via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: Burns via Round 2 TKO

Staff picking Burns: 11
Staff picking Magny: 2


Deiveson Figueiredo (21-2-1), +110
vs.
Brandon Moreno (20-6-2), -130

Flyweight Divisional Championship
Co-Main Event

– 125 lbs. –

Jeremy Brand: Moreno via Round 3 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Figueiredo via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Figueiredo via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Moreno via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Moreno via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Moreno via Split Decision
Tim Wheaton: Figueiredo via Unanimous Decision
Brandon Joint: Figueiredo via Unanimous Decision
Julio Monteros Jr.: Moreno via Round 3 SUB
Brian Knight: Moreno via Unanimous Decision
Jack Goodwillie: Moreno via Unanimous Decision
Roemello Reyes: Moreno via Unanimous Decision
Ben Jamieson: Moreno via Unanimous Decision

Staff picking Figueiredo: 4
Staff picking Moreno: 9


Glover Teixeira (33-8), +120
vs.

Jamahal Hill (11-1, 1 NC), -140

Light Heavyweight Divisional Championship
Main Event

– 205 lbs. –

Jeremy Brand: Hill via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Teixeira via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Teixeira via Round 3 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Teixeira via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Teixeira via Round 3 SUB
Nate Freeman: Hill via Round 3 TKO
Tim Wheaton: Hill via Round 3 TKO
Brandon Joint: Hill via Round 3 TKO
Julio Monteros Jr.: Teixeira via Round 3 SUB
Brian Knight: Hill via Round 3 TKO
Jack Goodwillie: Teixeira via Round 2 SUB
Roemello Reyes: Hill via Round 2 TKO
Ben Jamieson: Hill via Round 3 TKO

Staff picking Teixeira: 6
Staff picking Hill: 7

UFC 283 FEATURED IMAGE:

Embed from Getty Images

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