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The UFC capped off another amazing year with some spectacular events that enthralled millions of fans across the world. The organization witnessed everything from the emergence of rising new prospects, dominant fighters being dethroned and the launch of Dana White's new venture, Power Slap League.
After a fruitful 2022, several UFC stars will be eager to make their mark the following year. In light of this, let's take a look at five New Year's resolutions that UFC fighters can set for 2023.
#1. Conor McGregor will make another UFC championship run
Conor McGregor is easily the biggest star in the UFC today. Despite losing three of his last four fights inside the octagon, the Irishman remains the biggest draw in the sport. However, McGregor has looked like a shadow of his former self in recent times.
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McGregor is one of the few combatants who have made a name for themselves on the international stage. Since his promotional debut in 2013, few have anticipated that he would become the phenomenon that he did, at least not as rapidly as he dominated the MMA world. In the process, he also became the first simultaneous two-division champion in the organization and that allowed him to cross over into the boxing world to face Floyd Mayweather in a blockbuster clash.
'The Notorious' is currently sidelined with the leg injury he acquired in his third bout against Dustin Poirier and appears eager to return to action to claim another championship belt. It's only right that the adored MMA star leaves no stone unturned as he gets ready for his long-awaited comeback and promises to contest for another title.
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#2. Jon Jones will stay away from troubles outside the octagon
Jon Jones is widely considered one of our generation's most complete mixed martial arts fighters. According to many inside the MMA world, the two-time light heavyweight champion's turbulent history outside of the octagon has soiled his legacy.
He has been arrested multiple times for actions outside the cage, suspended and penalized by sports commissions for using prohibited substances and stripped of his belts three times.
Jon Jones is expected to compete in the heavyweight division when he returns to the octagon in 2023. Jones should therefore asseverate that he will avoid all conflicts outside of the octagon and focus solely on competing.
#3. Dana White should deliver on his promise of the UFC Africa PPV and explore other international territories
The world leader in MMA continued on its journey to bolster the business and grow the sport by exploring unchartered territories across the globe. Taking this into consideration, they staged the first event in France and the first pay-per-view event in Southeast Asia with UFC 275 in Singapore.
Dana White has been teasing the possibility of an upcoming UFC Africa event, given that some of the sport's biggest names have risen from the continent. At the start of the year, the UFC boasted three African champions, but Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya have since lost their respective titles.
White remains optimistic that an event in Africa will take place, possibly next year. A pledge that the organization will strive towards bringing the action to as many international arenas as possible would be reassuring to the fans, given the sport's increasing popularity around the world.
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#4. Paddy Pimblett will fight an opponent ranked inside the top 10
Paddy Pimblett, a rising talent from the United Kingdom, has emerged as one of the most exciting prospects in recent years. Pimblett is among the new breed of fighters from the region who have shown promise, as evidenced by Leon Edwards dethroning Kamaru Usman to win the 170-pound title.
However, the Liverpudlian's critics have often noted that he is yet to demonstrate his worth against a top-ranked contender. Not long after Paddy Pimblett won his recent bout against Jared Gordon via unanimous decision, many fans, fighters, analysts, and media members took to social media to cite "robbery".
Taking all the criticism into consideration, Pimblett should seek to silence his detractors and face a top-ranked opponent next year.
#5. Khamzat Chimaev should organize his weight-cutting strategy
At UFC 279, Khamzat Chimaev lost out on the maiden opportunity to headline a pay-per-view card and fight MMA veteran Nate Diaz.
A victory against Diaz would have worked miracles for Chimaev's popularity in the United States, given that Diaz has been a crowd favorite for years. A botched weight cut leading up to the fight cost Chimaev the bout, and Tony Ferguson replaced 'Borz' to face Diaz.
Chimaev, a perennial threat in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, must take weight-cutting seriously if he has championship ambitions. It is crucial that 'Borz' establishes a solid weight-cutting strategy and proves he is capable of making the welterweight limit.
