5 biggest UFC fights to look forward to in March 2023

The UFC put on four fight cards in February, with three Fight Night shows at the promotion's Apex facility and a massive pay-per-view in Australia. The world's premier MMA promotion is gearing up for a blockbuster month of MMA action in March, with many high-profile matchups on tap.

With two monumental pay-per-views and two stacked Fight Night cards slated for March, MMA fans are surely in for a treat over the next four weeks. The promotional landscape will look quite different going into April and it remains to be seen how things will pan out.

On that note, here are the five biggest UFC fights to look forward to in March 2023.

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#5. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso – UFC 285

Valentina Shevchenko, the most dominant champion in the UFC right now, will look to defend her flyweight title for the eighth time when she takes on Mexican challenger Alexa Grasso. Their bout will be the co-main event of the upcoming UFC 285 pay-per-view.

Since winning the title in 2018, Valentina Shevchenko has looked unstoppable atop the women's 125-pound division. At times, some of her title defenses felt like complete mismatches, wherein she showed that she's levels above her peers.

Her next challenger, however, poses a unique threat. Alexa Grasso has the skillset and mindset to give Shevchenko a tough fight and this matchup isn't one-sided by any means. Grasso possesses crisp boxing which, coupled with her improved grappling, makes her a dangerous fighter.

In a year where two Mexicans have already claimed UFC gold, Grasso will be inspired by her compatriots Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez to get the job done. With arguably the greatest female fighter of all time standing in her way, this is certainly a tall order.

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#4. Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen – UFC San Antonio

Every so often in MMA, a matchup gets announced that has hardcore fans licking their lips. As soon as the Marlon Vera vs. Cory Sandhagen bout was confirmed, the true aficionados of the sport knew that we were in for a highly technical and entertaining clash of styles.

The two top-ranked bantamweights will headline UFC San Antonio on March 25th.

Both Marlon Vera and Cory Sandhagen are one or two wins away from a shot at gold. Currently occupying the No.4 and No.5 spots in the rankings respectively, both fighters will be well aware of the consequences of a loss in their next outing, making this a high-stakes clash.

The bantamweight title is set to be contested later this year between champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo. No.1-ranked Sean O'Malley is expected to take on the victor. No.2-ranked Petr Yan and No.3-ranked Merab Dvalishvili are also set to square off in March, which will turn out to be a massive month for the bantamweight division.

Vera and Sandhagen are among the most dynamic fighters in the division. 'Chito' boasts lethal striking and undeniable durability, while 'The Sandman' possesses stellar movement and a diverse attacking arsenal. Moreover, both fighters are known for their cardio and are amidst their athletic primes.

This matchup has fireworks written all over it.

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#3. Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev – UFC 286

Speaking of guaranteed fireworks, the UFC 286 pay-per-view co-headliner between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev will likely be a Fight of the Year contender.

Gaethje and Fiziev are the two most destructive lightweights in the world and there's absolutely no way this fight won't deliver.

Both Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev are gunning for the lightweight crown, which is currently held by Islam Makhachev. Currently, there's no clear-cut No.1 contender for the championship. As such, Gaethje and Fiziev will be eager to make a statement when they lock horns in London.

Gaethje hasn't fought since his loss to Charles Oliveira last year and is 1-2 in his last three fights, with both defeats coming in title fights. In his pursuit of undisputed gold, the former interim champion has come up short twice and will be desperate to return to title contention.

On the flipside, Fiziev is riding a six-fight win streak and hasn't tasted defeat in over four years. His last two performances, knockout wins over Brad Riddell and Rafael dos Anjos, saw him break into the upper echelons of the lightweight division.

With 27 knockouts between them, Gaethje and Fiziev are among the most devastating strikers in the sport. Given their upcoming bout is a three-rounder, expect non-stop carnage right from the get-go.

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#2. Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 – UFC 286

A historic trilogy bout will be underway in the main event of UFC 286 in London. Welterweight champion Leon Edwards will run it back with former pound-for-pound king Kamaru Usman. With their rivalry tied at 1-1, the rubber match is among the most highly-anticipated fights of the year.

Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman squared off for the first time way back in 2015 when the latter won via unanimous decision. Both fighters were relatively unknown at the time, with Edwards being just 23 and Usman making his UFC debut.

The stakes were much higher going into their rematch last year when Usman was looking to defend his title and pound-for-pound top spot. Edwards was a sizeable betting underdog but went on to shock the world with a fifth-round head-kick knockout to dethrone the long-reigning champion.

While upsets are common in MMA, the brutal nature of Edwards' knockout and his heartfelt post-fight interview saw the Englishman's stock skyrocket. Meanwhile, Usman, although respected by the masses, isn't seen as the same 'Nigerian Nightmare' we remember from 2021.

Edwards will have home-court advantage in the trilogy bout. If Usman is to re-claim his title, he will have to do so in enemy territory against an opponent who flatlined him for the world to see.

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#1. Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane – UFC 285

The greatest fighter to have ever graced the octagon, Jon Jones, will make his highly anticipated heavyweight debut this weekend when he takes on Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jones's move to heavyweight has been in the works for quite some time now and his return to action is long overdue.

Jon Jones' accomplishments in the light heavyweight division are the stuff of legend. If not for his numerous run-ins with the law outside the octagon, his legacy would look very different. Nevertheless, 'Bones' could cement his standing as the GOAT if he becomes a two-division champion this Saturday.

However, Ciryl Gane is a tricky matchup for the former 205-pound kingpin. The crafty Frenchman is unlike any heavyweight on the roster and is undoubtedly the toughest test of Jones' career. Gane's slick striking, coupled with his sneaky submission game, poses an interesting challenge for the returning 'Bones'.

It has been over three years since Jones' last fight. It remains to be seen how fast and effective he will be in his new heavyweight frame, and what approach he will take into the fight. His last few light heavyweight bouts were lackluster, admittedly due to complacency, so his mindset this weekend will also play a major role.

For Gane, this is a chance to defeat one of the greatest ever and finally claim undisputed gold. But if Jones is truly back to his best and motivated to show off his dominance, we're in for something special and historic.