5 reasons why UFC 273 will be the best UFC event of 2022 so far

#2. A title unification bout brimming with bad blood in the UFC 273 co-main event

The co-headliner of UFC 273 pits bitter rivals Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan against one another in a highly anticipated title unification bout. Yan is considered by fans, peers and analysts to be the best bantamweight in the world, which puts Sterling, the reigning champion, in an awkward position.

The 135-pound duo seemingly had no issues with each other going into their first clash, which went down at UFC 259 last year. However, the circumstances of that fight have created a rivalry that has continued to brew ever since they first locked horns.

At UFC 259 last year, Yan was looking to defend his title while Sterling was eyeing UFC gold. The Russian champion dominated his American counterpart on the night, but landed an illegal knee in the fourth round, which saw him get disqualified. Sterling became the first fighter in UFC history to win a title in such a manner.

Adding fuel to the fire, they were initially set to run it back at UFC 267 last year. However, Sterling was forced to pull out of the bout due to lingering medical issues. Top-ranked contender Cory Sandhagen stepped in as a replacement and an interim title was put on the line, which Yan won.

Since their rematch was announced for UFC 273, the duo have been going back-and-forth on social media. Yan has repeatedly stated that his American counterpart is scared of the eventual beating he will receive, while Sterling has vowed to change the narrative and stun the MMA world.

Watch the preview for the UFC 273 co-main event below:

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#1. UFC 273's highly intriguing Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev matchup

Without a shadow of a doubt, the main attraction at UFC 273 will be the welterweight clash between former title challenger Gilbert Burns and rising star Khamzat Chimaev. It's very rare for a non-championship fight on a pay-per-view to garner as much hype as this matchup has, which is a testament to Chimaev's irrefutable star power.

Chimaev broke onto the scene with a couple of dominant performances in Abu Dhabi in 2020. He followed this up with a 17-second KO victory over Gerald Meerschaert. In his next bout, he ripped through No.11-ranked welterweight contender Li Jingliang to break into the 170-pound rankings. In his post-fight interview, he put the entire roster on notice.

What makes Chimaev different from the other hype trains in the UFC is that the promotion feels no need to slow-play his career, as they've done with other popular fighters like Sean O'Malley and Paddy Pimblett. The UFC brass clearly believes that the unbeaten phenom is ready to take on the cream of the crop, which brought about a fight against No.2-ranked Gilbert Burns.

Burns has been in the UFC since 2014, initially plying his trade in the lightweight division before moving up to welterweight. The multi-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion is a very dangerous matchup for Chimaev, considering his grappling credentials. 'Borz' will have to be extremely careful while engaging 'Durinho' on the mat and it'll be interesting to see whose style reigns supreme.

The Chimaev-Burns matchup at UFC 273 will be a high stakes affair as well. At the UFC 272 post-fight press conference, Dana White seemingly confirmed that it "makes sense" for the winner to fight for the title next.

Watch the preview for UFC 273's Gilbert Burns vs. Khamzat Chimaev bout below: