Highlights
The Upsets | 2023 Half-Year Awards
Midway Through The Year, Here's Five Upsets We're Still Thinking About
Thighly unofficial half-year awards season continues with the biggest upsets of the first half of 2023 and how we saw them on fight night…
5 - Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman (UFC 286, March 3)
Leon Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman by majority decision (48-46, 48-46, 47-47)
Each fight in the series between Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman has continued to get better, with the UFC 286 main event standing as the best of the bunch.
For all five rounds, the welterweight rivals ran close to level, with each man having moments where they landed good shots: Edwards chopping with loads of kicks, Usman pressuring constantly, working behind his hands, and neither really grabbing a clear advantage. They battled each other every step of the way, right to the final horn, leaving the outcome in the hands of the judges.
MORE HALF-YEAR AWARDS: The Newcomers
A third-round point deduction against Edwards for grabbing the fence to deny a takedown attempt loomed large, hovering as a pivotal moment in an ultra-competitive, freakishly close fight between two fighters with a ton of history between them.
When the scores were added up, Edwards emerged with a majority decision victory, retaining his title in an absolute classic against an all-time great that brought greatness out of him in the biggest moment of his career.
4 - Erin Blanchfield vs Jessica Andrade (Feb. 18)
Erin Blanchfield defeats Jéssica Andrade by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:37 of Round 2
Erin Blanchfield is officially in the title mix in the flyweight division after submitting Jessica Andrade early in the second round of Saturday’s main event.
The surging prospect caught the former strawweight champion and perennial contender by trading with her early, happily staying in the pocket with Andrade for much of the opening frame. Both women landed big shots over the first five minutes, while Andrade did well to defend Blanchfield’s takedown attempts.
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In the second, the New Jersey native hit a lovely trip, jumped into side control, and quickly climbed onto Andrade’s back, sinking in the rear-naked choke with crazy precision, securing the tap almost immediately.
Just an absolutely outstanding effort from the 23-year-old standout, who is now 5-0 in the UFC and called for a meeting with the winner of the UFC 285 title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso.
3 - Muhammad Naimov vs Jamie Mullarkey (June 3)
Muhammad Naimov defeats Jamie Mullarkey by TKO (right hook and punches) at 2:59 of Round 2
Muhammad Naimov TKOs Mullarkey | UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs Albazi
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Muhammad Naimov TKOs Mullarkey | UFC Fight Night: Kara-France vs Albazi
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Welcome to the UFC Muhammad Naimov!
Just as it seemed like Jamie Mullarkey was settling in and starting to take over, Naimov sat down on a counter right hook that found the Australian’s chin, put him on the canvas, and earned him an incredible highlight reel finish to start his UFC career.
Naimov made the absolute most of this short-notice opportunity, picking up his third straight victory and putting himself on everyone’s radar for when he makes his full-camp debut later this year.
2 – Yan Xiaonan vs Jessica Andrade (UFC 288, May 6)
Yan Xiaonan defeats Jéssica Andrade by TKO (strikes) at 2:20 of Round 1
Yan Xiaonan picked up the biggest win of her career on Saturday, stopping former champ Jéssica Andrade in the first round.
The Chinese contender looked crisp from the outset, sniping at Andrade as she looked to come forward.
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Midway through the round, as the Brazilian pressed forward, pawing with wide hooks, Yan fired a right hand down the middle that put Andrade on the deck and sent Yan into celebration mode.
Just an absolutely tremendous performance and massive victory for Yan, who could very well have punched her ticket to a championship opportunity against her countrywoman Zhang Weili later this year.
1 – Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko (UFC 285, March 5)
Alexa Grasso defeats Valentina Shevchenko by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:34 of Round 4
Alexa Grasso is the new UFC flyweight champion!
The Mexican challenger took full advantage of a tactical mistake by Valentina Shevchenko in the fourth round to secure the rear-naked choke finish.
This was an ultra-competitive fight the whole way through, with Grasso surprising Shevchenko in the first by fighting from a southpaw stance. While the champion turned to her grappling to build a lead heading into the championship rounds, Grasso remained focused and continued to make the most of her opportunities.
When Shevchenko missed a spinning back kick, Grasso instantly climbed onto her back and attacked the choke, getting her hooks in, flattening her out, and eventually drawing out the tap.
This was an incredible performance from Grasso, who became the third fighter from Mexico to claim championship gold this year, joining Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez. Just an amazing effort from the new champion!
UFC 286: Edwards vs Usman 3 took place live from the O2 Arena in London in March 18, 2023. See the Final Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
