5 questions that will be answered at UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill

UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill, the first pay-per-view of 2023, will be underway at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this Saturday. The fight card is stacked top-to-bottom with Brazilian contenders and features two championship bouts atop the bill.

Brazilian legend Glover Teixeira will look to reclaim the light heavyweight title in the main event when he takes on American up-and-comer Jamahal Hill. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will take on Brandon Moreno in the UFC's first-ever quadrilogy bout.

With two title fights and a number of fan favorites set to return to the octagon at the upcoming pay-per-view, this weekend's fight card offers a little something for everyone.

With that said, here are five questions that will be answered at UFC 283.

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#5. Which up-and-coming contenders will shine?

Every single fight slated for Saturday's pay-per-view features a Brazilian-born fighter, which should make for a raucous atmosphere inside the arena. With so many mouth-watering matchups on tap, there will be no shortage of excitement and action on the night.

With the exception of retiring MMA legend 'Shogun' Rua, the biggest names on the preliminary card include the highly touted Bonfim brothers, all-action middleweight Gregory Rodrigues, Brazilian heavyweight Jailton Almeida and surging American lightweight Terrance McKinney, all of whom will be looking to further boost their stock.

Gregory Rodriguez vs. Brunno Ferreira & Terrance McKinney vs. Ismael Bonfim [Images via @gregoryrodriguezmma & @twrecks155 on Instagram]

On the main card, two former flyweight title challengers are set to lock horns as former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade takes on Lauren Murphy, with both fighters looking to return to title contention.

In the pay-per-view opener, ranked light heavyweight contenders Johnny Walker and Paul Craig will square off in a pivotal clash. Both fighters have struggled with inconsistency in recent times and will be eager to mount a title run with a win on Saturday night.

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#4. Can Gilbert Burns re-enter the UFC welterweight title mix?

Gilbert Burns' standing among the fanbase has reached new heights over the last few years. A scorching six-fight win streak saw him earn a title shot in 2021, but he came up short against then-champion Kamaru Usman. Burns bounced back with a win over Stephen Thompson to re-enter the title mix, but a narrow loss to Khamzat Chimaev momentarily derailed his title aspirations.

Now 36 years old, the clock is ticking for 'Durinho' if he is to work his way back to a championship opportunity.

At UFC 283, Gilbert Burns will take on fellow perennial contender Neil Magny, who holds the record for most wins in the history of the welterweight division. Magny's long and lanky frame makes him a tricky opponent for most of his peers and Burns will have his work cut out for him on Saturday night.

'Durinho' is a significantly better grappler than his American counterpart, but closing the distance and getting this fight down to the mat is far tougher than it sounds. Magny has the distance management, reach and experience to keep this fight on the feet.

However, Burns is no slouch in the striking department. The Brazilian possesses more power in his punches than Magny, who has been knocked out cold previously. It's a fascinating matchup, and with both veterans looking to edge closer to a shot at gold, this is a high-stakes clash as well.

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#3. Who is the best flyweight in the world?

Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno have already shared the octagon three times. Despite having fought one another for over an hour collectively over their three fights thus far, the question still remains – Who is better?

As things stand, one would have to concede that Deiveson Figueiredo is the better fighter, considering the fact that he edged out the trilogy bout and would've won their first meeting if not for a point deduction. The Brazilian is also way more powerful than his Mexican counterpart, having knocked him down several times in their last bout.

However, Figueiredo can't seem to finish Brandon Moreno, despite being the bigger and more dangerous fighter. In their rematch last year, Moreno dominated Figueiredo from pillar to post before submitting him, the only finish of this rivalry so far.

With so many top contenders on the rise, the 125-pound division desperately needs a rivalry-settling rubber match. Before the main event kicks off this weekend, an undisputed flyweight king will be crowned.

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#2. Can Jamahal Hill perform in enemy territory, under the brightest lights?

To say Jamahal Hill's rise to the top has been quick would be an understatement. Hill made his professional debut in 2017, and 13 fights into his career, he is set to contest the UFC light heavyweight championship in a pay-per-view headliner against a Brazilian legend in Rio de Janeiro.

Jamahal Hill has never fought outside the United States previously. He has only ever fought five rounds once before, in just his fourth professional fight back in 2018. In his two five-rounders inside the UFC octagon, 'Sweet Dreams' knocked out his opponents before the final frame.

Additionally, five of Hill's last six fights have taken place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas without a capacity crowd in attendance. In fact, his lone outing outside the Apex over the last few years was his loss to Paul Craig, the solitary blemish on his record.

Hill will be public enemy No.1 when he walks out to the octagon on Saturday night. If he emerges victorious at UFC 283, it'll certainly say a lot about his mental fortitude and character.

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#1. Will Glover Teixeira continue to defy the odds?

Irrespective of what happens in the main event of UFC 283, Glover Teixeira is a bonafide MMA legend. Teixiera's storied journey from the regional circuit in Brazil to UFC championship gold is worthy of a Hollywood movie. Amazingly, the seemingly immortal veteran continues to add to his legacy with every passing year.

At UFC 267 back in 2021, Glover Teixeira made history when he submitted then-champion Jan Blachowicz to lay claim to the light heavyweight title at the age of 42. In his first title defense, Teixeira would've beaten surging Czech phenom Jiri Prochazka if not for a last-ditch submission from the challenger.

Despite being almost a decade older than most top contenders in the division, Teixeira stands out as an anomaly. Now 43 years old, his standing as one of the best 205-pounders in the world is an incredible feat.

His next opponent, Jamahal Hill, is as dangerous as they come. Hill is among the best strikers and hardest punchers in the division, and at just 31, he's at the height of his abilities. If Teixeira comes out on top and re-claims the championship, we may as well put him in the Hall of Fame while he's still actively competing.