UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill Odds, Predictions and Pre-Weigh-in Hype
The UFC light heavyweight division should finally get some clarity at UFC 283 on Saturday when the promotion returns to Brazil with a card headlined by Glover Teixeira fighting Jamahal Hill for the 205-pound championship.
The division has been in a bit of a tailspin since late last year. That's when Jiลรญ Prochรกzka vacated his title and the UFC tabbed Magomed Ankalaev and Jan Bลachowicz as the replacement matchup to name a new champion at UFC 282.
That decision backfired a bit when the two fought to a split draw. Neither fighter really did enough to emphatically be declared a champion, so the UFC opted to pursue a new matchup entirely, giving Teixeira and Hill the opportunity to win the belt on Saturday night.
The flyweight belt will also be on the line at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro this weekend. Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno will meet for the fourth time in a rivalry that has delivered every time the two men have been in the cage.
Here's a look at the complete card with early odds and the latest buzz as we head toward the weigh-ins.
Fight Card, Schedule and Odds
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Main Card (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET)
- Glover Teixeira +120 vs. Jamahal Hill -140 (vacant light heavyweight championship)
- Deiveson Figueiredo (c) +105 vs. Brandon Moreno (ic) -125 (flyweight championship)
- Gilbert Burns -475 vs. Neil Magny +380
- Lauren Murphy +370 vs. Jรฉssica Andrade -460
- Paul Craig +160 vs. Johnny Walker -190
Prelims (ABC/ESPN at 8 p.m. ET)
- Mauricio Rua +175 vs. Ihor Potieria -205
- Gregory Rodrigues -305 vs. Brunno Ferreira +255
- Thiago Moisรฉs -380 vs. Melquizael Costa +310
- Shamil Abdurakhimov +625 vs. Jailton Almeida-900
- Gabriel Bonfim -175 vs. Mounir Lazzez +150
Early Prelims (UFC Fight Pass at 6 p.m. ET)
- Luan Lacerda +300 vs. Cody Stamann -365
- Ismael Bonfim +105 vs. Terrance McKinney -125
- Warlley Alves -125 vs. Nicolas Dalby +105
- Josiane Nunes -500 vs. Zarah Fairn +400
- Saimon Oliveira -150 vs. Daniel Marcos +130
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Hill Doesn't See 'Same Fire' from Teixeira
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It's no secret that the matchup between Jamahal Hill and Glover Teixeira is a matchup of the new wave of light heavyweights and the old guard.
When Glover Teixeira got his first crack at UFC gold in 2014, Hill was still three years out from making his MMA debut. He wouldn't fight in the promotion for six more years.
So, there's no question Teixeira has the experience advantage. But Hill believes that simply means winning this fight matters more to him.
"I (saw) some fire in his eyes. I (saw) that he's just ready. You can tell he's been here before and he's ready to go through it, but I just didn't see the same fire that I'm coming with," the 31-year-old told reporters.
Hill has put the division on notice with three straight knockout wins. After suffering the first and only loss of his career against Paul Craig in June 2021, he has scored first-round finishes of Jimmy Crute and Johnny Walker before a fourth-round TKO of Thiago Santos in August 2022.
Santos did find success against Hill in the third round of their fight, though. He was able to take him down five times and held control for 3:50 of the round, per UFC Stats.
That could provide Teixeira, 43, with a road map to beating his younger opponent. Santos is primarily a striker and was still able to get Hill to the mat and control him.
As long as Teixeira can continue his remarkable run of fighting well despite his age, he could easily follow a similar path and beat up Hill on the ground.
Prediction: Teixeira via fourth-round submission
Figueiredo Wants Emphatic End to Moreno Rivalry
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There aren't many matchups in MMA history that fans would want to see four times, but that's not the case for the flyweight pairing of Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo.
The two 125-pounders have both proved they are the top two fighters in the division right now. They are 9-0-1 in their last 10 combined fights that aren't against each other. But when the two have met in the cage, they have been about as even as possible.
The rivalry sits at 1-1-1 through three fights. The fourth bout will finally break the tie and crown a champion.
Figueiredo is looking to make sure he puts an exclamation mark on the series.
"It's a fight that's stressing me out, it's annoying," the 35-year-old told Steve Latrell of UFC.com. "It's my fourth fight with this guy. I'm definitely going there to end this once and for all."
The Brazilian's frustration is understandable. Moreno at least had a fight with Kai Kara-France to mix things up, but this will be Figueiredo's fourth-straight fight against the interim champion.
The bottom line is that this one is going to be a barn-burner. Figueiredo's power makes a finish possible but he's only done it once in their previous three fights. Expect this fight to once again take place all over the cage.
Moreno, 29, is slightly more well-rounded and the more likely fighter to take a decision.
Prediction: Moreno via decision
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Burns Not Taking Magny Lightly
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Gilbert Burns is the largest favorite on the main card and the third-biggest favorite for the entire night. There aren't many people giving Neil Magny a chance to pull off the upset.
Burns isn't letting that get to his head, though. The Brazilian is not just looking for a big performance and win in his home country, he's looking to make a statement.
"My goal is to become a champion," he told the Believe You Me with Michael Bisping podcast (h/t Farah Hannoun of MMA Junkie). "I want it more than ever now, because I know my time is closing. I'm 36. I don't have 10 more years. So I want to get a couple of finishes and get another title shot and win the title."
Burns lost a close decision to Khamzat Chimaev. While the rising star was expected to showcase his skills, the South American acquitted himself nicely by winning the second round on all three judges' scorecards.
But if he wants to prove he still belongs in the title conversation, that's going to require a dominant win.
Magny, 35, has never quite reached the same heights Burns has in his career. In a battle of veterans who have proved who they are at this point in his career, it's easy to see the Brazilian getting the statement win he seeks.
Prediction: Burns via second-round TKO
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