My Top 5 UFC Fan Moments of 2023

2023 was a great year for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. From emotional storylines and title changes to great fights and insane knockouts, last year had it all. As an avid fan of the UFC, I tried to free up every possible Saturday night. Sadly, as someone with college and a job to split time between, I didn't get to watch every fight or every event.

I missed moments like Islam's headkick of Volkanovski and Aspinall's interim title win over Pavlovich (though I saw Pereira stop Prochazka immediately afterward). I didn't wake up for The Korean Zombie's emotional sendoff against Max Holloway, which wasn't the only fight that didn't work with my time zone. With that in mind, this list won't include every great moment from the past year, it'll only include what I saw. These are my top five favorite UFC memories from 2023.

Honorable Mention: Sean Strickland beats the odds and Israel Adesanya at UFC 293

The fact that I was rooting for Adesanya took away my immediate enjoyment of this fight, but I can't help but feel good for Strickland. He shocked the world and realized his lifelong dream at the same time in one of the craziest upsets in UFC history.

5. Josh Emmett obliterates Bryce Mitchell with one-punch KO at UFC 296

I was settling in for UFC 296 over vacation and expecting a great night of fights because of the event's stacked card. Things started with a literal bang when Josh Emmett's first punch obliterated Bryce Mitchell, who lay stiff and shaking on the canvas for several moments afterwards."Oh my god,"I kept repeating as I sat alone in the living room. "Oh my god. Oh my god." It was momentarily difficult to enjoy the knockout given the concern for Mitchell, but he was thankfully able to leave the cage on his feet. The KO of the Year-nominated finish was instant and brutal and epitomized the most popular part of MMA fighting, a one-strike flush knockout.

4. Leon Edwards embarrasses Colby Covington in front of Donald Trump at UFC 296

They say the longer you wait for something, the sweeter it is to finally get it. The feeling was plenty sweet when Colby Covington lost his title challenge to welterweight champ Leon Edwards. Colby lost some fan respect with his pre-fight references to Leon's late father and followed up that trash talk with a middling performance against the incumbent Edwards. The champion looked to be in total control and even took the wrestling-based Covington down, winning a dominant 49-46 unanimous decision. I have a number of personal differences with both Covington and Trump but regardless was pleasantly surprised to hear fans boo Covington's aging bad guy gimmick. UFC 296 seemed to mark a step down the ladder for a fighter that to me has long represented the dark side of MMA.

3. Justin Gaethje knocks out Dustin Poirier for the BMF belt at UFC 291

I was driving home with my best friend at the time and had this fight pulled up on my phone. I was driving and listening while he narrated. We were trying to get to my house to watch the end of the main event when I pulled up to a stop sign and glanced over just in time to see a Justin Gaethje kick land behind Dustin Poirier's guard. Poirier fell and Gaethje followed up with a hammerfist to win the BMF belt while my friend and I lost our minds. Fans can debate the merits of the BMF belt but can't deny the incredible action we saw that night. Gaethje's defense against Max Holloway at UFC 300 should be similarly thrilling.

2. Sean O'Malley TKOs Aljamain Sterling on my birthday at UFC 292

I had August 19 marked off of work for two reasons: It was my birthday, and UFC 292 was happening. I watched the fights at some friends' house while the party developed. When the lanky, tattooed, rainbow-haired striking machine Sean O'Malley dropped bantamweight legend Aljamain Sterling on his forehead early in the second round, I screamed, loud. The screaming continued, Joe Rogan style, as O'Malley unloaded ground and pound to secure the title in a massive upset. I've loved Sean O'Malley's fighting style for a long time and it was incredible to see someone like him win a UFC title over a longtime great.

1. Israel Adesanya sends Alex Pereira to the shadow realm at UFC 287

This might be my favorite moment in UFC history. It had so much of everything: the emotion, the storytelling, a highlight reel finish, a feel-good celebration and a memorable post-fight interview. For context, Israel Adesanya was at a career 0-3 against the huge and dangerous Alex Pereira. After losing an extremely controversial decision in their first kickboxing fight, Adesanya had Pereira in serious trouble in the second fight only to be dropped with a left hand and stopped. Adesanya would move to the UFC and become a legendary champion, only for Pereira to follow and take Adesanya's belt in a fifth-round comeback knockout. While knowledgeable fans knew the score was two punches and a bad decision from being 3-0 Adesanya, most felt as though Pereira simply had Adesanya's number.

All seemed lost in the second round of their UFC 287 title rematch, when Pereira pinned Adesanya to the fence before unloading a salvo of heavy shots. Seemingly on the brink of a fourth defeat, Adesanya launched off the cage with a pinpoint left jab and right overhand that wobbled Pereira badly. The next two Adesanya shots came lightning fast and knocked Pereira completely unconscious. Adesanya took a page out of his rival's book with an arrow-themed celebration in what was undoubtedly the best moment of his legendary career. I watch this knockout at least once a week on YouTube. It's probably in the recents section of my search bar as we speak, and for good reason. It earned UFC KO of the Year and will go down as one of the most legendary and emotional moments in UFC history.