From iconic retirements to the elation of championship victories and celebrations in front of hometown fans, 2023 was full of memorable moments for UFC fans.
User “Dirty Dick Do Bronx” on (who you can follow on X) compiled many of these lasting scenes in a thread posted to X, which has since gone viral on the platform and attracted over 1 million impressions.
Let’s take a look at some of the clips the poster compiled.
Robbie Lawler goes out on a high
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler’s first professional fight came all the way back in April 2001. The veteran of more than two decades in the sport of mixed martial arts capped his career off in the same violent way it started: a knockout victory.
The timeless image of Lawler standing triumphant with a flattened Niko Price nearby at UFC 290 clearly captured the hearts of viewers, spawning the virality of the thread. Given most fighters retire on tragic losses, Sports Illustrated deemed the win a “fairytale” ending for Lawler.
Robbie Lawler Reacts to compilation of his carrer highlights after getting a knockout win over niko price in round 1 pic.twitter.com/jgwZ5qKoGW
— DIRTY DICK DO BRONXX 🇧🇷🗣️ (@xNIGHTMAREZZx) December 30, 2023
Respect between champions
Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski put on the best champion vs. champion fight in the organization’s history at UFC 284 in February. After snatching the title from Charles Oliveira in fall 2022, Makhachev would successfully defend his lightweight title against Volankovski, the featherweight champion in a closely-contested decision.
While the media mostly scored the fight for Makhachev, fans were more evenly divided. According to fans who submitted scorecards to MMA Decisions, 38.4% of fans scored the fight 48-47 for Volkanovski, while 38% scored the fight 48-47 Makhachev.
Charles Oliveira Congratulates Islam Mahkachev for beating Alexander Volkanovski and successfully defending his title for the first time 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VoyZDicsLf
— DIRTY DICK DO BRONXX 🇧🇷🗣️ (@xNIGHTMAREZZx) December 30, 2023
The debate over the first fight would lead to Volkanovski stepping in on short notice against Makhachev for a rematch later in the year. Makhachev put a cap on the respectful rivalry with a thunderous head kick and follow-up punches in the first round of UFC 294’s main event.
Goodbye to the GOAT
Robbie Lawler wasn’t the only fighter to hang up the gloves on a high note, as the greatest women’s fighter of all time also retired in 2023.
After a stunning upset loss to Juliana Pena at December 2021, Nunes returned with a motivation to reclaim her title and erase any doubt about her legacy. In July 2022, Nunes and Pena faced off in a highly anticipated rematch.
Amanda Nunes Retires as a double champion pic.twitter.com/SREg1sPGeU
— DIRTY DICK DO BRONXX 🇧🇷🗣️ (@xNIGHTMAREZZx) December 30, 2023
But Pena’s success in the first fight was not going to be replicated; Nunes pounded Pena in one of the most lopsided decision in a UFC title fight, with judge Douglas Crosby awarding Nunes a 50-43 scorecard (having given Nunes 10-8 in rounds 2 and 5, a testament to Pena’s toughness).
With little left to prove, Nunes took on one more contender, Irene Aldana, in 2023. And the result, much like the Pena fight before, was even more lopsided on the scorecards than the last. Against Pena, the scores varied. In addition to Crosby’s 50-43, Nunes also was given a 50-44 and 50-45.
Here, in here final fight, Nunes would make the dominance more clear, with the judges scoring the fight 50-44 (x2) and 50-43.
With 2023 behind us, let’s hope for more memorable moments from mixed martial arts in 2024.
