UFC 2023 Rewind! One Memorable (Or Forgotten) Moment From Every Single Card, Pt. 2

With 43 total Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events throughout 2023 — on top of all of the other promotions such as Bellator MMA, Professional Fighter’s League (PFL), ONE Championship and Bareknuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) — combat sports fans have probably forgotten about many of the wild moments that happened throughout the year.

From knockouts, post-fight interviews to funny in-cage spots, or maybe you’re a hardcore mixed martial arts (MMA) freak and remember everything.

Well, either way, we got you covered.

In part two of UFC 2023 “Rewind,” which runs from UFC 287 (April 8, 2023) through UFC Jacksonville (June 24, 2023), we look back at some of the most memorable moments from that specific event timeline, including “The Last Stylebender” exacting the ultimate revenge, a wild Octagon debut, a brain-touching eye poke and so much more.

PART ONE | PART TWO | PART THREE | PART FOUR

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UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2

April 8, 2023
Miami, Fla.
Full Results

It is tough not to go with Adesanya’s terrific knockout of Alex Pereira to regain his Middleweight championship and his iconic celebration, but I’m going with Raul Rosas Jr.’s upset loss. The 18-year-old phenom had an absurd amount of hype leading up to this fight, but he can into Christian Rodriguez (who is very good). After a first round that saw Rosas Jr. dominate his opponent, he gassed out and Rodriguez took over, winning a unanimous decision.

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Photo by Matt Davies/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

UFC Kansas City: Holloway vs. Allen

April 15, 2023
Kansas City, Mo.
Full Results

UFC returned to Kansas City, Mo., for a fun card, but two back-to-back fake retirements took the wind out of the event up until that point.

First, Bill Algeo did it and then cut a “heel” promo in which he took shots at the Kansas City crowd. “Listen, I would never retire in a dump like Kansas City,” Algeo said. “I look around here, and all I see is a bunch of Croc-wearing,’ Uber Eats drivin,’ Bud Light drinkin’ … sons of guns. I ain’t never retiring! Woo!”

Then, Clay Guida, 42, faked his retirement after he lost to Rafa Garcia, even taking off his gloves. He didn’t. Instead, “The Carpenter” wished “Happy Birthday” to his mother.

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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC Vegas 71: Pavlovich vs. Blaydes

April 22, 2023
UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Full Results

In the “Featured bout” of the night, Bobby Green and Jared Gordon fought, but it ended in a “No Contest” as Green and Gordon clashed heads, which led to Green meaninglessly knocking out Gordon.

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Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC Vegas 72: Song vs. Simon

April 29, 2023
UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Full Results

It was quite the year for Marcus McGhee, who was having trouble finding fights on the regional scene at the start of the year. He got the call on three days’ notice to fight Journey Newson … and he smoked him via rear-naked choke.

McGhee is name to watch in 2024.

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UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo

May 6, 2023
Newark, NJ
Full Results

Speaking of Octagon debuts and fighters who had an incredible year, Diego Lopes turned heads in his debut, too … even in a loss. Indeed, he stepped up on short notice to fight Featherweight boogeyman, Movsar Evloev, and gave him everything he could handle.

In fact, Lopes had Evloev in dangerous submission attempts and even rocked him on the feet. The Brazilian fighter even got his win money from the UFC head honcho.

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Photo by Matt Davies/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

UFC Charlotte: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida

May 13, 2023
Charlotte, N.C.
Full Results

The fourth ABC show had many fabulous finishes; however, do you remember the s—t show that was Ji Yeon Kim and Mandy Bohm? Well, it was so bad that both women fighters were eventually released.

Bohm won a split technical decision because Kim hit her with an illegal knee and was deducted a second point. She also lost a point in round two for striking Bohm after the bell.

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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC Vegas 73: Dern vs. Hill

May 20, 2023
UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Full Results

Joaquin Buckley got back into the win column against Andre Fialho in his Welterweight debut, knocking him out in the second round with a head kick (watch highlights).

After his win, he dumped an entire bottle of PRIME on his head, causing a mess. While it seemed clever at the moment, Buckley apologized after the fight because it caused the crew to delay the next fight due to cleanup (UFC brass probably yelled at him, too).

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC Vegas 74: Kara-France vs. Albazi

June 3, 2023
UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Full Results

If you’re making an Octagon debut against Jim Miller, chances are you might get knocked out — it’s that simple. And that is precisely what happened to Jesse Butler, who got brutally slept in 23 seconds by the 40-year-old legend.

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Photo by Jordan Jones/Getty Images

UFC 289: Nunes vs. Aldana

June 10, 2023
Vancouver, Canada
Full Results

On a lackluster pay-per-view (PPV) — after which Amanda Nunes retired — Charles Oliveira snapped Beneil Dariush’s eight-fight win streak in less than one round via technical knockout (watch highlights). Oliveira also picked up his first win in Canada.

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UFC Vegas 75: Vettori vs. Cannonier

June 17, 2023
UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Full Results

Manuel Torres holds a 93 percent finish rate with 13 first round finishes, and he added to that against Nikolas Motta when he brutally knocked him out with an elbow in less than two minutes.

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Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

UFC Jacksonville: Emmett vs. Topuria

June 24, 2023
Jacksonville, Fla.
Full Results

In the featured bout of the fifth ABC card, Austen Lane poked Justin Tafa in the eye, basically tickling the Heavyweight’s brain. The fight was ruled a “No Contest” and the pair were eventually rebooked for UFC 293 … and Tafa got even.

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Stick around for part three (of four) later this morning on MMAmania.com. In the meantime, checkout UFC’s upcoming schedule of events click here.