It has been weeks since we have seen UFC action inside the octagon. The UFC returns on January 14th for a Fight Night at the Apex. Usually, I would say "boo" to the Apex due to the lack of crowd and energy you can get inside, but since the card isn't spectacular by any means it is what it is. The main event is Gastelum vs Imamov. Both of these fighters are no slouches as they are the twelfth and thirteenth-ranked fighters in the Middleweight division.
Imamov stands with a twelve and three record and Gastelum with a record of seventeen wins and eight losses.
However, the real story of the first event of 2023 is the fact that Geoff Neal has still not been replaced and there is a good chance we don't get to watch Shavkat Rakhmonov fight. As fun as Gastelum vs Imamov may end up being, the entire UFC community just wants to see the undefeated Shavkat tear up Geoff Neal. Nothing against Neal, but Shavkat has looked like an unstoppable force. Shavkat is currently the tenth-ranked fighter in the Welterweight division. He has future champion written all over him. It seems super unlikely that anyone is going to step up to face him. Anyone ranked above Rakhmonov has no interest in jeopardizing their rank. It is also starting to seem anyone ranked beneath him has no intention of trying to make a name for themselves.
There is one fight that might draw some attention to the prelims as well. Umar Nurmagomedov vs Raoni Barcelos. Umar is another one of Khabib's cousins. Hence why they share a last name. He stands at fifteen wins and zero losses. Nurmagomedov can really shake things up in an already stacked bantamweight division. If he wins very decisively, do not be shocked if his next opponent is a top-ranked fighter. No one wants to fight anyone with the last name Nurmagomedov. These are dangerous men, they simply don't lose.
With Shavkat out, the Nurmagomedov vs Barcelos fight is my most anticipated fight on the card!
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