The 2023 season has come to an end, and many athletes stood out on the scene during the past year. To select the top 5, the SUPER LUTAS team got together and chose the fighters who most excited fans and excelled in the world of MMA. Check out the list.
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1 – Alexa Grasso
A. Grasso poses with the UFC belt (Photo: Instagram/@ufc)
The 2023 Fighter of the Year could be none other than flyweight champion (up to 56,7kg) Alexa Grasso . The Mexican fighter shocked the world in March by submitting then-champion Valentina Shevchenko . In the highly anticipated rematch in September, Grasso showed that the first fight was no fluke and delivered a phenomenal performance. At the end of the 25 minutes, a draw kept the belt in the Mexican fighter's possession.
2 – Larissa Pacheco
After shocking the world in 2022 and ending judoka Kayla Harrison 's undefeated streak , Brazilian Larissa Pacheco continued to dominate the PFL women's team. In the featherweight division tournament (up to 65,7kg), the Brazilian athlete beat Julia Budd , Amber Leibrock, Olena Kolesnyk and Marina Mokhnatina to win the 2023 season title and take home the US$1 million prize (approximately R$4,8 million).
3 – Amanda Nunes
Despite having only one fight in 2023, Amanda Nunes ended her MMA career on a high note. At UFC 289 , the Brazilian dominated Mexican Irene Aldana , winning the fight by unanimous decision and retiring with the bantamweight (up to 61,2kg) and featherweight (up to 65,7kg) titles. The Lioness retired from the sport with a record of 23 wins and five losses.
4 – Weili Zhang
Weili Zhang defended her strawweight title at UFC 292 (Photo: Instagram/UFC)
Strawweight champion (up to 52,2kg), Chinese fighter Weili Zhang only had one fight in 2023, but it was enough to maintain her reign in the category. At UFC 292 , which took place in August, the belt holder made short work of Brazilian Amanda Lemos , delivering a humiliating beating to the Brazilian athlete and winning by unanimous decision.
5 – Tatiana Suarez
Tatiana Suarez after her victory at UFC Nashville . Photo: Reproduction/Twitter @UFC
The year 2023 marked the return of promising fighter Tatiana Suarez to the world's most famous octagon. In February, the American submitted veteran Montana De La Rosa in the second round. In August, Tatiana defeated former strawweight champion (up to 52,2kg) Jéssica Andrade using the same method, establishing herself as a contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship belt.
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