Israel Adesnaya lost his middleweight title at UFO 293. Photo: Photosport
Personal feuds, bloody battles, injuries, title wins and losses marked a tumultuous 2023 for New Zealand in the UFC.
With a number of fights already locked in for the Kiwi contingent, the new year is proving to be another eventful one in and outside of the octagon.
Lightweight Dan Hooker picked up two wins in 2023, however a broken arm in his second bout, a brutal war with Jalin Turner at UFC 290, ultimately forced him to withdraw from a fight card in December.
Hooker was scheduled to face American Bobby Green, but Hooker reaggravated his arm injury in sparring just two weeks out.
The number 10 ranked Hooker is adamant he will be back in the octagon in the next six months.
Speaking to MMA media promotion Engage, Hooker said he is progressing well.
"Just rehabbing it properly, doing all the right things do the right things outside of the gym, as well, which helps."
The Hangman now has his sights set on American Beneil Dariush.
"I'll fight Beneil in June, whether that be at McGregor's card international fight week, or if he's just pulling the everyone's chain as he usually does. I heard they're coming back mid year sometime to Australia. That as well, it would be cool to fight close to home."
Dan Hooker has called out Beneil Dariush for a fight in June. Photo: Photosport
Dariush began 2023 as a genuine title prospect, but knockout losses to Charles Oliveria and Arman Tsarukyan saw him tumble down the rankings to seventh.
"So Benny, ranked above me, coming off a couple losses but let's go baby , let's go, he has come out and said he wants to see if he still got it. Well, I can check brother. I'll check for you."
Meanwhile, City Kickboxing teammate Carlos Ulberg will look to continue his hot run of form inside the octagon at UFC fight night on 31 March.
The light heavyweight was set to take on former title challenger Dominick Reyes at UFC 297.
However Reyes, who has not fought since 2022, withdrew with an undisclosed injury.
Ulberg will now fight 36-year-old veteran Alonzo Menifield (15-3-1) in Atlantic City.
Menifield is riding a five-fight unbeaten streak which includes four wins and a draw, while Ulberg has not tasted defeat since his UFC debut against Kennedy Nzechukwu in 2021.
Following his submission win over Da Woon Jung at UFC 295 in Sydney, "The Black Jag" took his record to 9-1.
Carlos Ulberg hopes to continue his momentum in the New Year. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Heavyweight Justin Tafa will fight as the feature prelim on a stacked card at UFC 298.
Headlined by Alexander Volkanovski's featherweight title defence against the unbeaten Ilia Topuria, Tafa will meet Marcos Rogério de Lima in Anaheim on 18 February.
The Bad Man bounced back from a year out to register two emphatic knockout wins on 2023, taking his record to 7-3 and riding a four-fight unbeaten streak.
Rogério de Lima on the other hand had a 1-1 record last year, which included a highlight reel flying knee knockout loss at the hands of Derek Lewis.
The biggest name in New Zealand MMA has yet to lock in his next fight, though speculation is rife that Israel Adesanya will settle the score with the newly crowned middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis.
The pair have shared a heated rivalry since Du Plessis claimed he would become the first true African champion.
Fellow fighters such as Nigerian-born Kamaru Usman and Adesanya took exception to the comments, leading to an ugly confrontation at UFC 290.
After finishing Adesanya's other rival Robert Whittaker, the Last Stylebender entered the cage and squared off with the South Africa, screaming racial slurs.
The animosity looked to be leading to a title match at UFC 293 in Sydney, however, Du Plessis was unable to recover in time.
Adding to the drama, replacement Sean Strickland would go on to shock the world and upset Adesanya to claim the strap which he subsequently lost to Du Plessis in Toronto last weekend.
Israel Adesanya takes a right hand from Sean Strickland. UFC 293. Photo: Photosport
In his post fight interview, there was only one man Du Plesssis wanted next.
"There was another guy who tried to take my shine. He lost this shine, now I have your shine. Israel Adesanya, get your ass back in the cage so we can settle the score!"
Adesanya stated he would be taking an indefinite break from MMA after the loss, though has recently hinted at a 2024 return.
"Here we go again," he posted to Instagram.
Reacting to Du Plessis' call out, Adesanya credited "Still Knocks" for his intelligent approach against Strickland.
"He is now the fourth African champion, so congrats my African brother, I'm legit happy for him I actually like his story, but he still did what he did, and I'm still gonna test that ass," he said on his Youtube channel.
