UFC 283 Brazil: Predictions, Tips, Fight Card & UK Start Time

The UFC returns for its first big card of the year on Saturday night as the organisation travels to Brazil for the first time in front of a crowd since UFC 239 in 2019.  

The prelim action for UFC 283 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro will start at 11pm for UK fans, while the main card gets underway from 1am on Sunday morning. Glover Teixeira vs Jamahal Hill can then be expected at around 4am. The action will be shown on BT Sport 1 from 1am. 

UFC 283 Predictions 

We’re giving you our best bets for four of the fights on the main card at UFC 283, providing the best odds and how to watch in the UK.  

Paul Craig #9 vs Johnny Walker #12 

Betting Tip: Paul Craig by Submission 

Two light-heavyweights looking to climb back up the rankings go head-to-head in the first fight on the main card on Saturday night. Scotsman Paul Craig was on a six-fight win streak before losing to Volkan Oezdemir (Ranked #10) by decision at Blaydes v Aspinall at the UFC London event in July.  

He comes up against Brazilian-born Johnny Walker who bounced back with a surprise submission win over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 279 in September. Earlier in 2022, Johnny Walker was on a receiving end of a KO of the year contender from Light Heavy-Weight title challenger Jamahal Hill.  

This fight provides us with two contrasting styles of fighters; Paul Craig will constantly be looking to take the fight to the mat and use his superior grappling to take the victory, from a (sometimes reckless) striker in Johnny Walker.  

If Craig can absorb the early pressure from Walker and quieten the Brazilian crowd, submission opportunities will arise for the Scotsman in rounds 2 & 3 as Walker goes chasing the knock-out. I like Paul Craig by Submission here at 10/3. 0.5pts 

Gilbert Burns #5 vs Neil Magny #12 

Betting Tip: Gilbert Burns to win by TKO/KO 

Where Paul Craig will be looking to silence the crowd, Welterweight heavy-hitter Gilbert Burns will want the Jeunesse Arena rocking when he walks out to fight American Neil Magny. Burns returns to the ring after losing an instant classic last time out to the Welterweight division's man to beat, Khamzat Chimaev. 

“The Haitian Sensation” Neil Magny picked up a submission victory over Daniel Rodriguez in his last fight (Nov 22’) and a victory here over Burns could see him shoot up the Welterweight rankings.  

It’s hard to go against Burns here who will be backed by raucous Brazilian crowd, who will apply the pressure early. Magny has picked up victories against those high in the division rankings before and brings a nine-inch reach advantage into this fight. Despite this, I’m backing Burns to pick up a victory by KO/TKO here and counter his way into positions to land the explosive shots on Magny.  

Deiveson Figueiredo © v Brandon Moreno (IC) 

Betting Tip: Fight To Go The Distance (No) 

For the first time in UFC history, the same two fighters will battle for a fourth time as Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno go head-to-head for the Flyweight title in Saturday night’s co-main event. 

Over the duo’s first three fights (all competing for the Flyweight title), the first was a draw and a 2020 Fight of the Year contender, Moreno took the second by submission, and in January 2022, Figueiredo regained the title by unanimous decision. All three bouts have been exciting and the fourth meeting should be no different.  

Brazilian Figueiredo hasn’t fought since the pair met in January 2022, where he regained his Flyweight crown, whereas 29-year-old Moreno picked up an impressive victory over the division’s #3 ranked Kai Kara-France to become interim Flyweight Champion. 

My play for this fight would be for the “Fight To Go The Distance – No” @ 6/5. These two fighters have stopped each other in the past and I envision the same on Saturday night as they close the book on a fantastic series of fights between the pair.  

Glover Teixeira #2 v Jamahal Hill #7 

Betting Tip: Glover Teixeira to win by submission 

Our main event of the evening, the 43-year-old veteran Glover Teixeira gets an opportunity to regain the vacant light heavyweight title against the division’s rising star, Jamahal Hill. Teixeira was due to fight the champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 282, before a shoulder injury ruled the Czech out.

The Brazilian turned down the opportunity to fight Magomed Ankalaev last minute and the title fight was changed to Ankalaev v former champion Jan Blachowicz. The resulting draw between those two has given Teixeira potentially his last opportunity at seizing UFC gold in front of his home fans. 

Teixeira posts one of the most skilled grappling games in the division and has years of big-fight experience behind him having fought against Jon Jones, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, Jan Blachowicz, and Jiri Prochazka to name a few.  

He comes into this fight the underdog and I cannot see why. In his last bout, Thiago Santos was able to take Hill to the mat with ease and if Teixeira is given this opportunity, I cannot see the fight going the distance. Teixeira to win by submission at 11/4 is the play here.