The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is set to return to South America for the second time in 2023 with UFC Fight Night 231 on Nov. 4. The event will take place at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It will feature 14 fights across eight different weight classes, further expanding the international reach of the UFC. Highlighted events of the night include a fast-rising heavyweight trying to break through the older guard of the division, an undefeated Brazilian prodigy in the 170-pound class, and a persistent female strawweight stepping into elite territory.
One of the reasons to watch UFC Fight Night 231 is the fight between Jailton Almeida and Derrick Lewis. Almeida, a fast-rising star from Dana White’s Contender Series, is on a remarkable 14-fight winning streak spanning over six years. However, he also has to contend with the inescapable reality that UFC’s heavyweight division is fraught with dangerous fighters. His upcoming fight against Lewis could be a stern test of just how sturdy his chin is against the hardest hitters of the division. Lewis, known as “The Black Beast,” is a short-notice replacement for Curtis Blaydes and has more knockouts (14) in his record than anyone else in the heavyweight division’s history.
The second reason to follow UFC Fight Night 231 closely is the battle between the undefeated Gabriel Bonfim and the former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Nicolas Dalby. Bonfim, with a perfect 15-0 record, all via finishes, is all set to make waves in the 170-pound division. Dalby, who has never been stopped in his 29 appearances as a professional, presents a considerable challenge. He comes into this fight off the back of a three-win streak.
The third reason is the chance to witness history. Angela Hill has the opportunity to become only the second fighter in UFC’s history, irrespective of gender, to successfully land over 2,000 significant strikes within the organization. She currently sits just 180 strikes short of this milestone. Her catch in the three-round women’s strawweight prelim is Denise Gomes, a promising upstart who has won eight out of her last nine fights. Hill, a former Invicta Fighting Championships titleholder, is bouncing back from a loss to Mackenzie Dern and is looking to make her mark against Gomes.