UFC 283 Expert picks and best bets: How can Glover Teixeira reclaim the 205-pound title?

The UFC finally returns to Brazil, which is the promotion host for its first PPV of the year, UFC 283 at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro (ESPN+ PPV at 10 p.m. ET, with prelims on ESPNEWS/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET). In the main event, Jamahal Hill will make his first title challenge against former division champion Glover Teixeira.

Teixeira (33-8), ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s divisional rankings, will have a chance to make history again against Hill (11-1), ranked No. 8. With a win in front of his hometown crowd, Teixeira would surpass his own record as the oldest champion in the promotion’s history at 43 years old. Hill earned a fourth-round TKO over Thiago Santos in his last fight to earn the right to fight for the title.

In the co-main event, fans may finally get a conclusion to the seemingly never-ending saga between men’s flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (21-2-1) and interim champion Brandon Moreno (26-2), as the two meet inside the Octagon for a UFC record-setting fourth time. Moreno enters the fight following a third-round stoppage win over Kai Kara-France in July. Figueiredo’s last fight was a unanimous decision victory over Moreno at UFC 270 in January 2021.

Former UFC fighter and current ESPN MMA analyst Megan Anderson breaks down both title fights, and Marc Raimondi spoke to Fight Ready MMA striking coach Eddie Cha to get his perspective on the main and co-main events. ESPN’s betting experts Ian Parker and Reed Kuhn also add their insights and analysis on fights they like on the card.

Editor’s note: Responses have been edited for brevity and clarity.

Light heavyweight title fight: Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill

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