Taking place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, UFC 273 features a pair of fantastic championship fights. In the main event of the evening, the UFC Featherweight Championship will be on the line when current champion Alexander Volkanovski takes on former title challenger Chan Sung Jung. Prior to that fight, there will be a unification rematch for the UFC Bantamweight Championship between current champion Aljamain Sterling and former champion/current interim title holder Petr Yan.
As always, SBS has your back with a fight breakdown, some background on each fighter and who ultimately will take home the title in each contest.
What to look for from: Alexander Volkanovski
Ranked as the No. 3 fighter in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, Volkanovski is the current UFC Featherweight Champion. One of the most versatiles athletes in the sport, Volkanovski is a former semi-professional rugby player, boxer and kickboxer. He is undefeated in his UFC career (10-0) and is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Brian Ortega at UFC 266. In terms of fighting styles, Volkanovski has won the majority of his professional fights via knockout (11 KO’s), but in his time with the UFC, he has mainly won via decision (seven times). After two hellacious battles against Max Holloway at UFC 245 and 251, respectively, Volkanovski seems to have gained true dominance over the featherweight division.
What to look for from: Chan Sung Jung
Known for his tenacious fighting style, Jung is famous for his “zombie-like ability” to move forward and fight aggressively even after sustaining heavy damage during bouts. The No. 4 ranked fighter in the UFC featherweight division, Jung is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Dan Ige last June on ESPN. The Korean Zombie has a 7-3 overall record in UFC bouts and has marquee wins over Dustin Poirier and Frankie Edgar. What’s interesting about Jung’s overall record is that he has been fighting professionally since 2007 but only has 23 matches to his name. Perhaps this will work in his favor against Volkanovski given his impressive guile and durability.
Prediction: In a bout that will feature some a mixture of styles, look for the red-hot Volkanovski to continue his winning streak against the Korean Zombie.
What to look for from: Aljamain Sterling
The current UFC Bantamweight Champion, Sterling is known for his unorthodox wrestling style and has been dubbed “The Funk Master” because of it. Currently riding a six-fight winning streak, this will be a rematch against Yan after their bout at UFC 259 ended in controversial fashion due to an illegal knee from Yan. Sterling is also coming off a neck surgery from the third quarter of 2021 which was the main reason this rematch was pushed back from their initial October collision date. One of the most consistent fighters in the game, Sterling has never lost at a numbered UFC pay-per-view event (6-0).
What to look for from: Petr Yan
A very-skilled competitor, Yan is the current Interim UFC Bantamweight Champion and is a rising star in the UFC. Other than his disqualification loss to Sterling last year, he has never lost in the UFC and has eight victories to show for it. With an overall career record of 16-2, the 29-year old is known for vicious striking ability and his penchant for putting opponents away with a flurry of strikes. Nearly all of his victories have come by way of knockout (seven) or decision (eight) so expect more of the same when he takes on Sterling in this highly-anticipated rematch.
Prediction: This will be another close contest, but look for Yan to avenge his prior loss to Sterling when the two tangle again in Jacksonville.
Once you have done all of your homework on the fighters competing at UFC 273, you should definitely check out our SBS guide on UFC betting pages. Here, you will be able to find the best odds for any UFC event, props for every UFC Fight Night and some great bonus breakouts. Speaking of bonuses, SBS also has you covered with our best bonus betting catalog. Finally, if you are looking for an easy way to place your bets, SBS has you covered with our guide on the best mobile wagering options.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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