The year 2022 was the 30th year in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States.
Despite the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the promotion's UFC Apex continued hosting events with reduced crowds, with 21 events held.
2022 by the numbers
The numbers below records the events, fights, techniques, champions and fighters held or performed for the year of 2022 in UFC. EventsNumber of EventsPPVContinentsCountriesCitiesFight Night Bonuses42133516199 Total $9,950,000Longest EventShortest EventHighest Income Live GateLowest Income Live GateHighest AttendanceLowest AttendanceUFC 271 2:57:22UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill 1:10:04UFC 281 $11,562,807.77UFC 275 $1,546,732UFC 281 20,845UFC 275 (exclud. APEX events) 10,787Title FightsUndisputed Title FightsTitle ChangesChampions Remained in Their DivisionsNumber of ChampionsNumber of Interim ChampionsNumber of Title Defenses1895BW – Aljamain SterlingFW – Alexander VolkanovskiHW – Francis NgannouWFYW – Valentina ShevchenkoWFW –Amanda Nunes1318ChampionsDivisionBeginning of The YearEnd of The YearDivisionBeginning of The YearEnd of The YearHeavyweightFrancis NgannouFrancis NgannouBantamweightAljamain SterlingAljamain SterlingLight HeavyweightGlover TeixeiraVacantFlyweightBrandon MorenoDeiveson FigueiredoMiddleweightIsrael AdesanyaAlex PereiraWomen's BantamweightJulianna PeñaAmanda NunesWelterweightKamaru UsmanLeon EdwardsWomen's FlyweightValentina ShevchenkoValentina ShevchenkoLightweightCharles OliveiraIslam MakhachevWomen's StrawweightZhang WeiliMackenzie DernFeatherweightAlexander VolkanovskiAlexander VolkanovskiWomen's FeatherweightAmanda NunesAmanda NunesFightsMost Knockouts at A Single EventMost submissions at A Single EventMost Decisions at A Single EventTotal Number of FightsTotal Number of Cage TimeUFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett 8UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. LemosUFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Aspinall 5UFC 274 1051192:30:16FightersNumber of FightersUFC DebutantsReleases / RetiredFighters SuspendedNumber of Fighters Missed weight(At the end of Dec 31, 2022) 583991251830Champion feats Deiveson Figueiredo became the first two-time UFC Flyweight champion. Jiří Procházka became the first Czech-born UFC champion. Leon Edwards became the first Jamaican-born UFC champion.Fighter feats Katlyn Chookagian became the first fighter in UFC history to win their first 10 bouts by decision. Claudio Puelles became the first fighter to have three victories by kneebar submission. Jéssica Andrade became the first fighter to win by a standing arm-triangle choke submission with her victory at UFC Fight Night 205. Rob Font's 271 significant strikes set the record for the most in a bantamweight bout. Zhang Weili's spinning back‑fist victory was the first by a woman in UFC history. Muhammad Mokaev's 12 takedowns at UFC Fight Night 208 were the most in a flyweight bout. Cory McKenna became the first female to win by a Von Flue choke submission with her victory at UFC on ESPN 40. Khamzat Chimaev's victory at UFC 279 marked his fourth bout without absorbing a significant strike, the most in UFC history. Rafael dos Anjos became the first fighter in UFC history to record over 8 hours of total fight time. Raul Rosas Jr., at 18 years old, became the youngest fighter to score a victory with his UFC 282 win.
2022 UFC Honors awards
Starting in 2019, the UFC created year-end awards with "UFC Honors President's Choice Awards" for categories "Performance of the Year" and "Fight of the Year" being chosen by UFC CEO Dana White. The other "UFC Honors Fan Choice Awards" are for categories "Knockout of the Year", "Submission of the Year", "Event of the Year", "Comeback of the Year" and, from 2020, "Debut of the Year" in which fans are able to vote for the winner on social media.
Winners receive a trophy commemorating their achievement along with a set of tires from sponsor Toyo Tires.
2022 UFC Honors AwardsPerformance of the YearFight of the YearKnockout of the YearSubmission of the YearDebut of the YearEvent of the YearComeback of the YearWinnerZhang Weili defeats Joanna Jędrzejczyk 2 UFC 275Khamzat Chimaev defeats Gilbert Burns UFC 273Leon Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman 2 UFC 278Islam Makhachev defeats Charles Oliveira UFC 280Abusupiyan Magomedov defeats Dustin Stoltzfus UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. TuivasaUFC 281: Adesanya vs. PereiraLeon Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman 2 UFC 278NomineeJéssica Andrade defeats Amanda Lemos UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. AndradeDustin Poirier defeats Michael Chandler UFC 281Michael Chandler defeats Tony Ferguson UFC 274Jéssica Andrade defeats Amanda Lemos UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. AndradeMuhammad Mokaev defeats Cody Durden UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallUFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallGregory Rodrigues defeats Chidi Njokuani UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. SongNomineeMichael Chandler defeats Tony Ferguson UFC 274Matt Schnell defeats Su Mudaerji UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. RodríguezZhang Weili defeats Joanna Jędrzejczyk 2 UFC 275Jiří Procházka defeats Glover Teixeira UFC 275Joe Pyfer defeats Alen Amedovski UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. SongUFC on ESPN: Santos vs. HillMatt Schnell defeats Su Mudaerji UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. RodríguezNomineeMolly McCann defeats Luana Carolina UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallJiří Procházka defeats Glover Teixeira UFC 275Molly McCann defeats Luana Carolina UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallZhang Weili defeats Carla Esparza UFC 281Yazmin Jauregui defeats Iasmin Lucindo UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. CruzUFC Fight Night: Gane vs. TuivasaAlex Pereira defeats Israel Adesanya 1 UFC 281NomineeMarlon Vera defeats Rob Font UFC on ESPN: Font vs. VeraRef
2022 UFC.com awards
2022 UFC.COM AwardsNoThe FightersThe UpsetsThe SubmissionsThe NewcomersThe KnockoutsThe Fights1Alexander VolkanovskiLeon Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman 2 UFC 278Jéssica Andrade defeats Amanda Lemos UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. AndradeJack Della MaddalenaLeon Edwards defeats Kamaru Usman 2 UFC 278Jiří Procházka defeats Glover Teixeira UFC 2752Alex PereiraCarla Esparza defeats Rose Namajunas 2 UFC 274Jiří Procházka defeats Glover Teixeira UFC 275Jailton AlmeidaMichael Chandler defeats Tony Ferguson UFC 274Khamzat Chimaev defeats Gilbert Burns UFC 2733Islam MakhachevSean O'Malley defeats Petr Yan UFC 280Tom Aspinall defeats Alexander Volkov UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallMuhammad MokaevMolly McCann defeats Luana Carolina UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallDustin Poirier defeats Michael Chandler UFC 2814Zhang WeiliKai Kara-France defeats Askar Askarov UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. DaukausIslam Makhachev defeats Charles Oliveira UFC 280Tatsuro TairaZhang Weili defeats Joanna Jędrzejczyk 2 UFC 275Stephen Thompson defeats Kevin Holland UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland5Leon EdwardsVictor Henry defeats Raoni Barcelos UFC 270Claudio Puelles defeats Clay Guida UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. AndradeYazmin JaureguiMarlon Vera defeats Dominick Cruz UFC on ESPN: Vera vs. CruzMatt Schnell defeats Su Mudaerji UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. Rodríguez6Marlon VeraAlex Pereira defeats Israel Adesanya 1 UFC 281Paul Craig defeats Nikita Krylov UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallChidi NjokuaniAlex Pereira defeats Sean Strickland UFC 276Deiveson Figueiredo defeats Brandon Moreno 3 UFC 2707Aljamain SterlingAljamain Sterling defeats Petr Yan 2 UFC 273Matt Schnell defeats Su Mudaerji UFC on ABC: Ortega vs. RodríguezNatália SilvaIlia Topuria defeats Jai Herbert UFC 290Ciryl Gane defeats Tai Tuivasa UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa8Jamahal HillTai Tuivasa defeats Derrick Lewis UFC 271Charles Oliveira defeats Justin Gaethje UFC 274Michael MoralesChris Gutiérrez defeats Frankie Edgar UFC 281Calvin Kattar defeats Giga Chikadze UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze9Jiří ProcházkaRoman Dolidze defeats Jack Hermansson UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. HollandIlia Topuria defeats Bryce Mitchell UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. AspinallRaul Rosas Jr.Adrian Yañez defeats Tony Kelley UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. EmmettMateusz Gamrot defeats Arman Tsarukyan 1 UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot10Roman DolidzeMarcin Tybura defeats Alexandr Romanov UFC 278Said Nurmagomedov defeats Cody Stamann UFC 270André FialhoHayisaer Maheshate defeats Steve Garcia UFC 275Sean O'Malley defeats Petr Yan UFC 280Ref
Releases and retirements These fighters have either been released from their UFC contracts, announced their retirement or joined other promotions: