MMA Monthly Schedule: May 2023

Every massive MMA event you need to be on the lookout for in May 2023.

Another thrilling month of MMA action has passed. Between the massive pay-per-view UFC 287 on April 9 or the finale of the Bellator bantamweight grand prix on April 22, it was a month filled with combat sports events with fans on the edge of their seats at every single fight.

May appears to be no different. With a huge UFC pay-per-view scheduled for the early portion of the month as well as the debut of ONE Championship on American soil, this is shaping up to be yet another month of exhilarating MMA cards you won't want to miss.

The biggest MMA events in May 2023

XMMA 6: Bash at The Beach

What: One of the newest MMA promotions hoping to make an impact, XMMA 6: Bash at The Beach brings XMMA's first show of 2023 and just their sixth all-time. The last event was held all the way back in July, 2022.

When: Wednesday, May 3

Where: John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center, Myrtle Beach, SC

Time: 3 p.m ET / 12 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Francisco Rivera Jr. vs. Ricky Bandejas in a bantamweight main event

How to watch: YouTube / Fubo TV

Invicta FC 53: DeCoursey vs. Dos Santos

What: MMA's all-women promotion Invicta FC is back with another massive event. Atomweight champion Jillian DeCoursey defends her belt for the very first time when she faces Rayanne Dos Santos in the main event.

When: Wednesday, May 3

Where: Reelworks Denver, Denver, CO

Time: 9 p.m ET / 6 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Jillian DeCoursey (c) vs. Rayanne Santos for the atomweight title

How to watch: YouTube / AXS TV / Fight Network

ONE Fight Night 10: Johnson vs. Moraes 3

What: ONE Championship will host an event in the US for the very first time in their history. The card is filled with title bouts, Muay Thai fights, and even competitive grappling as ONE aims to make a grand first impression.

When: Friday, May 5

Where: 1STBANK Center, Broomfield, CO

Time: 8 p.m ET / 5 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Demetrious Johnson (c) vs. Adriano Moraes 3 for the flyweight title and trilogy. Rodtang Jitmuangnon (c) vs. Edgar Tabares for the flyweight Muay Thai title. Mikey Musumeci (c) vs. Osamah Alwarmai for the flyweight submission grappling title. The return of Sage Northcutt vs. Ahmed Mujtaba

How to watch: Amazon Prime

Rizin FF: Rizin Fighting Federation 42

What: A can't-miss event hosted by Japan's premiere combat sports organization, Rizin FF 42 brings another mix of MMA and kickboxing bouts to our screens.

When: Saturday, May 6

Where: Tokyo Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan

Time: 12 a.m ET / 9 p.m PT (May 5)

Biggest fight(s): Kai Asakura vs. Yuki Motoya in a bantamweight main event. The likes of Roberto de Souza, Juan Archuleta, and John Dodson will all be competing.

How to watch: FITE.tv

Cage Warriors 154: Rome

What: Cage Warriors returns to Italy for a massive event from the nation's capital. Italian undefeated prospect Dylan Hazan will aim to become the Cage Warriors' bantamweight champion when he takes on another undefeated fighter in Caolan Loughran.

When: Saturday, May 6

Where: Fiera Roma, Rome, Italy

Time: 4 p.m ET / 1 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Dylan Hazan vs. Caolan Loughran for the vacant bantamweight title.

How to watch: UFC Fight Pass

UFC 288: Sterling vs. Cejudo

What: The UFC's monthly pay-per-view sees a clash between two men aiming to become the bantamweight G.O.A.T with a victory as champion Aljamain Sterling faces the returning double champion Henry Cejudo in the main event. A five round title eliminator between Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad serves as the co-main.

When: Saturday, May 6

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

Time: Early prelims start at 6 p.m ET / 3 p.m PT. Prelims begin at 8 p.m ET / 5 p.m PT. The Main card starts at 10 p.m ET / 7 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Aljamain Sterling (c) vs. Henry Cejudo for the bantamweight title. Belal Muhammad vs. Gilbert Burns in a five round co-main event.

How to watch: Prelims & early prelims on ESPN/ESPN+. Main card on pay-per-view.

Bellator 296: Mousasi vs. Edwards

What: Bellator MMA returns to Paris with a card not only filled with local talent but with many implications. Gegard Mousasi meets Fabian Edwards in a middleweight title eliminator. Home favorite Mansour Bernaoui faces Brent Primus in the quarter finals of the lightweight grand prix in the co-main event.

When: Friday, May 12

Where: Accor Arena, Paris, France

Time: Prelims start at 12 p.m ET / 9 a.m PT. Main card begins at 4 p.m ET / 1 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Gegard Mousasi vs. Fabian Edwards in a middleweight title eliminator. Mansour Bernaoui vs. Brent Primus in the quarter finals of the lightweight grand prix.

How to watch: Prelims on YouTube. Main card on Showtime.

KSW 82: Hooi vs. Grzebyk

What: Another MMA event from Europe, KSW presents KSW 82, where Brian Hooi will take on Andrzej Grzebyk in a welterweight main event!

When: Saturday, May 13

Where: ATM Studio, Warsaw, Poland

Time: 12 p.m ET / 9 a.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Brian Hooi vs. Andrzej Grzebyk in a welterweight main event.

How to watch: Buy the event from KSW's website

UFC Charlotte

What: The UFC returns to Charlotte for the first time in over five years. The crowd will be treated to a number of high quality and high stakes matches, such as the main event heavyweight showdown between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Jailton Almeida.

When: Saturday, May 13

Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

Time: Prelims begin at 11: 30 a.m ET / 8:30 a.m PT. Main card starts at 3 p.m ET / 12 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Jailton Almeida in a heavyweight main event. Anthony Smith vs. Johnny Walker in a light heavyweight co-main event.

How to watch: Prelims on ESPN/ESPN+. Main card on ABC / ESPN+

LFA 158: Lebosnoyani vs. Jones

What: The vacant LFA lightweight title is on the line between Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani and Jacobi Jones.

When: Friday, May 19

Where: Gilla River Resorts & Casinos, Chandler, AZ

Time: 10 p.m ET / 7 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs. Jacobi Jones for the vacant LFA lightweight title

How to watch: UFC Fight Pass

UFC Vegas 73: Pennington vs. Aldana 2

What: A rematch to see who will be the next women's bantamweight contender headlines the only UFC card held inside the UFC APEX this month when the No.1 ranked Raquel Pennington takes on the No.5 ranked Irene Aldana in the main event.

When: Saturday, May 20

Where: UFC APEX, Las Vegas, NV

Time: Prelims begin at 4 p.m ET / 1 p.m PT. Main card starts at 7 p.m ET / 4 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Raquel Pennington vs. Irene Aldana 2 in a women's bantamweight main event. Michael Johnson returns against Deigo Ferreira to kick off the main card.

How to watch: ESPN+

LFA 159: Polastri vs. Conceição

What: The LFA continues with its constant visits to Brazil with another mouth-watering card. From the 22 fighters competing in the 11 fights, only one of them is not Brazilian, making this event a sure hit in São Paolo.

When: Saturday, May 27

Where: CIDE Casa Branca Sports Complex, São Paolo, Brazil

Time: 9 p.m ET / 6 p.m PT

Biggest fight(s): Julia Polastri (c) vs. Rose Conceição for the women's strawweight title. Rodolfo Bellato vs. Acácio dos Santos for the interim light heavyweight title.

How to watch: UFC Fight Pass