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Is 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports Worth Collecting? 2026 Investment Review

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The 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports set presents a mixed investment picture in 2026. Collectors focusing on high-end singles should WATCH, while those seeking broad set acquisition on a budget should SKIP. The sum of the top 8 raw chase cards alone exceeds $10,500.

90-day sold data for 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports shows significant movement among its top-tier cards, with several premium parallels reaching impressive raw prices, though comprehensive PSA 10 median data remains elusive for many. The set’s valuation is heavily concentrated in a few key chase cards, creating a high floor for complete set acquisition, estimated to be between $10,584 and $15,876 based on the top 8 cards alone. The Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] card offers a glimpse into grading profitability with a PSA 10 median of $699.99 against a raw price of $800, albeit with a negative grading ROI of -30.0% as of late 2026. For collectors considering this set in 2026, a cautious approach is recommended, focusing on specific high-value targets rather than mass acquisition. Last updated: October 2026.

In This Article

• About 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC

• The Top Chase Cards (ranked table)

• Individual Chase Card Deep Dives

• Investment Analysis

• Worth Collecting? The Verdict

• Frequently Asked Questions

About 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC

Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports was released in 2023. The Optic brand is known for its chromium finish and vibrant inserts, positioning Optic sets as premium products in the sports card market. These sets attract both casual fans and serious investors. The exact card count for the 2023 release is not publicly detailed. However, Optic sets generally include a checklist of active and legendary fighters, with various parallels and autograph inclusions.

The appeal of this set in the collector’s market lies in the intersection of the popular Optic design and the growing global fascination with mixed martial arts. UFC cards, in general, have seen increasing collector interest, mirroring the sport’s expansion. Sets like the 2023 Donruss Optic are positioned to capitalize on this, offering visually appealing cards of top-tier athletes, making them prime targets for individuals looking to invest in the sport’s rising stars and established champions.

The Top Chase Cards (ranked table)

Grading ROI assumes a PSA 10, graded at PSA’s cheapest open tier for the card’s value (Standard $59.99 up to $1,000; PSA’s Value tiers are paused; fees checked October 12, 2026), sold on eBay (13.25% fee + $0.40) with an estimated $5 shipping. No figure is given above $10,000, where PSA publishes no fee.

Data sources: What The Slab checks eBay sold comps, PriceCharting market prices, and PSA public-API pop reports. All figures as of October 2026.

1. Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Vinyl] (135)

The Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Vinyl] card leads the pack at a staggering $3,000 raw price point. This indicates exceptionally high demand for Taira, potentially driven by his performance or future projections within the UFC. The absence of PSA 10 data is notable; it suggests either that few of these cards have reached gem mint status or that collectors are holding onto them rather than submitting them for grading, perhaps as investment pieces. This card’s value is purely speculative at this raw stage, making it a high-risk, high-reward target for serious collectors.

Buy Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Vinyl] on eBay (active listings) Check Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Vinyl] sold comps on eBay

2. Jon Jones [Gold Vinyl] (85)

Jon Jones, a legendary figure in MMA, commands a raw price of $2,787 for his [Gold Vinyl] card. His status as an all-time great often translates to sustained card values, even if his active fighting career is winding down. Similar to Taira’s top card, the lack of PSA 10 data suggests that this card is currently being held, rather than being readily available in top condition on the market. This makes assessing a true grading multiplier impossible, but the raw price alone signals significant collector interest.

Buy Jon Jones [Gold Vinyl] on eBay (active listings) Check Jon Jones [Gold Vinyl] sold comps on eBay

3. Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Stars] (135)

A Tatsuro Taira card, the [Signature Gold Stars] variant, is priced at $1,000 raw. This card’s price is less than that of the Tatsuro Taira Gold Vinyl counterpart. This difference suggests the impact of specific parallel rarity and desirability. The price gap between the two Taira signature cards reflects the details within a set’s parallels. Like other high-value cards, the absence of PSA 10 data means its graded potential is not yet fully known.

Buy Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Stars] on eBay (active listings) Check Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Stars] sold comps on eBay

4. Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] (108)

The Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] card is among the few top-tier cards with available PSA 10 data, showing a median price of $699.99. Its raw price is $800. The PSA 10 / raw multiplier is 0.9x, and the grading ROI is -30.0%. These figures indicate that submitting this card for grading, at current fee structures, would likely result in a loss. This suggests the card’s value is best realized in its raw form, or that the graded card market is not yet developed enough to support grading arbitrage at this level.

Buy Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] on eBay (active listings) Check Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] sold comps on eBay

5. Bo Nickal [Gold] (120)

Bo Nickal, a fighter with considerable hype surrounding his UFC career, has his [Gold] card listed at a raw price of $785.80. Nickal’s trajectory in the sport makes his cards potential high-growth assets. The lack of PSA 10 data for this card, similar to many others in this set, means that its future value in graded condition is speculative. Collectors are likely holding onto these higher-end Nickal cards, anticipating future performance increases that could drive up both raw and graded prices.

Buy Bo Nickal [Gold] on eBay (active listings) Check Bo Nickal [Gold] sold comps on eBay

6. Alex Pereira [Green] (108)

Another Alex Pereira card, the [Green] parallel, is valued at $775 raw. This positions him as a consistently valuable asset within the set. The absence of PSA 10 data prevents a direct comparison with his signature card’s graded performance, but the strong raw price suggests high demand. This card, along with other desirable parallels, points to a collector base that appreciates the Optic aesthetic and is willing to pay a premium for visually appealing representations of top fighters.

Buy Alex Pereira [Green] on eBay (active listings) Check Alex Pereira [Green] sold comps on eBay

7. Islam Makhachev [Gold Vinyl] (41)

Islam Makhachev, a dominant UFC Lightweight Champion, is represented by his [Gold Vinyl] card at $725 raw. Makhachev’s reign at the top of his division makes him a prime target for collectors. The scarcity implied by the Gold Vinyl parallel, combined with his championship status, explains this price point. As with other high-value cards in this set, the limited PSA 10 data indicates that this card is a significant player in the raw singles market, with its graded potential yet to be fully mapped.

Buy Islam Makhachev [Gold Vinyl] on eBay (active listings) Check Islam Makhachev [Gold Vinyl] sold comps on eBay

8. Jason Herzog [Signature Gold Vinyl] (150)

The Jason Herzog [Signature Gold Vinyl] card rounds out the top 8 chase cards at $711 raw. While not a fighter, prominent figures associated with the sport, such as referees or announcers, can garner significant collector interest, especially with rare autograph parallels like Gold Vinyl. This card’s inclusion in the top tier suggests a dedicated segment of the market that values more than just the athletes. Its raw price reflects a niche demand that is currently very strong, though the lack of PSA 10 data makes future graded value projections difficult.

Buy Jason Herzog [Signature Gold Vinyl] on eBay (active listings) Check Jason Herzog [Signature Gold Vinyl] sold comps on eBay

Investment Analysis

Grading ROI Across the Set

The grading outlook for the 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports set in 2026 indicates difficulty for immediate profit. The Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] is the only card with available PSA 10 data, showing a negative grading ROI of -30.0%. This suggests that submission fees and current market prices for a PSA 10 do not consistently support profitable raw-to-graded transactions. For cards such as Tatsuro Taira’s [Signature Gold Vinyl] or Jon Jones’ [Gold Vinyl], which are priced over $2,700 raw, the absence of PSA 10 data introduces a significant unknown. If these cards are rare in gem condition, their graded prices might be substantially higher, potentially justifying the grading cost; however, this remains speculative.

Complete-Set Cost

The sum of the top 8 chase cards’ raw prices is $10,584. For trading card sets, especially those with extensive parallels and inserts like Panini Optic, the total cost to complete the entire set can be estimated at 1.0 to 1.2 times the value of the top chase cards, as commons and bulk are typically acquired at lower costs. This would place the approximate complete-set cost for 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports between $10,584 (using the lower multiplier) and $12,701 (using the higher multiplier). This is a significant investment, primarily driven by the high individual value of a few key cards.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term View

The available 90-day sold data indicates strong and consistent demand for the top chase cards in their raw condition, with prices holding firm around their listed values. However, the lack of comprehensive PSA 10 data for most of these premium cards suggests that the long-term potential in graded form is still largely undefined. For cards like Tatsuro Taira and Jon Jones, their raw appeal is undeniable now, but their future value will hinge on the availability and price of their graded counterparts. This uncertainty leans towards a cautious long-term outlook, with short-term gains likely tied to the raw singles market.

Risks

Several risks are associated with collecting the 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports set in 2026. The primary risk is the lack of graded data for many of the highest-value cards; if a significant number of these cards exist in gem mint condition and flood the market, it could depress prices. Reprint risk is generally low for premium Optic releases like this, as Panini tends to limit the production of these higher-end sets. Set rotation, where newer UFC sets might overshadow older ones in collector interest, is a perennial concern in the sports card market, potentially impacting the long-term desirability of this 2023 release. Finally, grading company shifts in their population reports or grading standards could indirectly affect the perceived value of graded cards.

Worth Collecting? The Verdict

WATCH. The 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports set is a compelling, albeit expensive, proposition for collectors in 2026. Its value is heavily weighted towards a select few chase cards, making it a challenging acquisition for those seeking a complete set on a moderate budget.

• The sports cards completionist: For dedicated completionists with a substantial budget, this set is a BUY. The high raw prices of the top chase cards indicate significant collector demand, and acquiring them now, even raw, establishes a strong foundation. However, the journey to complete the entire set will be costly, with the bulk of the expense concentrated in the top-tier parallels.

• The ROI-focused investor: This set is a WATCH for ROI-focused investors. The significant investment required for the top cards, coupled with the lack of concrete PSA 10 data and a negative grading ROI on the few cards that do have it, presents a high-risk profile. Profits are not guaranteed, and the market may favor holding raw over grading for many key cards.

• The new collector with $5,291 to spend: For a new collector with approximately $5,291 to spend, this set is a SKIP as a primary focus. This budget might allow for acquiring one or two of the mid-tier chase cards like Bo Nickal or Alex Pereira at their raw prices. However, it falls far short of acquiring the top-tier cards like Jon Jones or the Tatsuro Taira signatures, which are essential for defining this set’s high-end market.

Pro Tip: Given the high raw prices for key cards like the Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Vinyl] ($3,000) and Jon Jones [Gold Vinyl] ($2,787), and the general lack of PSA 10 data, focus on acquiring these in the best raw condition possible. The grading market for these specific cards is still developing, and future PSA 10 prices could dramatically shift the investment thesis. It’s advisable to monitor pop reports closely as more submissions become available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports worth collecting in 2026?

Yes, but with caution. The set is worth collecting for high-end singles, particularly chase cards like Tatsuro Taira and Jon Jones, which command significant raw prices. However, the investment for a complete set is substantial, exceeding $10,000, and the grading ROI for many cards is unclear or negative as of late 2026.

What are the most valuable cards in the 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports set?

The most valuable cards are the Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Vinyl] ($3,000 raw) and Jon Jones [Gold Vinyl] ($2,787 raw), followed by Tatsuro Taira [Signature Gold Stars] ($1,000 raw). These cards represent the pinnacle of demand and perceived rarity within the set.

Can I profit from grading cards from this set in 2026?

For most cards, it’s a WATCH situation. The Alex Pereira [Signature Purple Stars] shows a negative grading ROI (-30.0%) at PSA 10 ($699.99) compared to its raw price ($800). For higher-value cards, the lack of PSA 10 data means potential upside but also considerable risk if gem mint populations are higher than expected.

How much does it cost to complete the 2023 Panini Donruss Optic UFC Sports set?

The estimated cost to complete the set is between $10,584 and $12,701. This figure is based on the sum of the top 8 chase cards ($10,584) and applying a multiplier to account for the cost of common cards and other parallels, as commons and bulk are not included in the chase card total.

Should a new collector focus on this set in 2026?

A new collector with limited funds should SKIP this set as a primary focus. A budget of around $5,291 would only allow for purchasing a few mid-tier raw cards, not enough to establish a meaningful collection of this premium set. It is recommended to explore more accessible sets or focus on acquiring single, high-potential cards.

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