The UFC heads to Las Vegas for the landmark UFC 300 event. The card is stacked from top to bottom, arguably one of the best line-ups ever. The light heavyweight title bout headlines the card as current champion Alex Pereira looks for his first title defense against former champion Jamahal Hill.
The co-main event, is a women’s strawweight title fight between Weili Zhang and Yan Xioanan. There’s also a much anticipated BMF title fight taking place between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway.
Let’stake a look at all of the action taking place this weekend.
UFC 300 Prelim Card
This prelim card could have been a main card at any other event.Just see how many former champions lined up for an early card placement.
Kicking off the card is a massive bantamweight affair between former champions Cody Garbrandt and DeivesonFigueiredo. While Garbrandt returned to the win column recently, Figuereido's knockout power could prove too explosive for the American’s fading chin.
A lightweight encounter between veterans takes place as Bobby Green battles Jim Miller. Amazingly, Miller also fought at UFC 100 and UFC 200! It should be a competitive affair, but oddsmakers are just about giving the edge to Green and his striking.Never a bad bet to play A-10 for a submission.
A women's strawweight encounter goes down between former champion Jessica Andrade and Marina Rodriguez. Likely to be a striking encounter throughout, Andrade’s knockout power should see her get the victory.
Jalin Turner and Renato Moicano collide in a lightweight tilt. Both fighters are coming off big wins, but expect Turner to make it two in a row.
An exciting featherweight matchup is also on the cards as SodiqYusuff fights Diego Lopes. Expect another competitive affair with Lopes coming out on top for his second win under the UFC banner.
A big women's bantamweight fight is in store as former champion Holly Holm welcomes Kayla Harrison to the UFC. Harrison is a massive favorite and should wrestle her way to a big win in her promotional debut.
However, we have thought the same thing when another Olympic gold medalist took on the striker, when Ronda Rousey was a massive favorite to use her grappling over the experienced Preacher’s Daughter. The big weight cut is an unknown as the judoka will make 135 lbs for the first time.
There is more featherweight action as Calvin Kattar welcomes former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling to the division. Despite it being his divisional debut against a veteran in Kattar, Sterling is just about favored to get the victory.
The featured prelim sees former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka take on Aleksandar Rakic. Both fighters are coming off losses and while this can go either way, Rakic is just about expected to come out on top.
UFC 300 Main Card
Nickal (5-0) vs Brundge (10-5)
The main card kicks off with a middleweight bout between undefeated rising star Bo Nickal and Cody Brundage. Nickal is 2-0 in the UFC and is coming off a TKO win over Valentine Woodburn back in July.
Brundage is also on a winning streak following victories over Jacob Malkoun (DQ) and Zachary Reese (KO). That said, this is a foregone conclusion -- expect an easy victory for accomplished NCAA champion wrestler Nickal who is the biggest favorite on the card, and a betting favorite to eventually hold the belt.
Oliveira (34-9, 1NC) vs Tsaruykan (21-3)
A pivotal lightweight encounter takes place as former champion Charles Oliveira faces Arman Tsarukyan in what is undoubtedly a title eliminator. Do Bronxs rebounded from his title defeat to Islam Makhachev with a comprehensive first-round TKO win over BeneilDariush last summer. Overall, the Brazilian has won 12 of his last 13 fights.
Tsarukyan is also coming off a knockout win over Dariush in December which puts him on a three-fight winning streak. Overall, he has won eight of his last nine fights. Both fighters look for the finish and while this can go either way in a variety of methods.
Oddsmakers seem extremely confident that Tsarukyan will earn the biggest victory of his UFC career thus far, but just like Miller earlier, I always encourage a play on a submission for the accomplished grapplers when the odds are against them.
Gaethje (25-4) vs Holloway (25-7)
Arguably the fight fans are most excited for is the BMF title clash between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway. Gaethje became the BMF champion following an emphatic knockout victory over Dustin Poirier in their rematch last summer.
All in all, he has won seven of his last nine fights with his only defeats being submissions to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira.While he probably could have just sat and waited for a title shot, the Highlight is ready to step up on the big stage to entertain the fans.
Holloway, meanwhile, will return to lightweight for the first time since 2019. He is currently riding a two-fight winning streak following wins over Arnold Allen (decision) and the Korean Zombie (KO).
While this should be a competitive slugfest, especially with Holloway being much better prepared for 155, the power and size of Gaethje may prove to be too much as he is slightly favored to get the victory.Will this be the first time that Blessed gets knocked down… or knocked out? Can’t wait to see this one!
Zhang (24-3) vs Xiaonan (18-3, 1NC)
Another title fight takes place as women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang defends her crown against Yan Xiaonan in an all-Chinese affair. Zhang is coming off a dominant unanimous decision victory over Amanda Lemos in August.
Overall, she is on a three-fight winning streak that includes finishes over former champions Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Carla Esparza.
Yan on the other hand is on a two-fight winning streak including a knockout victory over Jessica Andrade back in May. She has also won eight of her 10 UFC fights so far.
That said, getting a win over her Chinese compatriot seems a tall task as Zhang is not only more well-rounded and seasoned, but also is a pretty solid betting favorite. Expect another title defense for Zhang.
Pereira (9-2) vs Hill (12-1, 1NC)
While many of us expected a star like Jon Jones or Conor McGregor to headline the massive UFC 300. But, with the timing of the card, we will have to settle for the still solid headliner of light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira defend his 205-pound crown against former champion Jamahal Hill.
Pereira won the strap following a knockout victory over Jiri Prochazka last year. Prior to that, “Poatan” outpointed another former champion in Jan Blachowicz during his divisional debut.
Hill, meanwhile, never lost the belt as injury and a subsequent surgery forced him to relinquish the title. “Sweet Dreams” won the strap early last year after battering Glover Teixeira over five rounds.
All in all, Hill has only lost once in his 7 UFC fights and is currently riding a four-fight winning streak that also saw him beat the likes of Thiago Santos and Johnny Walker.
Can Hill defeat another Brazilian in spectacular fashion? It’s more than possible, but whether he can survive on the feet before he gets the fight to the ground will be the real question. A lot will depend on his game plan, but as things stand, Pereira is just about favored to come out on top and retain his title.
I don’t see this one going a few rounds, and would put a play on an explosive finish before the final bell rings.
