Every year there seems to be a new sentiment towards the turbulent & unforgiving world of mixed-martial arts as fans watch their favorite athletes compete, achieve greatness and inevitably exit the spotlight either with grace or in painful defeat. Fight fans across the world are no stranger to the beautiful violence that is MMA yet no amount of mental preparation can ease the pain caused by watching your heroes retire under the most brutal of circumstances. This ‘changing of the guard’ within the confines of the UFC has left fans divided with some of the community expressing their disdain for the new talent atop the organization’s roster. This dispute between two separate eras is a common theme among all professional sports and serves as a much needed reminder that comparison is the thief of joy. Fans will almost always have bias towards specific time-periods & the fighters associated with them however it’s important to realize there is no right or wrong answer as to which era of athletes is better than the other.
This heated discussion still remains relevant today and has permeated the airways in the weeks leading up to the biggest event in the history of the sport, UFC 300. Regardless if you’re a day one fan or if it’s your first time watching MMA, UFC 300 is undoubtedly the magnum opus of Dana White’s career thus far and serves as a historic milestone of just how far the organization has come since the first event in 1993. Featuring 13 scheduled bouts headlined by a staggering 12 current and former champions, UFC 300 is certainly a contender for the greatest combat sports event of all time. From the opening fight to the main event, this card will provide non-stop excitement and aims to showcase the broad variety of fighting styles & larger-than-life personalities that make the UFC the greatest promotion on planet earth.
The early prelims of UFC 300 kick off at 5pm CST on ESPN+ and feature two former UFC champions, Cody “No Love” Garbrandt & Deiveson “Deus da Guerra” Figueiredo squaring off at their new weight-class of 135 pounds. Cody Garbrandt has certainly dealt with adversity ever since capturing the fly-weight world title in 2017. Now fighting up a division at Bantamweight, Garbrandt has looked to be in solid form- putting together a two fight winning streak with a decision victory over Trevin Jones & a vicious KO win against Brian Kelleher last year. The 32 year-old now has his sights firmly set on Bantamweight gold & a win on Saturday night against a former champion in Figueiredo would certainly help push him closer to the title.
His next opponent, Deiveson Figueiredo is truly a world-class fighter and a decorated UFC veteran. Sporting a professional record of 22-3-1, the Brazilian native reined supreme atop the UFC flyweight division until he decided to move up to Bantamweight following a loss to Brandon Moreno in 2023. Figueiredo made his debut at 135 pounds with a dominant unanimous decision win over Rob Font in December of last year and did it in impressive fashion. Marching forward, throwing powerful straight shots- even wobbling Font at one point, Figueiredo showed he has all the tools to be a true contender in the Bantamweight division. The outcome of this incredible matchup is rather difficult to predict as it truly depends which version of each fighter will show up on Saturday night.
Garbrandt should have a speed advantage and can look to counter Figueiredo while remaining patient- avoiding too many wild exchanges on the feet that may leave him open to be hit. However- we’ve seen Garbrandt struggle with durability in the past which is concerning as Figueiredo has serious knockout power and is willing to put himself in danger in order to find his opponents’ chin. Whether we see a devastating knockout from Figueiredo or a striking masterclass from Garbrandt, the fans are in for a high-level, action packed fight between two legends in the sport of MMA. Next up on the early prelims of UFC 300, we get to see a living legend and long-time veteran,
Jim F***ing Miller will face off against the always entertaining & beloved fan-favorite, Bobby “King” Green. If you were to open a dictionary and look up the phrase “UFC Fighter”, you’d see a photo of Jim Miller. The New Jersey native has fought on UFC 100, UFC 200 & is now scheduled to fight on the third iteration- UFC 300. That statement should alone be enough for a first ballot HOF vote however the 40 year-old has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Miller is currently on a two-fight winning streak with a nasty KO over Jesse Butler & Face Crank Submission over Gabriel Benitez earlier this year. With momentum on his side and all the experience in the world, Miller is poised to make a statement and secure an upset victory on Saturday night. However- Bobby Green is no stranger to the bright lights and is not the type of fighter to back down from any man. Green is coming into Saturday fresh off a brutal KO loss to Jailin Turner where we saw a highly controversial stoppage- in which Green took several unanswered blows before the referee finally stopped the fight. Fans have already begun to speculate whether the damage inflicted by Turner has had long-lasting effects on Green and question if he will be the same fighter moving forward. While there is definitely a chance these claims are valid, Bobby Green has always been a ‘game fighter’ and does not seem to be discouraged even though he’s acknowledged the widespread concern for his well-being. Regardless of these unknown factors, Bobby Green has always been a dynamic striker with serious knockout power. With a confusing, unorthodox style and an uncanny ability to use angles, Green has long been a problem for fellow lightweight contenders. However, I do see momentum playing a large factor & can see Miller finding a finish either on the feet or by submission should the fight hit the canvas.
Next up we move to the Women’s Strawweight division for a matchup between UFC Veteran, Jessica Andrade versus the always dangerous striker, Marina Rodriguez. Jessica Andrade has been an intimidating force in Women’s MMA since joining the UFC back in 2013. With devastating striking and unrivaled toughness, Andrade has found a great deal of success throughout her career, with wins over top competitors such as Raquel Pennington, Rose Namajunas & Amanda Lemos- to name a few. 2023 was a rough year for the UFC veteran, finding herself on the wrong side of a three fight losing skid however she was able to turn it around in a major way, rounding out the year with a TKO victory over Mackenzie Dern. Her opponent in Marina Rodriguez also has had her share of ups-and-downs during her stint under the UFC banner- losing to Amanda Lemos via TKO in 2022 followed by a decision loss to Virna Jandiroba last year. The Brazilian native got back in the winner’s column with a dominant performance against Michelle Waterston-Gomez, securing a TKO victory in the second round. While Rodriguez is a skilled and dangerous striker, Andrade certainly has the edge in power and may be more inclined to push the action on the feet since the grappling threat will not be present. However- Rodriguez is the taller, longer striker and can use that to her advantage against a shorter opponent in Andrade. Either way, this is one fight you do not want to miss as fans are in for a high-level striking affair that may very well end before the final bell.
Rounding out the early prelim portion of UFC 300, we see a fan-favorite and submission specialist in Renato “Money” Moicano take on Jalin “The Tarantula” Turner. This last minute addition to the already stacked UFC 300 card truly is one for the fans and is bound to produce a highlight reel finish no matter who emerges victorious. “Money” Moicano is quickly becoming a household name for UFC fans across the world. Known by most for his charismatic and viral post-fight speeches, Moicano has truly made the most of the platform given to him by the UFC. While his entry into the UFC in 2014 may have gone relatively unnoticed, Moicano has still been a solid addition to the 155 roster, securing wins over the likes of Calvin Kattar, Cub Swanson and Brad Riddell to name a few. However- Moicano will have a tough test on Saturday night as he goes up against one of the more underrated opponents in the 155 pound division in Jalin Turner. Turner has long flown under the radar when discussing potential title contenders in the lightweight division. Standing at a towering 6’3’’, Turner is typically longer than most any opponent and uses that to his advantage, throwing nasty kicks from the outside while keeping his opponents out of striking range. Even though his record of 14-7 may suggest the 28- year old has underperformed in his professional career, Turner is certainly one of the more talented fighters in the division- only losing to high-level competition such as Vincente Luque & Mateusz Gamrot respectively. While Moicano is a threat should the fight hit the ground, it may be difficult to secure a takedown on the longer opponent in Turner. Moicano will have to create chaos in the octagon, causing scrambles and creating any opportunity to implement his grappling game or else he may be in for a long night.
Yes- that was only the early prelims. The rest of the featured prelim bouts for UFC 300 are scheduled to begin at 7:00pm CST on ESPN+ and kick off with a highly anticipated Featherweight matchup between budding star, Diego Lopes versus #13 ranked, Sodiq Yusuff. Diego Lopes burst onto the scene after a viral debut performance against the undefeated contender, Mosvar Evloev. While Lopes did go on to lose the decision against Evloev, he showed he has what it takes to hang with the best in the world, staying with Evloev throughout all fifteen minutes- nearly securing multiple submissions throughout the bout. Lopes went on to win his next two fights, defeating Gavin Tucker via Armbar & Pat Sabatini via KO. Both of the Brazilian native’s finishes came in the first round, not to mention were in a span of less than two months apart. Lopes has quickly begun amassing a loyal fanbase and looks to break into the rankings with a win on Saturday night. However, Sodiq Yusuff has no plans of giving up his spot in the Featherweight rankings anytime soon. “Super” Sodiq Yusuff made his UFC debut back in 2018 and has since put together quite the resume within the organization. With a record of 7-2 under the UFC banner & an overall professional record of 13-3, Yusuff has proven he belongs among the top of the featherweight division. Yusuff is an all around complete fighter with very few holes in his overall game but has yet to have that breakout performance in the UFC that’s necessary before getting a marquee matchup. His two losses in the organization came in key matchups against Arnold Allen & Edson Barboza respectively and saw Yusuff be on the wrong side of a decision in both fights. However- the lights have never been brighter than the stage set for UFC 300 and it is the perfect opportunity for Yusuff to showcase his fighting ability on the biggest stage possible. While Yusuff may have more UFC experience than his opponent, Lopes has plenty of experience outside the organization- boasting a record of 23-6 & has momentum on his side going into Saturday night. Lopes will try to push the pace and is certainly live to give Yusuff his first loss in the UFC by way of finish whether by knockout or by way of submission.
Next fight on the prelims of UFC 300 is one of the most highly anticipated debuts in UFC history as we see PFL superstar, Kayla Harrison take on UFC legend, Holly Holm. Harrison has had quite the historic career thus far amassing an impressive record of 16-1 and has been a dominant force in the PFL’s WMMA division. Previously fighting up two whole weight-classes, Harrison is dropping down to Bantamweight for the first time and aims to make a huge statement against the beloved UFC veteran and legend of the sport, Holly Holm. If you have been a long-time fan of the UFC or combat sports in general, then the name Holly Holm should be a familiar one. With world class striking and all the experience you can ask for, Holm continues to be a force even at the tail-end of her hall-of-fame career. This matchup is more than likely going to be a contest between two disciplines: Striking vs. Grappling. It will be very interesting to see two of the best in the world in their own right go head-to-head in what is sure to be an amazing fight.
Then we move to the Featherweight division for a matchup between former Bantamweight champion and pound-for-pound king, Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling taking on the legendary veteran, Calvin Kattar. Sterling is moving up a division after losing his belt to Sean O’Malley last year and looks to make a statement at his new home of Featherweight. With top tier grappling and cardio for days, Sterling will look to implement his wrestling game early and often- looking for submission opportunities should he be able to secure a takedown. However- Kattar has long shown strong takedown defense and has proven this throughout his career, boasting an overall TDD of over 90%. If Sterling is unsuccessful in getting Kattar to the ground, we may see the better striker in Kattar start to pull away in the exchanges on the feet. Either way, this is an incredible matchup and should be an exciting fight from start to finish.
The featured prelim of UFC 300 is simply incredible and is truly a fight fans’ dream as former Light-Heavyweight champion, Jiri Prochazka squares off against Aleksander Rakic. Jiri Prochazka, most known for his unique approach to fighting which he attributes to his training in the ways of the ancient ‘Samurai’, is coming into this fight after suffering a TKO loss to the current 205 champion, Alex Pereira. In a recent interview, Jiri mentioned only training seriously for a week before fighting Pereira and vows to show his true capability against Rakic. However- it is no easy task to defeat Austria’s Aleksander Rakic. After being sidelined with injury since 2022, Rakic aims to pick-up right where he left off on his quest for UFC gold. With heavy kicks and a well-rounded skill-set, Rakic will be able to thrive wherever the fight may go. This fight is bound to produce fireworks as both fighters are going to be looking to cause destruction once the octagon doors close.
The main card of UFC 300 starts at 9:00pm CST and kicks off with budding star Middleweight contender, Bo Nickal taking on fellow 185 pound contender, Cody Brundage. Bo Nickal has stormed onto the scene after solidifying himself as one of the great collegiate wrestlers of all time. Relatively new to the sport of MMA, Nickal has ran through the competition in front of him and remains undefeated inside the octagon. Look for Bo to make yet another dominant statement under the bright lights of UFC 300!
Next up we have former 155 pound champion, Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira taking on the next big thing out of American Top Team, Arman Tsarukyan. Charles Oliveira has already solidified himself as a first ballot hall-of-fame fighter with his reign atop the ‘Murders Row’ that is the UFC Lightweight division. After falling short in his title bout against Islam Makhachev, do Bronx bounced back in a massive way- knocking out a top contender in Beneil Dariush last summer & aims to solidify himself as the number one contender with a win over Tsarukyan on Saturday night. Arman however has long been thought of as the next real threat to the champion as he possesses a similar, grappling-heavy style with brutal ground and pound as well as submissions. Arman looks to receive the title shot over do Bronx if he is able to emerge victorious at UFC 300.
We then move to the ‘People’s Main Event’ in a BMF Title bout between the current champion- Justin Gaethje who is taking on the Blessed express, Max “Blessed” Holloway. Holloway, who is moving up a weight division to compete for the BMF title, is a true ‘Goat’ of the sport of MMA. The proud Hawaiian native has given fans countless memories inside and outside the octagon & his love of the game garners adoration from UFC fans across the world. With a warrior mentality and unrivaled toughness, Max Holloway has continued to remind fans just why he deserves a shot at the BMF title. However- his opponent and current BMF champion, Justin Gaethje, is the other name that comes to mind when we discuss BMF’ers within the promotion. Gaethje is a game fighter- always pushing the ‘violent’ aspect of the game & causing destruction to whomever steps in his way. With his slick striking, power in both hands and a game that’s seemingly only improving with age- the BMF Champion has continued to show the fans just why he is the baddest man on the face of the planet. This fight is one where it is certainly difficult to chose a winning side and most fans are simply excited for the display of ‘beautiful violence’ that we are sure to receive come Saturday night.
The Co-Main event of UFC 300 is a never before seen matchup between two of the greatest Chinese fighters the promotion has ever seen: The current Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili taking on number one contender- Yan Xiaonan. Zhang Weili is nothing short of incredible and is sure to be inducted into the UFC hall-of-fame whenever she chooses to hang up the gloves for good. With a technically brilliant striking game and well-rounded skillset, Weili is sure to be a problem for any contender in her division. While Xiaonan is certainly a worthy adversary, she may find difficulty in finding a path to victory against an opponent who is strong in all areas of MMA. Regardless of the skill discrepancy, anything can happen once the octagon doors close and this is sure to be a fight that fans will remember for years to come.
Finally, we have reached the Main event of the historic event that is UFC 300, a Light Heavyweight matchup between the newly crowned champion, Alex “Poatan” Pereira & former LHW champion, Jamahal “Sweet Dreams” Hill. This matchup was quite the mystery to fans as it was thrown out there semi-last minute while the UFC scrambled to find a suitable bout. Poatan, fresh off a TKO win over Jiri Prochazka last year, is ready to get a decisive win on Saturday night with the hopes of being able to defend his title at UFC Brazil in a few months. This would give Pereira the record for fastest turnaround time of a current champion as well as the joy of performing on the biggest stage in front of his home nation of Brazil. However- Pereira will have his work cut out for him as Hill is certainly not an easy fight for anyone in the 205 pound division. Coming off an unfortunate Achilles injury, Jamahal Hill is fired up to return to action and reclaim the belt. Following his tragic injury, Hill made the decision to relinquish his title while he waited until he was healed and ready to return to action. While the current status of Hill’s gruesome injury is relatively unknown to fans, he claims he has been ready to go for months and it’s certainly not a potential hindrance on his path back to UFC gold. These two gladiators are sure to put on a show for the fans and I almost guarantee this one will not be needing the judges scorecards.
Comments