The UFC is set to have a huge year, with its 300th pay-per-view airing on April 13.
Of course, with 300 being a striking number, Dana White and the rest of the UFC made it their mission to stack the card. Whether it’s title fights, booking legends, or just pure unadulterated violence; it’s the biggest card the promotion has ever put together.
Although the event is in April, it’s a lot to look forward to.
Here’s a look and analysis of the UFC 300 card.
Main event: (LHW C) Alex Pereira (9-2) vs (#1 LHW) Jamahal Hill (12-1)
Current Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is set to have his first title defense against Jamahal Hill, who won the belt in early 2023 but had to vacate it due to a torn ACL.
This is guaranteed to be an amazing fight between two very skillful strikers, but the advantages seem to be on the champion’s side. This is because of his left hook and feared calf kicks, which are likely to be the deciding factor in a fight against someone who just recovered from a leg injury.
However, the ground advantage is in favor of Hill.
Freshman Mattias Hemmerle said: “Jamahal Hill is my pick to win because everyone loves a comeback story.”
Nonetheless, it’ll be a great fight, as well as a showcase for the top of the Light Heavyweight division.
(SW C) Zhang Weili vs (#1 SW) Yan Xiaonan
This fight is expected to be an absolute brawl of a women’s title fight. In this bout, we have two elite strikers going head to head with lots of damage to ensue.
Weili is a very dominant champion, while Yan is a rising contender that not many people have believed in.
This fight has the biggest odds differential on the card, being in favor of Zhang Weili. Although it isn’t one of the more interesting fights on the card, it still has the potential to be a banger.
(#2 LW) Justin Gaethje (25-4) vs (#2 FW) Max Holloway (25-7)
On a two-fight win streak of amazing fights, Gaethje looks to win one more to get another title shot, while Holloway is moving up to potentially beat yet another contender.
The reason this fight is so highly touted is that both opponents are serious fighters who have very well-respected striking. That being said, Gaethje is the favorite because of his aggressiveness, while Holloway usually starts slow, as well as this being Holloway’s first fight in the lightweight division.
(#1 LW) Charles Oliveira (34-9) vs (#4 LW) Arman Tsarukyan (21-3)
Charles Olivera vs Arman Tsarukyan is a highly anticipated contest with two fighters looking for their next title shot. Oliveira is a fan favorite who is the UFC’s all-time leader in finishes with 20, and he looks to get yet another one against Arman.
Arman is off the back of a three-fight win streak, while Charles is on a one-fight win streak, after losing to the lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. While Oliveira’s grappling may be too much for Tsarukyan, his opponent is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the UFC.
Arman is the betting favorite entering the fight, but it has the potential to be the best fight on the card regardless of the outcome.
(#2 LHW) Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1) vs (#5 LHW) Aleksander Rakic (14-3)
Another light heavyweight bout on the 300 card features two of the best fighters in the world expected to go to war.
Jiri Prochazka is one of the wildest fighters of all time, and although his unorthodox style has received some criticism over the years, it has no doubt resulted in success.
He’s a former champion, but recently had his first loss in the UFC to the main event of the card: Alex Pereira.
Rakic, on the other hand, hasn’t fought in a year and a half, following the injury against Jan Blachowicz. Rakic also has efficient striking, as well as solid groundwork, but he needs to keep his distance against Jiri otherwise the fight will end preemptively. This is the most intriguing fight for hardcore fans and it will deliver.