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Dana White is hoping to seal the deal on a Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler summertime matchup any day now, but don’t expect an official announcement later this evening (Sat., April 13, 2024) at UFC 300 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It goes without saying, but McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon is a pretty big deal. Despite not competing since suffering a broken leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier back in July 2021, “Notorious” remains the biggest star in combat sports today. McGregor has been ready and willing to book his official comeback fight against Chandler, but for one reason or another the promotion hasn’t been able to come to terms.

Rumors began to swirl last weekend that a potential McGregor vs. Chandler fight announcement would be revealed at WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event. Both UFC and WWE are now under the same umbrella so it made complete sense, especially considering the platform and outreach that WrestleMania has. Still, nothing was announced.

Fight fans then figured UFC would wait for this weekend’s massive UFC 300 card to unveil McGregor’s official return date. Chandler flew to Las Vegas hours before Thursday’s UFC 300 pre-fight press conference so fight fans thought the promotion could do a surprise announcement at that event. Still, nothing was announced.

On Friday, UFC president Dana White was interviewed by reporters following a Power Slap event in Las Vegas and was asked about McGregor vs. Chandler. The UFC CEO poured ice cold water on any rumors that McGregor and Chandler would have walked out on stage at the UFC 300 pre-fight presser to announce their matchup.

“They’re expecting them to walk out yesterday. It’s all internet bulls—t, like NBC news,” said White.

Without an announcement at WrestleMania 40 or during UFC 300’s fight week festivities, that only leaves tonight’s massive UFC 300 PPV card to reveal an official McGregor vs. Chandler fight. It seems like the most logical scenario considering UFC 300 is trending towards 1 million PPV buys, but according to White the promotion still needs to work out a deal with McGregor.

“I can honestly sit here right now and tell you we do not have a deal done for the Conor fight,” said White.

Despite whatever White says there’s still a really good chance that something is leaked tonight during the UFC 300 broadcast. It would be a complete miss for the promotion not to take advantage of the biggest combat stage of the year to announce the return of the biggest fighter in the game. Even McGregor is ready to make the announcement as the former UFC double champ took to social media Friday night to post the below:

“The fight is on! McGregor vs. Chandler! See you on the date I said,” wrote McGregor.

What do you think, fight fans? Will we finally get a McGregor vs. Chandler announcement later tonight during the UFC 300 broadcast? Or will this drama continue to drag along?

Sound off!

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 300 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive UFC 300 event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 300 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

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After months of mixed martial arts (MMA) sludge and a few decent events, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) remains in Las Vegas, Nevada, for UFC 300. It’s FINALLY here!

In the pay-per-view (PPV) main event, Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, defends the 205-pound strap against former division roost-ruler, Jamahal Hill, who never officially lost the belt (in the cage). In UFC 300’s co-main event, women’s Strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, takes on fellow countrywoman, Yan Xiaonan.

UFC 300 is the best card (see it here) that the promotion has ever put together and is absolutely stacked from the first “Prelims” undercard bout to the PPV main event. So, before it all goes down later this evening (Sat., April 13, 2023) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits and statistics ahead of showtime …

11,111

UFC 300 will take place 11,111 days after UFC 1, which took place on Nov. 11, 1993. The historic event will also be the 687th UFC fight card to take place.

(Not) UFC 300

UFC 300 is not the 300th-numbered event. In actuality, it is the 302nd-numbered event because three numbered events were canceled: UFC 151, UFC 176 and UFC 233. In addition, there were random .”5” events back in the day (e.g. UFC 35.5).

But, who really cares, right?

HISTORY

There are 12 former, interim and/or current UFC champions competing at UFC 300.

Phenomenal ‘Poatan’

In seven UFC fights, Pereira has become a UFC champion in two divisions, headlined Madison Square Garden (twice), defeated four former UFC champions, and is now headlining UFC 300.

When you really think about it, those accolades are genuinely incredible, especially since most of his combat sports career was in kickboxing.

Never Lost It

“Sweet Dreams” Hill never lost the Light Heavyweight championship, but he relinquished it after tearing his Achilles during 2023 International Fight Week.

Returning to competition after just nine months is a crazy feat, but Hill somehow pulled it off … right?

Hill is riding a four-fight win streak with three finishes.

Revenge For Coach

After Hill defeated Glover Teixeira for the vacant Light Heavyweight title (watch highlights), Pereira — who was in his coach’s corner — looked at Hill like he wanted to exact immediate revenge; fortunately, he waited until this weekend.

China Vs. China … In Vegas?

UFC 300’s co-main event features two fighters from China, but for some reason, they are not fighting in China. UFC has not been to China since 2019, when Zhang won the Strawweight title from Jessica Andrade (watch it).

The promotion was trying to return to China last year, but the event got canceled.

‘Magnum’ Back In Vegas

The last time Weili competed in “Sin City” was UFC 248 in 2020, which happened to be her iconic showdown with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Since then, the Chinese fighter has fought all over the world.

BMF!

The “Baddest Motherfu—er” (BMF) belt will make its third appearance at UFC 300. Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal battled for the inaugural belt at UFC 244 back in Nov. 2019. Then, it was revived at UFC 291 last year in Salt Lake City, Utah, between Dustin Poirier vs. Justin Gaethje.

Gaethje defends against Max Holloway.

Gambling A Title Fight Away?

Gaethje earned a Lightweight title shot last year with the epic Poirier knockout; however, instead of sitting on the sidelines and waiting for division champion, Islam Makhachev, Gaethje decided to gamble away his title shot this weekend. If he loses to Holloway, his Lightweight title shot is gone; however, with a win, he’s still in contention.

Lightweight Max

Holloway will be returning to Lightweight to challenge Gaethje for the “BMF” title after eight fights at Featherweight. The last time Holloway fought at Lightweight was against Poirier at UFC 236, losing a lopsided unanimous decision for UFC’s interim Lightweight championship.

Four Years

When Holloway steps in the cage on Saturday, it will literally be four years to the day from when “Blessed” last competed at Lightweight — UFC 236 (April 13, 2019).

Max Gets His Wish

Holloway has been asking for custom floral shorts for a few years now, and he got them for UFC 300.

Winner Gets Next

According to UFC CEO, Dana White, the winner of Arman Tsarukyan vs. Charles Oliveira will become the next title contender, so the stakes of the 155-pound bout are huge.

Oliveira got back into the win column by running through Beneil Dariush (watch it). Tsarukyan also starched Dariush in his last fight (see it), improving his win streak to three.

Massive Dog

UFC mega prospect, Bo Nickal, opens the PPV card against Cody Brundage. As of this writing, Brundage is one of the biggest underdogs in UFC history, going as high as +1100.

Nickal is a -2100 favorite, and while he’s not as big a favorite as he was in his second UFC fight, he is still a massive favorite.

‘Rocket’ Returns

It has been 22 months since Aleksandar Rakic tore his ACL against Jan Blachowicz at UFC Vegas 54. Before his injury, Rakic was climbing toward a Light Heavyweight title shot, but so much has changed since his injury, including two new champions.

Regardless, with a win at UFC 300, Rakic puts himself right back at the top of the division. “Rocket” faces Jiri Prochazka.

Samurai Mind Games

Rakic declared his fight with Prochazka for the “King of Europe” because both fighters reside in Europe (Rakic in Austria; Prochazka in Czech Republic).

At UFC 300 Media Day, Prochazka responded and said UFC 300’s showdown is not for the “King of Europe” and that Rakic talks too much, especially about Prochazka being a, “fake samurai.”

“He’s talking too much; he doesn’t know me,” Jiri said. “But, he will know who I am in the cage.”

Mr. Boston Returns

Calvin Kattar returns to action this week after a 17-month layoff. In his last fight against Featherweight contender, Arnold Allen, he destroyed his knee, requiring extensive rehab. Kattar secretly wanted to return at UFC 292, which took place in his hometown of Boston, Mass., but it was just a little too early.

Kattar is riding the first two-fight losing streak of his career.

Goodbye, Bantamweight

After 27 fights at Bantamweight (19 of them in UFC), Aljamain Sterling jumps to the Featherweight division after capturing the Bantamweight title (and destroying his body in the process).

And he looks great.

While we obviously won’t know until the fight starts on Saturday, an un-depleted Sterling could make a dent in the 145-pound division, and a fight with Kattar is a great test. It’s also fascinating because Sterling is a grappling ace, while Kattar boasts terrific takedown defense.

Welcome To UFC!

Only one fighter makes their UFC debut this weekend, former two-time Professional Fighters League (PFL) Lightweight champion, Kayla Harrison (16-1). The two-time Judo Olympian gold medalist holds a 76 percent finish rate with six knockouts and six submissions in MMA.

In addition to making her highly-anticipated debut, she is moving down to Bantamweight, two weight classes below her normal class (see her transformation here).

Harrison faces former Bantamweight champion, Holly Holm. And, with a win, she could jump the line and fight Raquel Pennington for the title.

Top 15 Opportunity

Just three fights into his UFC career, Diego Lopes will get another shot at the Top 15 Featherweight rankings as he takes on No. 13 Sodiq Yusuff. Lopes has been much watch television since entering the promotion on short notice against Movsar Evolev – receiving three “Performances of the Night” bonuses.

Lopes is riding a two-fight winning streak, while Yusuff is coming off his first main event loss against Edson Barboza.

Ranked Lightweights Clash

Jalin Turner puts his No. 10 Lightweight ranking on the line in the early “Prelims” headliner against No. 13-seeded, Renato Moicano.

Turner — fighting on his ninth-numbered UFC card — got back in the win column after destroying Bobby Green at UFC Austin (watch it). Meanwhile, Moicano is riding a two-fight win streak.

The winner of this fight will take a big step forward in UFC’s stacked Lightweight division.

Fighting Friends

Top-ranked women’s Strawweight contenders Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez throw down on the early “Prelims,” and it is interesting because they are friends and have been under the same management several times.

There have been several instances of friends fighting throughout the years, and while sometimes it seems like they are sparring, both Andrade and Rodriguez said at UFC 300 media day they are going to try to knockout each other because the Strawweight title scene is pretty wide open.

10 Years In The Making

Jim Miller vs. Bobby Green is finally happening (KNOCK ON WOOD). The two Lightweights have been scheduled three times before, but it has never happened; in fact, the first time the fight was booked was way back in 2014. UFC tried to book the fight again in 2021 and 2022; however, bad luck struck again.

While it has taken them 10 years to finally collide, the stakes are as high as ever because Green is defending his No. 14 ranking.

Trifecta

On Saturday, Miller will be the only fighter to have competed in UFC 100, UFC 200 and UFC 300. At UFC 100, he defeated Mac Danzig via unanimous decision, and then at UFC 200, Miller stopped Takanori Gomi in the first round.

Will they be going undefeated (3-0) at iconic events this weekend?

Ridiculous Curtain Jerker

In what will probably go down as the “Best First Fight of a UFC Fight Card Ever,” former Flyweight champion-turned ranked Bantamweight contender, Deiveson Figueiredo, takes on former Bantamweight kingpin, Cody Garbrandt.

Two former champions kicking off the card is just nuts … and it should be a banger.

Rebooked

Figueiredo vs. Garbrandt were initially supposed to collide at UFC 255 in a Flyweight title fight; however, the fight was scrapped because Garbrandt contracted COVID-19.

UFC 300 Fight Leader

The fighter with the most career fights competing at UFC 300 is Miller (57).

UFC Vegas 90 Fight Rookie

The fighter with the least amount of career fights competing at UFC 300 is Nickal (5).

UFC Vegas 90 Knockout King

The fighter with the most amount of career knockouts competing at UFC 300 is Prochazka (25).

UFC Vegas 90 Submission Savant

The fighter with the most amount of career submissions competing at UFC 300 is Oliveira (15).

Winners And Losers

Nineteen fighters are coming off wins, and six are coming off losses. One is coming off a dreaded “No Contest” (Holm).

Multi-Divisions

Here are the divisions that will be on display tonight:

• Two Light Heavyweight fights
• One Middleweight fight
• Four Lightweight fights
• Two Featherweight fights
• One Bantamweight fight
• One Bantamweight fight
• Two Women’s Strawweight fights

Beta Dog

According to DraftKings, UFC 300’s “biggest” underdog is Brundage at +900.

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.

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PFL Las Vegas is set to go down later TONIGHT (Fri., April 12, 2024) inside The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, kicking off the season for the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight hopefuls looking to secure a spot in the playoffs for a chance to win $ 1 million. Headlining the event is a 205-pound matchup between last year’s winner and current champion, Impa Kasanganay, taking on former Bellator MMA veteran, Alex Polizzi. In addition, Patricky Pitbull vs. Clay Collard will lock horns in a Lightweight bout, while Light Rob Wilkinson vs. Tom Breese will square up in another 205-pound showdown.

The event — which will stream on ESPN+ and ESPN 2 for United States-based viewers — while international mixed martial arts (MMA) fans can catch the action via DAZN starting at 6:30 p.m. ET.

PFL Las Vegas Quick Results:

205 lbs.: Impa Kasanganay vs. Alex Polizzi
205 lbs.: Rob Wilkinson vs. Tom Breese
155 lbs.: Clay Collard vs. Patricky Pitbull
155 lbs.: Mads Burnell vs. Michael Dufort – Dufort via second-round submission (guillotine)
205 lbs.: Sadibou Sy vs. Josh Silveira – Silveira via first-round TKO (knee injury)
205 lbs.: Antônio Carlos Júnior vs. Simon Biyong – Carlos Junior via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
205 lbs.: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov vs. Jakob Nedoh – Yagshimuradov via first-round knockout
155 lbs.: Bruno Miranda vs. Brent Primus – Primus via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)
155 lbs.: Gadzhi Rabadanov vs. Solomon Renfro – Rabadanov via unanimous decision
155 lbs.: Elvin Espinoza vs. Adam Piccolotti – Espinoza via third-round TKO
265 lbs.: Marcelo Nunes vs. Jordan Heiderman – Nunes via first-round submission (armbar)

PFL Las Vegas Main Card Highlights:

PFL

Impa Kasanganay vs. Alex Polizzi

Final result:

PFL

Rob Wilkinson vs. Tom Breese

Final result:

PFL

Clay Collard vs. Patricky Pitbull

Final result:

PFL

Mads Burnell vs. Michael Dufort

Final result: Dufort def. Burnell via second-round submission (guillotine)

PFL

Sadibou Sy vs. Josh Silveira

Final result: Silveira def. Sy via first-round TKO (knee injury)

PFL

Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Simon Biyong

Final result: Carlos Junior def. Biyong via first-round submission (rear-naked choke)

For all the latest PFL news and notes click here.

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Holly Holm expected UFC newcomer Kayla Harrison to “work hard” to make weight for their UFC 300 showdown, which takes place as part of the “Pereira vs. Hill” pay-per-view (PPV) event this Sat. night (April 13, 2024) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It certainly looked like hard work.

Harrison insists the process was not as daunting as it appeared, despite this video, and was part of a larger transformation from PFL lightweight champion to UFC bantamweight contender. In fact, dropping all the way down to 135 pounds made the two-time Olympic gold medalist “more violent.”

“This [experience] has built me and shaped me and molded me into an even more evolved, higher-operating version of myself,” Harrison, 33, said on UFC’s official weigh-in show. “The sacrifice, the stress. When you’re cutting weight, heat acclamation, you’re sitting in a sauna three times a week by yourself, with your thoughts. You’re doing extra cardio, you’re taking long walks, you’re on the bike for 90 minutes. You’re hungry. It’s like a different kind of hungry, and you’re sitting with your thoughts, and it makes you more violent.”

Speaking of violence, Harrison (16-1) has 12 finishes in 16 wins.

“I’ve just never really played easy or played it safe,” Harrison continued. “I feel like I’ve had a lot of success in my MMA career, I’ve been very blessed financially, I am happy with everything that I’ve done in my life. I’m a world champion, a two-time Olympic champion, I’ve won every tournament there is to win in judo, I’ve gotten plenty of money in the bank. But when I started MMA, the goal was to be UFC champion. And I had a year to think about if that was still my goal — and it is. I want to be UFC champion and I want to give it my all, and whatever happens, I’m okay with it. But I know I’m going to be UFC champion.”

Not if the current champ has anything to say about it (and she does).

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 300 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive UFC 300 event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 300 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

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UFC 300 is (almost) upon us.

It’s been something of a rollercoaster ride over the last few months, from the first announcement to the final fight, but none of that really matters at this stage of the game. Assuming everyone makes weight, and they should, there’s nothing left to do but fight. Leading the charge will be light heavyweight rivals Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill, taking top billing for UFC 300’s five-fight pay-per-view (PPV) main card. “Poatan” is hoping to defend his 205-pound strap against the returning “Sweet Dreams,” who was forced to surrender the crown when he blew out his Achilles tendon last summer. Considering the power at play in this light heavyweight contest, I think most of us will be shocked if Pereira vs. Hill lasts all five rounds. Heck, I’d be surprised to see it reach the third.

In the second of three title fights booked for tomorrow night (Sat., April 13, 2024) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, strawweight champion Zhang Weili will answer the call of top 115-pound contender Yan Xiaonan, who has five rounds to try and snatch the strap from “Magnum.” Also getting 25 minutes of championship airtime are Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway. “The Highlight” is putting his “BMF” belt up for grabs against the “Blessed” Hawaiian, who previously held gold at 145 pounds. In lightweight action, former division kingpin Charles Oliveira is tasked with turning away red-hot Russian bruiser Arman Tsarukyan in what is likely to decide the next challenger for Islam Makhachev’s 155-pound strap.

Before we break down UFC 300’s five-fight PPV main card, which gets underway with the middleweight contest pitting undefeated wrestling phenom Bo Nickal against venerable 185-pound veteran Cody Brundage, be sure to take a closer look at our comprehensive preview and predictions for tomorrow night’s UFC 300 preliminary undercard action on ESPN and ESPN+ by clicking here and here. The latest UFC 300 odds and a complete betting guide for the entire “Pereira vs. Hill” PPV lineup can be located here.

Let’s get to work.

205 lbs.: UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira (9-2) vs. Jamahal “Sweet Dreams” Hill (12-1)

Alex Pereira is already 2-0 at light heavyweight and currently holds the 205-pound title, but fight fans are still waiting for the kind of lights-out performance that established “Poatan” as one of the scariest strikers at 185 pounds. Remember that showstopper against Sean Strickland? Instead, we’ve got a split decision against Jan Blachowiz at UFC 291 followed by an early stoppage opposite Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 — both of which followed a knockout loss to Israel Adesanya. Simply put, there’s good reason some Pereira fans are nervous heading into the UFC 300 main event. Let’s also not overlook the fact that “Poatan” turns 37 in July and spent nearly a decade competing on the kickboxing circuit before transitioning to MMA. It may seem like I’m sounding the alarm too early for a guy who is 6-1 in UFC with four knockouts, but we’re talking about the tippy top of the division and there’s very little margin for error — or competitive decline. Fortunately for Pereira, he’s still got a cannon for a left hand, giving him one-punch knockout power at any point in the fight.

Jamahal Hill knows a thing or two about power, having slept five of his eight opponents. I’m including Klidson Abreu in that body count despite the “No Contest,” because a goofy marijuana metabolite did nothing to help “Sweet Dreams” turn off the lights. I know the pre-fight banter from his coaches has Hill “levels above” Pereira in the striking department, which has me convinced they missed the bus (or fell asleep) during his Thiago Santos win, one of the ugliest light heavyweight fights within the last five years. More impressive was his systematic breakdown of Glover Teixeira to win the light heavyweight title at UFC 283, which he would later surrender due to injury. G-Tex was already 43 by that point and probably not the best matchup for a massive striker like Hill, who stands 6’4” and boasts a 79” reach (identical to Pereira, who is also a southpaw). That was the last time we saw the former Dana White’s “Contender Series” standout, an injury layoff of nearly 15 months.

This is where it gets tricky.

Pereira is fighting a striker who is just as big and powerful and is not afraid to throw bombs. That could present a serious problem for the Brazilian because of his upright stance and porous defense. “Poatan” was able to get away with some of that incoming fire at middleweight (Adesanya notwithstanding), but this is far more dangerous division in terms of power. I can easily see Hill walking through Pereira’s low kicks and dropping the hammer. On the other hand, it feels reckless to pick the upset when the challenger is coming off such a long period of inactivity, especially considering the nature of his setback. An achilles tear is one of the most brutal injuries in sports and Hill is returning ahead of schedule against a lethal weapon. Is the “Sweet Dreams” camp going to convince me that Hill was able to train for five rounds of cardio while also rehabbing a torn achilles? I hope not, because I would not believe them.

Remember, this fight was booked less than two months ago.

That’s pretty much the story behind tomorrow night’s headliner. If Hill is going to prevail, he’s going to land a devastating punch and faceplant Pereira in the opening frame. If not, “Poatan” is going to wear him down and wait for “Sweet Dreams” to run out of gas (which shouldn’t take long), then unleash hell. I wouldn’t bet this fight because both combatants have bombs in their gloves, but if I did, I would probably bet against the fighter who was still on crutches at the beginning of the year.

Prediction: Pereira def. Hill by technical knockout

115 lbs.: UFC Strawweight Champion Zhang “Magnum” Weili (24-3) vs. Yan “Fury” Xiaonan (18-3)

If you were a strawweight preparing for a Zhang Weili title fight, your coaches would probably hire Yan Xiaonan as your main training partner for the duration of your camp. That’s because “Fury” is like the Kirkland brand Weili, which sounds like an insult, but it’s more of a compliment for the champion who is a unique and special talent. I don’t know if fans appreciate what they have right now but I guarantee they’ll miss her when she’s gone. “Magnum” has scored three straight performance bonuses and boasts five within the last four years, including her legendary “Fight of the Night” against the since-retired Joanna Jedrzejczyk. It’s a shame Rose Namajunas didn’t stick around for a third fight but I guess the call of the flyweight title was too much to resist.

I mention “Thug” because her absence helped get the assembly line up and running again, clearing the path for contenders like Xiaonan. “Fury” didn’t look great in consecutive losses to Carla Esparza (UFC Vegas 27) and Marina Rodriguez (UFC 272), but she bounced back with a majority decision win over Mackenzie Dern (UFC Vegas 61) before blowing the doors off former champion Jessica Andrade at UFC 288. Smashing “Bate Estaca” landed Xiaonan at No. 1 in the official UFC rankings, though part of me wonders if she would have secured that spot had Tatiana Suarez not missed nearly four years of her competitive prime. Nevertheless, Xiaonan is here and ready to capture the crown, boasting eight knockouts in 18 wins. That’s the good news. The bad news is that seven of them came on the international circuit against crash test dummies like Xiaoying Wang and Omnia Gamal, who are a combined 0-4 in professional MMA. Under the UFC banner, “Fury” has been to the judges’ scorecards in seven of her eight wins.

That’s not gonna cut it against a power-punching killer like Weili.

“Magnum” is like the Justin Gaethje of women’s strawweight in that her only goal is to create as much damage as possible and win the fight through extreme violence. Also like Gaethje, she can be caught and put out to pasture like she was against Namajunas. That would require Xiaonan to have the sort of standup “Thug” did or train under a coach as talented as Trevor Wittman and she’s 0-2 on that front. Overlooking the Esparza loss, the challenger is a tough, durable fighter who at 34, is the same age as the champion. She is not, however, the same fighter as Weili and I expect her to get her ass kicked for the better part of five rounds. Whether or not she keeps from getting finished all depends on how long she can stay on her bicycle, because “Magnum” is not going to take her foot of the gas until the final bell.

Prediction: Weili def. Xiaonan by decision

155 lbs.: BMF Champion Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (25-4) vs. “Blessed” Max Holloway (25-7)

BMF champion Justin Gaethje, much like Dustin Poirier before him, had two opportunities to capture the lightweight crown and came up empty in both attempts, getting strangled by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 before tapping to Charles Oliveira at UFC 274. Despite those missteps, Gaethje remains ranked No. 2 at 155 pounds, based on his ability to lay waste to some of the bigger names in the division, like Poirier and Rafael Fiziev. But his recent success and legendary “Highlight” reel has also helped gloss over some of his shortcomings. Gaethje was knocked out by “The Diamond” at UFC on FOX 29 and got kneed into oblivion by Eddie Alvarez at UFC 218. Let’s also remember that Gaethje was saved by the bell when Tony Ferguson nearly decapitated him with a Shoryuken in the second round of their UFC 249 bloodbath. Yes, Max Holloway is a natural featherweight. He also lands a staggering 7.17 strikes per minute and holds the UFC record for significant strikes connected at 3197 — well over a thousand more than the next highest competitor. 445 of those significant strikes landed on the face of Calvin Kattar at UFC Fight Island 7, but that’s a story for a different column.

There’s not much we can say about Holloway that hasn’t already been said. He’s one of the greatest featherweights of all time and a first-ballot hall of famer, even though UFC doesn’t cast ballots or have a voting committee, it’s basically just “We can monetize this fighter’s legacy and give them a fancy gold trophy in return.” For this contest, Holloway will get the fight he loves the most, an all-action striking battle. Despite his many merits, it’s hard to build a case for the upset (Holloway is the +135 underdog) when you consider his last trip to lightweight ended in a fairly-convincing loss to Poirier, back when “Blessed” had less wear-and-tear on his body. In terms of durability, Holloway’s chin is legendary and he’s survived some pretty epic wars over the years and sooner or later that chin is going to crack. Will it be in this fight? I’m not sure there’s a better fighter at creating damage than Gaethje, so this will have to become a technical battle for the 32 year-old Hawaiian. That’s not what the “BMF” belt is all about and Holloway probably shouldn’t care, but I have a feeling he does and will want to deliver the kind of car crash we’re all secretly (and in many cases openly) hoping for.

It’s not outrageous to think Holloway can win this contest because defensively, Gaethje makes a lot of mistakes. Even when he doesn’t, every attack leaves you vulnerable to a counterattack. I just have trouble believing Gaethje won’t be able to dominate this fight with his power, and we haven’t even talked about his punishing leg kicks. Expect Holloway to put forth a valiant effort and once again demonstrate his warrior spirit, but as the fight drags on and the damage adds up, I think the referee is going to be forced to stop this, not unlike the Ferguson finish.

Prediction: Gaethje def. Holloway by technical knockout

155 lbs.: Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira (34-9, 1 NC) vs. Arman “Ahalkalakets” Tsarukyan (21-3)

There’s been a lot of talk over the last few weeks about lightweight title shots, with Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje the top two names being bandied about. That comes as a bit of a surprise when you consider Charles Oliveira finished them both by rear-naked choke in consecutive title fights back in late 2021 (Poirier) and early 2022 (Gaethje). You can argue that Oliveira had his shot at UFC 294 and blew it (if you believe this narrative), which is why he got booked to compete at UFC 300, but let’s also acknowledge that “Do Bronx” is 12-1 dating back to late 2017 with 11 finishes, remains ranked at No. 1 in the lightweight division, and is coming off a violent, first-round ass kicking of Beneil Dariush at UFC 289. You can also argue that his one loss came against a fighter who is basically Arman Tsarukyan with a five-year head start. If you’re an Oliveira fan, there’s certainly a reason to be anxious about that performance repeating itself at UFC 300, which has more to do with style than ability.

When Tsarukyan lost to Makhachev at UFC St. Petersburg, “Ahalkalakets” was just 22 years old and making his Octagon debut. Since then, the Russian powerhouse has put together an 8-1 record and is currently riding a three-fight winning streak, which includes his destruction of the aforementioned Dariush at UFC Austin to close out his 2023 fight campaign. We must also acknowledge that Tsarukyan is not a boring, lay-and-pray wrestler who grinds his way to the scorecards, having secured four knockout/technical knockout stoppages in his last five wins. In addition, half his fights in UFC have returned post-fight performance bonuses, including two “Fight of the Night” honors. Chicken feed when compared to the 19 bonuses held by Oliveira (a UFC record), but “Do Bronx” has also been competing inside the Octagon since summer 2010 — when Tsarukyan was just 13 years old. Regardless, Oliveira has dreadful takedown defense, getting dragged to the floor in about one out of every two attempts (55 percent). On top of that, “Do Bronx” will only have 15 minutes to create an opportunity, which is difficult to do when you’re on your back getting blasted by a younger, fresher opponent.

Oliveira is taller and holds a longer reach. He also hits with power, something that will no doubt be on the mind of Tsarukyan whenever they spend any time on the feet. I’m less concerned with what happens on the ground because “Ahalkalakets” is too polished to silver-platter an arm or overextend and get caught in a triangle choke. It’s hard to bet against Tsarukyan, the -225 betting favorite, because of his ability to neutralize the Brazilian. Add to that the nearly 30 takedown he’s racked up over the last five years and this feels like a rout from bell-to-bell. I think Oliveira hangs on to the end, but anything less than 30-27 across the board would surprise me.

Prediction: Tsarukyan def. Oliveira by decision

185 lbs.: Bo Nickal (5-0) vs. Cody Brundage (10-5)

Bo Nickal returns for just his third UFC fight by landing a coveted spot on the UFC 300 PPV main card, which seemed to be a major point of contention for fickle fight fans. I’m not sure I understand what the problem is because this is not like the old days when “Prelims” were untelevised so any contest that coughed up main card real estate can still be seen on ESPN — for free — so who gives a shit about the bout order?

Nickal is being pushed because the promotion believes he’s the future of the division and based on what we’ve see thus far from the collegiate wrestling phenom, that prediction appears to be holding up. That said, we still don’t know if Nickal is special or just another elite-level wrestler who is mopping the floor with C-level fighters (no disrespect to the Val Woodburns of the world but c’mon). I would also argue that most wrestlers with Nickal’s credentials could probably saw through half the roster just with their wrestling because takedowns are such a potent weapon. Working in Nickal’s favor is the fact that he’s training at American Top Team and getting carte blanche from owner Dan Lambert, who like the UFC brass, has been around long enough to know what money smells like.

For his UFC 300 assignment, Nickal draws battle-tested veteran Cody Brundage, a tough but somewhat unremarkable middleweight who continues to demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of MMA, though his 4-4 record inside the Octagon — coupled with his unsuccessful stint on Dana White’s “Contender Series” back in late 2020 — leaves a lot to be desired. During the UFC 300 media day (watch it here), Brundage made several good points about his opponent, pointing out that Nickal has never been tested or shown that he can handle adversity inside the cage because he’s been bowling with bumpers. The counter to that claim, is whether or not Brundage can be the one to force Nickal into a bad position or create the kind of chaos that would erode the former Nittany Lion’s steely confidence.

Probably not.

Until proven otherwise, a Bo Nickal fight lives and dies on his takedowns, which means Brundage will need to find a way to remain upright across the course of 15 minutes of action. We’ve seen aging Olympic wrestlers like Henry Cejudo and Yoel Romero get outwrestled in the past, but Nickal is still just 28 years old and operating in his athletic prime. It’s also worth pointing out that Brundage was taken down four times in his loss to Nick Maximov — a standout wrestler in both high school and college — at UFC 266 back in late 2021. No doubt Brundage has improved since then, but enough to stymie someone as decorated as Nickal? I don’t really see anything on paper that screams “upset” and the idea of Brundage landing a one-hitter quitter is about as plausible as Nickal blowing out his knee or some other out-of-the-blue outcome.

There’s a reason Brundage is one of the biggest underdogs in UFC history.

Prediction: Nickal def. Brundage by submission

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 300 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive UFC 300 event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 300 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

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Still can’t sleep? Watch history-making fights (again)!

As UFC 300 approaches this weekend (Sat., April 13, 2024) in Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s crucial to revisit another monumental pay-per-view (PPV) event in the promotion’s history: UFC 200. Taking place on July 9, 2016, UFC 200 was a landmark occasion that featured some of the biggest names in the sport.

Literally.

At the heart of UFC 200 was a highly-anticipated rematch between bitter rivals, Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, for UFC’s Light Heavyweight championship. However, just days before the event, Jones was pulled from the fight because of a potential anti-doping violation, casting a shadow over the event. In his place, Anderson Silva — a former Middleweight champion and mixed martial arts (MMA) legend — stepped up on short notice to face Cormier in a non-title bout. Despite the circumstances, Cormier delivered a dominant performance, out-classing Silva over three rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory.

Another highlight of UFC 200 was the women’s Bantamweight title fight between Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes. Tate — coming off a stunning upset victory over Holly Holm to claim the title (watch highlights) — faced a tough challenge in “Lioness,” a ferocious striker known for her knockout power. In a back-and-forth battle, Nunes proved to be the superior fighter, overwhelming Tate with her aggressive striking and securing a first-round submission victory to capture the women’s Bantamweight belt.

It was great.

In addition, UFC 200 featured a Heavyweight clash between Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt in a bout that marked Lesnar’s return to the Octagon after a five-year hiatus. Despite concerns about Lesnar’s layoff and Hunt’s formidable striking, Lesnar showcased his trademark wrestling dominance, controlling the fight with his grappling en route to a unanimous decision victory.

And a lengthy court battle.

Outside of the marquee matchups, UFC 200 also saw several memorable moments, including a thrilling Featherweight bout between Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar for the interim title, which “Scarface” won via unanimous decision.

Despite last-minute changes and insane setbacks, the event delivered unforgettable moments and showcased the talent and determination of the athletes involved. Looking ahead to UFC 300, fans can expect another electrifying showcase of world-class MMA talent and thrilling matchups.

Leaps and bounds better than UFC 200?

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

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The UFC 300 spectacle is in full effect.

UFC CEO, Dana White, was feeling extra generous at the pre-fight press conference today (Thurs., April 11, 2024). The midway point of the event’s main card features the highly anticipated Baddest Motherf—ker (BMF) title fight that pits top Lightweight contender and champion, Justin Gaethje, against former Featherweight champion, Max Holloway. Ahead of the bout, Gaethje offered up the idea of boosting the event bonuses to $ 300,000, which White agreed to.

The pair of thrilling combatants also expressed their interest in having the recently heroic UFC Hall of Famer and former Heavyweight champion, Mark Coleman, present the title on fight night. White had no issue making that request a reality either, saying it was “done” immediately upon request at the presser, as seen in the embedded player above.

Coleman, 59, saved his parents from a house fire last month (March 12, 2024). “The Hammer” fell into critical condition and was on life support thanks to his heroics. In the end, he made the ultimate comeback and was in good condition a few days later.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 300 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive UFC 300 event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 300 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

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I guess he was secure after all.

If reigning bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley thought he was safe from the vengeance of former 135-pound titleholder Aljamain Sterling, simply because “Funk Master” fled to the featherweight class, then “Suga” is in for a rude awakening when Sterling captures his second crown in as many weight classes.

It all starts with a victory over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300 on Sat. night (April 13) in Las Vegas.

“I think if Max [Holloway] goes out there and he wins, I go out there and I win, and I look good doing it — Ilia Topuria already said what he said,” Sterling told reporters during the UFC 300 media day. “He says there’s no challengers, so why not just skip the line instead of getting in a tough gauntlet of a queue. The UFC, they do what they want, right? So if they offer you a title fight, you’d be kind of crazy to tell them no. So, if I go out there do my job, I look good on a huge, massive card, the rest will take care of itself.”

Holloway claims Topuria, current featherweight champion, brushed off a “Blessed” bout.

“I would lie if I said it didn’t bother me,” Sterling said about his knockout loss to O’Malley. “It’s not like O’Malley’s a bad fighter, he’s a really good fighter. I just think the timeline was very fitting for him. I would like to get that one back, especially if I can win the belt at 145. He’s talking about, ‘Oh, I wanna go get the jet and go to Spain.’ Bro, worry about Merab first, and let me worry about Calvin. If I get through Calvin and I can win the belt again, I would love to get that one back on that skinny guy.”

Teammate Merab Dvalishvili may beat him to the punch later this year.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 300 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight veterans Aljamain Sterling and Calvin Kattar will throw down this weekend (Sat., April 13, 2024) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 300.

Sterling exceeded expectations of many by winning Bantamweight gold and defending his throne three times before getting clipped by Sean O’Malley last year. Now, he looks to turn over a new leaf by jumping into the Featherweight mix at 34 years of age. Meanwhile, Kattar has been struggling. He’s lost two in a row via odd means: an exploded knee and controversial split-decision. The bottom line, however, is that Kattar hasn’t won a fight since January 2022 and is coming off a long injury layoff. The boxer really needs a win!

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Photo by Ed Mulholland/Getty Images

Sterling vs. Kattar Betting Odds

• Calvin Kattar victory: +135
• Calvin Kattar via TKO/KO/DQ: +500
• Calvin Kattar via submission: +3000
• Calvin Kattar via decision: +275
• Aljamain Sterling victory: -170
• Aljamain Sterling via TKO/KO/DQ: +900
• Aljamain Sterling via submission: +450
• Aljamain Sterling via decision: +120
• Draw: +5000
• Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Sterling Wins

Sterling is one of the sport’s very best backpacks. He’s a tremendous wrestler with funky finishes and transitions, and he’s parlayed his wrestling background into a dangerous submission game. On the feet, Sterling is a high-volume kickboxer who throws punches-in-bunches.

Sterling at Featherweight is an unknown. On one hand, he was a massive Bantamweight who definitely will not be small for his new division. At the same time, physicality is such a huge factor in dragging opponents to the floor, and Sterling’s typical range advantage was fundamental to his success on the feet.

Up a division, Sterling has to make some changes. The takedowns are going to be more difficult to come by, so he has to make better use of his speed on the feet. In-and-out movement is going to be essential in landing without getting hit, and Sterling’s takedown entries have to come off that movement rather than pure strength.

A fast start might be wise too. Why let Kattar settle back into action after so long away?

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

How Kattar Wins

Kattar is one of the division’s finest boxers. He has a really nasty jab that can dictate the course of a fight on its own, but his follow-up right hand is more than capable of putting opponents down for the count. Historically, he’s incredibly hard to take down as well.

I’d like to see a lot of pressure from Kattar here. Frankly, I think he should revive the Giga Chikadze game plan. Obviously, Chikadze and Sterling don’t fight anything like one another, but pressure and constant offense still feels like the best solution for Kattar. Why? Because getting outpointed by Sterling feels like a greater threat than being outwrestled.

Kattar is used to shucking off takedown attempts from bigger wrestlers like Zabit Magomedsharipov, Renato Moicano, and Ricardo Lamas — he can handle Sterling’s shot. The speed and volume of the former champion is a more serious worry, because Sterling knows how to puts up a ton of numbers at range.

If Kattar makes it a dogfight with his own combinations, calf kicks, and close distance elbows, however, he can try to bully the smaller man and force him into a different style of fight.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Sterling vs. Kattar Prediction

There are a lot of unknowns in this match up. How will Sterling look at 145 pounds? How is Kattar going to move after his knee injury and extended layoff? We have two unknown quantities meeting in a high-profile and important fight that will serve as a crossroads bout for each.

To me, all those unknowns somewhat cancel each other out. I’m left feeling Calvin Kattar will still perform well and that Sterling will be reasonably effective as a Featherweight. In that case, the style match up seriously favors Kattar, who is just incredibly difficult to take down.

At Bantamweight, Sterling could use his height and reach to out-volume opponents (like Pedro Munhoz) when the takedowns didn’t materialize. Unless Kattar is severely rusty and flat, he’s too sharp and powerful of a striker to let that happen, particularly since Sterling’s punches have never carried much heat.

If Kattar tries to bully Sterling, what does “Funkmaster” do to stop him? I haven’t come up with a good answer.

Prediction: Calvin Kattar via decision (+275)

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).

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Islam Makhachev is currently on a 13-fight win streak, holds the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight championship and has proven to be one of the most dominant fighters in the sport.

But, is he a big star? According to Bobby Green, he can be bigger.

“King” was asked to give his thoughts on the upcoming “BMF” title fight between Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway during UFC 300 Media Day earlier this week. Green was quick to give props to both men, who will collide on UFC 300’s pay-per-view (PPV) main card this weekend (Sat., April 13, 2024) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And he was more specific about Holloway, who loves to take risks to enhance his star power … unlike Makhachev.

“I am happy for both of those guys, those are two of my favorites, true warriors and guys that truly stand on their heels, guys that go out there and put great fights on,” Green said. “Those are brothers of the sport and I am happy for them.

“Max is a perfect example of what my code is, and that is to jump on every opportunity,” Green continued. “When you see us, we are trying to fight as much as we can. We are trying to fight all of the time and stay in front of that before our time is up. So, you have to respect that about him.”

Then Green was just shooting strays toward Makhachev … again.

“The other guys like Islam, taking their time with stuff,” Green said. “Nah, if you want to be that star, that guy, you have to go out there and take those risks. Guys like Volkanovski, another guy who goes out there and takes those risks.

“And sometimes you may come up short but f—k it, I did what you motherf—kers were too pussy to do,” Green concluded.

Holloway tends to agree.

One of the risks Green is referring to is his willingness to step in to face Makhachev on just two weeks notice back in Feb. 2022 after Beneil Dariush bowed out of the fight with an ankle injury.

Makhachev defeated “King” in the first round (video here).

The Lightweight champion hasn’t competed since he knocked out the aforementioned Volkanovski at UFC 294 in Oct. 2023 (see it again here), his second win over the former Featherweight champion. Interestingly enough, it was a big risk “The Great” took, too, replacing Charles Oliveira on short notice after he withdrew with an injury.

What say you, does Green — who will face Jim Miller at UFC 300 — have a point … or is Makhachev’s slow and steady pace a smarter approach?

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To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive UFC 300 event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 300 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

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