UFC 300 will be here before we know it, and everyone seems to have an idea of what the historic UFC pay-per-view event should look like. With Conor McGregor announcing he’s fighting Michael Chandler in June, the main event — along with the full supporting cast — remains a mystery. So what would be your ideal UFC 300 lineup?
On a special edition of Heck of a Morning (in the afternoon), MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck takes your UFC 300 fight card suggestions. Additionally, he’ll answer your questions about anything and everything as it relates to the crazy world of MMA, interim champ Tom Aspinall tweeting his thoughts about Stipe Miocic getting a title shot vs. Jon Jones over him, whether or not Nick Diaz should return at UFC 300, and more.
You can watch the show in the video above. Listen live to Heck of a Morning Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 10 a.m. ET on the MMA Fighting Twitter Spaces, or listen to the audio-only version of the program below, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
In a scathing breakdown of the recent inactivity of former two-time heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, interim UFC titleholder, Tom Aspinall has campaigned once more for a title unification bout with fellow gold holder, Jon Jones, claiming the duo should clash to determine who is the best in the weight class right now.
Aspinall, who has been sidelined since November, took co-main event honors at UFC 295 in Madison Square Garden, landing the interim heavyweight title with a blistering opening round knockout win over dominant Russian striker, Sergei Pavlovich.
And in the time since, Atherton native, Aspinall has staked his claim tirelessly for a title unification clash with Jones – who remains sidelined through recovery after undergoing a surgical procedure in order to address a pectoral tendon tear.
However, despite Aspinall’s clamouring, UFC CEO, Dana White insisted the promotion would not abandon a planned title fight between Jones and Miocic later this year.
Pointing to Ohio veteran, Miocic’s recent sidelining since early 2021, Aspinall poked fun at the time the ex-champion has spent away from the sport, waiting for a title fight with Jones.
“Last time Stipe (Miocic) fought and won, GTA: San Andreas had just come out on PS2,” Tom Aspinall posted on his official X account. “He will fight next for the undisputed heavyweight title, ahead of me, who’s the interim champ, active and ranked number one in the world right now. This makes me quite upset.”
Last time Stipe fought and won, GTA: San Andreas had just come out on PS2. He will fight next for the undisputed heavyweight title, ahead of me, who’s the interim champ, active and ranked #1 in the world right now. This makes me quite upset
— Tom Aspinall (@AspinallMMA) January 4, 2024
Tom Aspinall stakes claim for Jon Jones fight next
And once more attempting to land himself a title fight with Jones in a unification bout, Aspinall stated that he wanted to determine who was the best heavyweight on the planet – labelling himself as just that.
“Stipe is one of my favorites,” Tom Aspinall posted. “Loads of respect to him, his résumé is far superior to mine rn (right now). That being said the UFC has never been about this. It’s about who’s the best right now, and I believe that’s me and it’s only right I get to prove it. #FreeAspinall.”
Stipe is one of my favourites. Loads of respect to him his Résumé is far superior to mine rn. That being said the UFC has never been about this. It’s about who’s the best right now, and I believe that’s me and it’s only right I get to prove it #freeaspinall
— Tom Aspinall (@AspinallMMA) January 4, 2024
Who wins in a future title unification bout: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?
A matchup pitting the former UFC middleweight champion against Bruno Silva is being targeted for UFC Atlantic City, which takes place March 30 at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. MMA Fighting confirmed the targeted bout with sources close the situation on Friday following an initial report by Laerte Viana, however the matchup has yet to be finalized.
Weidman (15-7) once again seeks to return from injury after suffering a fracture in his leg midway through his August 2023 loss to Brad Tavares. That bout was Weidman’s first following a 28-month layoff, the result of a devastating leg break Weidman suffered just 17 seconds into his April 2021 matchup against Uriah Hall.
In total, the 39-year-old former champion has dropped four of his past five fights and seven of his past nine since his title reign ended with a knockout loss to Luke Rockhold in 2015.
Silva (23-10) has also fallen on hard times as of late. The 34-year-old Brazilian has lost four of his past five bouts, sandwiching a win over Tavares between losses to Alex Pereira, Brendan Allen, Gerald Meerschaert, and most recently Shara Magomedov.
Prior to that slump, Silva kicked off his UFC run with a trio of stoppage wins, two of which ended in the first round.
MMA Fighting’s Guiherme Cruz and Damon Martin contributed to this report.
He got destroyed and was so bad he actually had his fans turn against him. His comments on Leon were disgusting so much that most Americans wanted him to lose.
What a strange fight. All that hype just to get leg kicked into oblivion and look scared all fight. Leon completely outclassed him, and Colby waited all the time to get a title fight just to get destroyed.
Karma works in strange ways and Colby saying he would take Leon’s dad to the seventh layer of hair really backfired. Calling out wonderboy was sad
Conor McGregor | Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images
Conor McGregor could add another feat to his impressive résumé in his next fight.
“The Notorious” recently announced that he is fighting Michael Chandler at the UFC’s International Fight Week event on June 29, noting that he expects the bout to take place at 185 pounds. The UFC has not officially announced the matchup, but Chandler has replied that he welcomes a fight with McGregor in any weight class.
Sean O’Malley discussed the news on an episode of his TimboSugarShow, expressing his excitement at the possibility of McGregor owning highlight-reel knockouts in four divisions.
“I feel like he might be fiddling, I think he’s just trying to — I don’t know,” O’Malley said. “I wonder if that really … Chandler probably walks around max 185. Conor, probably 190, whatever. Interesting matchup there at 185, and if he knocks out Chandler at 185, he’ll have a knockout at ‘45, knockout at ‘55 … Donald Cerrone, knockout at ‘70, knockout at 185. That would be legendary.”
McGregor’s list of knockout victims is extensive, with finishes of Jose Aldo, Dustin Poirier, and Chad Mendes at featherweight, Eddie Alvarez at lightweight, and Donald Cerrone at welterweight. However, the former two-division champion has been a non-factor inside the octagon the past few years, with just one win since 2016.
Other fighters who have scored knockout victories in more than two UFC divisions include Vitor Belfort and Jared Cannonier.
Should McGregor return to action on the announced date, it will be his first fight in almost three years. He most recently lost a trilogy bout against Poirier after suffering a broken leg that left him unable to compete after the opening round.
Muhammad is mentally prepared for another Ramadan training camp if that’s what he needs to do for a fight against Leon Edwards at UFC 300.
Is Belal Muhammad going to headline UFC 300 against welterweight champion Leon Edwards? If he is, he’s keeping quiet about it at the moment.
Leon recently announced that he’d be defending his title at UFC 300. Belal, currently on a 9-fight win streak, certainly seems like the obvious No. 1 contender. “Remember The Name” spoke about the match-up on his video podcast, Remember The Show.
“The last conversation we had with Dana, we got next, so we know we’re next, it’s just figuring out the dates,” Muhammad said. “You’ve got Leon and his team trying to avoid me, but there’s no avoiding. If he wants to fight at UFC 300, I’m down with it. Like I said, nothing was ever given to me easy, so if it is during Ramadan? Bro, I’ve done four or five camps during it. It isn’t going to be an issue and only going to make the story sweeter.”
Not only is Muhammad prepared to train through Ramadan (which runs from March 10th to April 9th, with UFC 300 on April 13th), he’s also getting ready to travel to Dagestan to train with Islam Makhachev and perhaps even Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I’m definitely working on stuff right now, the visa and stuff to go down there and train with the guys,” he said. “Any chance I get to work with them, it’s another level. So talking with him, talking with the guys over there, coming down to get some work in over there, I plan on getting at least four to five weeks down there early since we got so much time before the fight.”
Belal Muhammad spent part of his UFC 280 training camp in Dagestan, and it led him to his impressive second round TKO of Sean Brady.
“Working with the Dagestanis, working with Khabib, getting the knowledge from Islam and these guys, it only makes you that much better,” he said.
We’ll still have to wait for official confirmation that Belal Muhammad is Leon Edwards’ opponent for UFC 300, but that’s the direction it looks like it’s going at this point. That’s a great fight: the absolute best at 170 pounds fighting for the title. For those hoping for a little more sizzle with their steak, the UFC still has some “rabbits in their hat,” which we’ll report on as Dana White weaves his magic.
![[Video]Alex Volkanovski on Ilia Toporia - I'm coming for that 0, kid calling himself champ already](https://external-preview.redd.it/f9hXy8dATHufsXxbzyj0MRiBIjGxPxNxc7AXjGNfvic.jpg?width=320&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=9237e668e212dbee1d1df874b4d2a913812d0027 "[Video]Alex Volkanovski on Ilia Toporia - I'm coming for that 0, kid calling himself champ already")
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