br>
Absolute Fighting Championship (UFC) is preparing to hold a grand tournament: already this weekend the main MMA- The world promotion will hold its 300th numbered event in Las Vegas. The card was put together accordingly: two title fights, a battle for the “Most Dangerous Gangster” belt, plus the participation of 12 current/former league champions. Moreover, seven representatives of the male and female ratings of the best fighters in the league, regardless of weight categories (P4P), will perform in Sin City.
Sports correspondent talks about all the fights of UFC 300, which, fortunately, included place for a fighter from Russia.
UFC 300
- When: April 13 (14th Moscow time);
- Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas (Nevada, USA );
- What time: the tournament will start at 01:00 Moscow time, the main card — at 05:00 Moscow time;
- Where to watch: online broadcast will be available on the official UFC Fight Pass service. On public TV the broadcast will begin at five in the morning.
We start with the main card.
Pereira – Hill
- Title fight in the light heavyweight division
The main disappointment of the tournament is the main event. Fans were waiting for something mind-blowing… McGregor versus Chandler, the unexpected return of the legends and the emergency return from sick leave of Jon Jones, who was called by the management about the “salvation” of UFC 300.
It’s a shame that Dana White ended up having to announce a fight that didn’t excite the MMA community at all. No matter how hard the head of the UFC tried to find a cool confrontation, the choice had to be made in favor of the title fight between Alex Pereira and Jamal Hill. The Brazilian knocked out Jiri Prochazka and took the vacant belt, which was vacated after the American’s injury and will now protect the belt from the attacks of the returning ex-champion.
Odds: 1.6 versus 2.2 in favor of the current champion.
Zhang – Xiaonian
- Women's strawweight title fight
As part of the co-main event, we will have a Chinese confrontation among the girls: the current champion Weili Zhang will defend her title in a fight against her compatriot Yang Xiaonian. Despite the fact that few people believe in the change of the queen of the division, there is no point in burying the intrigue. The challenger lost only two out of the last ten fights, and in the last fight in the first round she knocked out (technical) former champion Jessica Andrade.
br>Odds: 1.2 and 3.7 — almost no chance for the contender.
Gaethje – Holloway
- Confrontation for the BMF belt
In 2019, the «Most Dangerous Bastard» belt was introduced as a one-time promotion. He was taken by Jorge Masvidal, and the strange story was not returned to again… Until the summer of 2023, when Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier and became the new No. 1 gangster in the UFC. Now the American will defend an unusual title for the first time: former featherweight champion Max Holloway is rising to lightweight again. The swashbuckler from Hawaii intends to overtake Gaethje in pursuit of Islam Makhachev.
However, if you believe White, it will not be the bloody showdown between “Highlight” and “Blessed” (potentially the best fight of 2024) that will become a contender, but the one that we will talk about later.
Odds: 1.3 and 3.1 – Experts see Gaethje as a big favorite.
Oliveira – Tsarukyan
Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira missed out on a chance to rematch Islam in October when he pulled out of the fight due to a cut. And having recovered, he received a tough opponent in the person of Arman Tsarukyan (three victories in a row, the last two were early). The Russian of Armenian origin, like the Brazilian, knocked out Beneil Dariush in the last fight and came close to the second meeting against compatriot Makhachev.
However, it is not worth talking about complete confidence in the candidate status of this poster. Given a spectacular victory for Justin and a defeat for Charles, the UFC can place its bet on the first meeting between Makhachev and Gaethje, and not on Islam’s rematch with Arman. But Poirier also jumped into the queue, with whom Khabib Nurmagomedov’s successor had already agreed to fight.
Over the weekend we will find out exactly with whom Makhachev will make the third title defense.
Odds: Tsarukyan is called the favorite — 1.4 and 2.9 to Oliveira.
American wrestler Bo Nickal is the league's top rising star in 2023, with a perfect 5-0 record, two UFC stoppage victories and just six minutes in the cage in five professional fights. The guy is pushing into the top 15 of the welterweight division and is challenging the stars (including Khamzat Chimaev), but so far only gets a little-known compatriot with a 4-4 record in the promotion.
< br>
Another question: how can Nikal, who is just beginning his journey, stand higher in the list of battles than the legends that will be mentioned below? Such is the love of the UFC — the management’s hopes must be met.
Odds: self-explanatory figures of 1.01 and 14.
< br>
Moving on to the prelims.
Prohaska – Rakic
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka failed to regain his belt, being knocked out by Pereira and suffering his first defeat in the organization. But the samurai from the Czech Republic is confident that thanks to his victory over Aleksandar Rakic (the Austrian has been recovering from injury for almost two years), he will definitely get a new chance to fight for gold.
Russian fans hope that the UFC management will treat Magomed Ankalaev with respect. And that neither Rakic nor Prochazka will overtake the domestic light heavyweight in the title race.
Odds: close 1.8 for Rakic and 2.0 for the ex-belt holder.
Qattar – Sterling
Aljamain Sterling defended his belt in the bantamweight division for a long time, but lost early to UFC favorite Sean O'Malley and decided to move up to a higher division. It’s not just a matter of weight gain: Aljo’s friend Merab Dvalishvili came close to the “title holder”, and the American nobly left the weight room so as not to interfere with the Georgian.
In the meantime, Sterling will face a difficult test — No. 8 featherweight Calvin Kattar.
Odds: 1.6 at 2.2, bookmakers prefer the former champion.
Holm – Harrison
Two-time Olympic judo champion Kayla Harrison makes her debut in the main MMA- world promotion. The American has reached the championship belt in the PFL — now she will enter the cage at the UFC anniversary event against former champion Holly Holm in order to reach the “title” in one fight.
Odds: 1.2 at 4.4, “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm opened as an underdog.
Yusuff — Lopez
Diego Lopez, like Nickal, lights it up. After a great debut fight against our Movsar Evloev (a defeat for which there is no shame), the Brazilian won two quick victories in the UFC and now received the 13th number of featherweight Sodiq Yusuff (USA).
Odds: 2.1 for Yusuff and 1.7 for Lopez.
Turner – Moicano
The third showdown in Makhachev's division at UFC 300! The octagon will be shared by number ten in the rankings Jaelyn Turner (USA) and number 13 Renato Moicano (Brazil), who has been in the promotion since 2014.
Odds: 1.4 versus 3.0 in favor of Turner.
Andrade – Rodriguez
Cool women’s fight with the participation of former champion Andrade and top Marina Rodriguez. Both athletes will enter the cage after spectacular early victories and will do everything to sort things out for the second time in a row, without relying on the judges.
Odds: 1.9 on both Brazilians.
Green – Miller
UFC leader in number of fights and victories, Jim Miller is a legend of the promotion. The 40-year-old American fought in both the 100th numbered tournament in 2009 and the 200th seven years later. Having Miller compete at UFC 300 is history. Regardless of whether he beats Bobby Green, who is returning after a knockout, or not.
Odds: 1.5 on Green and 2.3 on the renowned veteran.< br>
Figueredo – Garbrandt
Opening the show is a fight worthy of the main event status of a Fight Night series tournament — former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueredo is making his way to the title in the bantamweight division and will now meet with the resurrected former belt holder Cody Garbrandt.
There is no doubt that the Brazilian-American confrontation will not reach a judge's decision. Fighters love to knock out (20 knockouts between them), and Garbrandt has been criticized a lot in recent years for his “crystal” chin (four out of five losses are by knockout). In general, we are expecting a brutal finish.
Odds: 1.3 versus 3.4 – they don’t believe in Garbrandt.