UFC 300 is finally finalized, and while we don’t have Jon Jones, Israel Adesanya, or Conor McGregor on the card, the list of fights might still be the best collection of matchups ever assembled for one event.
There are two legitimate title fights, a battle for a mythical bout, 16 ranked fighters, nine former champions, the promotional debut of an Olympic gold medalist, the next test for a rising star at middleweight, and as many as four fights that could see the winner challenge for a title in their next fight.
Here is a look at the complete UFC 300 card with a few key fighters and matchups to pay close attention to on April 13.
- Main Event: (c) Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill – UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
- C0-Main Event: (c) Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan – UFC Strawweight Championship
- (2) Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway (2) – Featherweight – BMF Title
- (1) Charles Oliveira vs. (4) Armen Tsarukyan – Lightweight
- Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage – Middleweight
- (2) Jiri Prochazka vs. (5) Aleksandr Rakic – Light Heavyweight
- (8) Calvin Kattar vs. (2) Aljamain Sterling – Featherweight
- (5) Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison – Women’s Bantamweight
- (13) Sodiq Yusuff vs. Diego Lopes – Feathwerweight
- (10) Jalin Turner vs. (13) Renato Moicano – Lightweight
- (4) Jessica Andrade vs. (6) Marina Rodriguez – Strawweight
- (14) Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller – Lightweight
- (8) Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt – Men’s Bantamweight
Can Kayla Make Weight and Win in the UFC?
After establishing herself as the first legitimate star of the Professional Fighters League, Kayla Harrison made the jump to the UFC early this year.
The American Top Team product will immediately run into a former champion and future Hall-of-Famer when she faces Holly Holm in the former’s promotional debut. In addition to the Octagon challenge that Holm presents, Harrison is also tasked with making 135 pounds to compete at bantamweight.
Harrison has never competed at a weight lower than 145 pounds, and that could be an even more demanding task than simply outfighting Holm.
If she can transition to 135 pounds, Harrison’s Olympic-level wrestling immediately makes her a legitimate title contender in the UFC.
Will Aljamain Reign at Featherweight?
After a noteworthy run as bantamweight champion, Aljamain Sterling is jumping to 145 pounds. UFC veteran Calvin Kattar will welcome Sterling to the weight class in what figures to be a battle between two top-level mixed martial artists.
Sterling has looked great on camera with his bigger, more chiseled physique, but Kattar’s boxing will be a significant impediment to overcome for the former 135-pound king.
The Rise of Bo Nickal
There’s a reason the UFC is giving Bo Nickal a main-card spot. There may not be a better prospect in MMA than the former Division I wrestling star.
The powerful young American looks poised to take the middleweight division by storm. During his short career, the American Top Teamer’s powerful striking has been almost as impressive as his wrestling.
He has scored first-round finishes in all five of his pro MMA bouts, with two coming by TKO.
He’ll take a step up in competition against Cody Brundage, and if Nickal wins, he could be in the Octagon with a ranked opponent by early 2025, if not in late 2024.
Alex Pereira Gets To Remove All Doubts in the Main Event
Aside from Ronda Rousey, no one in UFC history has risen to superstardom as quickly as Alex Pereira. He earned a title shot after just seven pro fights–and defeated the legendary Israel Adesanya to win the middleweight title.
Since then, he has lost the title but won the vacant light heavyweight crown. Pereira’s defeat over Jiri Prochazka wasn’t controversial, but the former won the title. Jamahal Hill was forced to vacate because of an Achilles injury.
In the main event of UFC 300, Hill will get his opportunity to win back the belt he never lost in the Octagon.
Both men are excellent strikers with scary power, and once UFC 300 has concluded, there should be an undisputed light heavyweight champion.
