A monumental day is approaching for the Final Preventing Championship.
UFC 300 will happen subsequent 12 months on Saturday, April thirteenth from the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada. Will probably be the promotion’s tenth occasion of the calendar 12 months however, most significantly, a historic milestone for the world’s main blended martial arts firm. The cardboard comes because the UFC’s three hundredth pay-per-view courting again to UFC 1: The Starting on November twelfth, 1993; the first-ever occasion for the promotion over 30 years in the past. UFC 100 in July of 2009 and UFC 200 in July of 2016 each proved profitable at their historic moments; the promotion stacking every undercard, prelim, and foremost card with a powerful lineup of hungry rivals.
With UFC 300 just below 4 months away, hypothesis has begun for who might be combating on the occasion. On Thursday, December twenty first, UFC President Dana White introduced the cardboard’s first three matchups: Jiri Prochazka versus Aleksandar Rakic at gentle heavyweight, Aljamain Sterling versus Calvin Kattar at featherweight, and Bo Nickal versus Cody Brundage at middleweight. Who and what fights are subsequent?
This following checklist and sure the precise card sees the absence of these partaking in Ramadan, because the Muslim vacation runs concurrent within the weeks and days main as much as the cardboard. Moreover, no fighters from outer-promotions have been included. Some fighters which have secured latest victories over listed opponents haven’t been added. Lastly, no battle pairings are listed, however some within the checklist could possibly be matched with each other.
Listed here are 20 suggestions for fighters who ought to compete at UFC 300.
20. Andrei ArlovskiHeavyweight | 34-22, 2 NC
Andrei Arlovski is ranked quantity two within the file ebook with most fights and most wins in Final Preventing Championship historical past. Though the seasoned veteran might be 45 by the point this occasion takes place, the previous UFC Heavyweight Champion has but to publicly announce plans for retirement. Arlovski could be seeking to snap a two-fight ending skid after having a four-fight run of victories from April of 2021 to April of 2022 come to an finish.
19. Clay GuidaLightweight | 38-24
Probably the most recognizable faces in UFC historical past comes Clay Guida. An octagon veteran of 36 fights, the previous Strikeforce Light-weight Champion turned 42 in the beginning of the December month as he nears what are probably the ultimate bouts of his blended martial arts profession. Guida’s first UFC occasion fell at UFC 64 in October of 2006 and missed out on each prior milestone playing cards, and regardless of a present two-fight shedding skid, let’s make his third time the appeal on the biggest potential stage.
18. Raul Rosas Jr.Bantamweight | 8-1
On Dana White’s Contender Collection in 2022, then-17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. made his identify recognized incomes a contract to turn out to be the youngest fighter ever with the promotion. At 18 years of age, he turn out to be the youngest fighter in promotional historical past to have his hand raised. Now, along with his first profession loss in April of this 12 months and a second UFC win in September, the 19-year-old continues his path in direction of his final aim of turning into a World Champion. Why not showcase Rosas Jr. in what is going to probably be the most important card of all-time?
17. Matt BrownWelterweight | 24-19
The Final Fighter 7 semifinalist 30-fight UFC competitor Matt Brown, just like that of the aforementioned Guida, didn’t contest at UFC 100 or UFC 200 regardless of being underneath contract at each instances. He sits with a 4-4 file since 2017 having completed the 4 wins by knockout inside the primary two rounds together with his most up-to-date victory in March over Courtroom McGee. One other end would transfer Brown to 3rd all-time for stoppages with one other knockout shifting him to a tie for first all-time. Let there be a chance for these at UFC 300.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!! @IAmTheImmortal | #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/dgUmagrfUN
— UFC (@ufc) Could 13, 2023
16. Miesha TateBantamweight | 20-9
A wild flip of occasions at 2016’s UFC 200 noticed former Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate within the night time’s headliner seeking to defend her UFC Championship towards a then-challenging Amanda Nunes. The battle, sadly, didn’t go in her favor, with Tate having solely two wins in seven fights following her lack of the 135-pound title. She did, nevertheless, bounce again weeks in the past at UFC on ESPN 52 with a one-sided victory within the third spherical by submission over Julia Avila. Give the ladies’s MMA pioneer one other go to avenge the prior historic defeat.
15. Tatsuro TairaFlyweight | 15-0
Okinawa, Japan’s Tatsuro Taira is arguably the UFC’s hottest prospect. Having amassed an undefeated run of 15 skilled victories together with his 2021 capturing of Shooto’s Flyweight Championship, the 23-year-old is prepared for a step up in competitors. Taira’s December ninth stoppage of Carlos Hernandez was his fifth pairing with the corporate, and with battle quantity six on the horizon, why not give the rising star a platform to showcase his rising skillset?
14. Dominick CruzBantamweight | 24-4
One other fighter nearing retirement sees former WEC and former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz. A large number of accidents had stored the Alliance MMA veteran sidelined between 2017 and 2019. Since 2020, Cruz has received twice and misplaced twice having spent the present 12 months inactive from skilled competitors. If there’s a time for the unorthodox expertise to make a return, and if all stays in good well being throughout the subsequent few months, a battle night time for Cruz in April could be the one.
13. Jim MillerLightweight | 36-17, 1 NC
Out of all issues on this checklist, Jim Miller will most definitely be a part of UFC 300. His request for the cardboard seemed to be granted by UFC President Dana White just a few brief weeks in the past; nevertheless, the shot could possibly be taken away depending on the results of his upcoming January bout with Gabriel Benitez. Miller holds a number of octagon information with essentially the most fights, wins, and submission makes an attempt in UFC historical past (42) with wins at UFC 100 over Mac Danzig by choice and UFC 200 over Takanori Gomi by first-round knockout. How cool would it not be to see him obtain the three-peat?
12. Derrick LewisHeavyweight | 27-12, 1 NC
Former Legacy FC Heavyweight Champion Derrick Lewis is the persona a card of such standing wants. Not solely would it not be for his entertaining pre- or post-fight interviews however for his devastating energy having 22 of his 27 victories come by the use of knockout, together with his blistering 33-second, “Efficiency of the Evening” receiving stoppage of Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291. The all-time UFC knockout recordholder turns 39 in February and has solely received battle in his final 5 fights, however his ending nature poses an unpredictable risk for anybody that stands in his approach.
11. Edson BarbozaFeatherweight | 24-11
Edson Barboza is taken into account by many as one of many biggest strikers in MMA historical past. His dynamic arsenal of arm and leg strikes has resulted in essentially the most “Struggle of the Evening” bonuses within the firm’s 30 years at 9 along with the fourth-most knockouts at 16 whole. 2023 was a giant 12 months for Barboza successful by knockout over Billy Quarantillo in April and, most just lately, a comeback over Sodiq Yusuff in throughout 5 rounds in October. Discover one other standup expertise to pair within the reverse nook and UFC 300 would have a certain contender for “2024 Struggle of the Yr.”
You’ll be able to NEVER depend Edson Barboza out! 👏
Does this Comeback earn #UFCHonors this 12 months?
🗳️ Voting begins on Dec twenty sixth pic.twitter.com/lZHCoIqR1a
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 21, 2023
10. Michael ChandlerLightweight | 23-8
An outspoken and charismatic character that has blossomed in recent times is that of Michael Chandler. The previous NCAA Division I Wrestler and three-time Bellator Light-weight Champion spent this 12 months sidelined from competitors after his Season 31 teaching of The Final Fighter with fellow competitor Conor McGregor. His tenure with the UFC has been nothing in need of thrilling in each victory and defeat regardless of a lone knockout of Tony Ferguson being his solely win in his final three outings. Nonetheless, Chandler is one other face that could possibly be large for the upcoming April date.
9. Nate DiazWelterweight | 21-13
The Final Fighter 5 event victor and 16 post-fight UFC bonus recipient, Nate Diaz, is within the free company pool as his future with a company stays unknown. He final left us with a fourth-round guillotine choke at UFC 279 over Tony Ferguson; his first win since Anthony Pettis in August of 2019 and stoppage since Conor McGregor in March of 2016. Diaz was meant to rematch McGregor at UFC 200 however was eliminated after McGregor failed media obligations. Though pairing these two collectively appears unlikely, there may be some alternative for Diaz to get a mega battle in a hopeful octagon return.
8. Alexa GrassoFlyweight | 16-3-1
Mexico’s first-ever feminine UFC Champion, Alexa Grasso, is amongst these thought of for 2023’s “Fighter of the Yr.” Her fourth spherical submission at UFC 285 in March over all-time nice Valentina Shevchenko adopted by her retaining of the belt in a September headlining rematch added to her rising legacy at simply 30 years of age. After a UFC 300 battle suggestion from 115-pound title holder Zhang Weili, Grasso responded along with her curiosity of defending the championship towards the lighter opponent. Even when this battle will not be the one to occur, an look from Grasso on the milestone card has unquestionably been earned.
7. Max HollowayFeatherweight | 25-7
Max Holloway, the previous interim and three-time defending UFC Featherweight Champion, is one other fighter recognized for his all-time talents within the placing division. Internet hosting a big diploma of information within the featherweight division in addition to connecting with essentially the most all-time strikes in UFC historical past, the Hawaiian native sits at 4-1 in his final 5 with a powerful 2023 calendar 12 months together with a dominant five-round choice in April over Arnold Allen and an August knockout within the third over Chan Sung Jung.
6. Dustin PoirierLightweight | 29-8, 1 NC
A tweet from Dustin Poirier earlier this month hinted at his curiosity to compete on the milestone occasion. Struggle followers grew excited with the submit at hopes the previous interim UFC Light-weight Champion and two-time title challenger will get scheduled. Regardless of shedding his solely 2023 look to Justin Gaethje, “The Diamond” by no means comes in need of being a risk for the championship as he continues his well-rounded evolution at 155 kilos. Everyone seems to be in settlement for a Poirier look at UFC 300.
300💎
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) December 17, 2023
5. Zhang WeiliStrawweight | 24-3
Champion versus champion has a pleasant ring to it. Within the previously-mentioned #8, present UFC Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili referred to as for a possible assembly with present 125-pound Champion Alexa Grasso in a superfight between two of the world’s biggest feminine MMA fighters. There are, nevertheless, different choices if Grasso will get a distinct card. Weili is presently on her second run because the division’s title holder having three straight wins since 2022 together with an August protection at UFC 292 versus Amanda Lemos; the string coming after back-to-back 2021 losses in championship fights towards Rose Namajunas.
4. Charles OliveiraLightweight| 34-9, 1 NC
Charles Oliveira’s late profession run from 2018 to 2023 was been astoundingly inspiring. Successful twelve of his final 13 fights, the previous UFC Light-weight Champion has earned his standing as one of many biggest in each 155-pound and promotional historical past. Oliveira holds varied organizational information together with most finishes (20), submission wins (16), and “Struggle Evening” bonuses (19) throughout all weight courses. At 34 years of age, he nonetheless has time remaining in his profession regardless of an amassed whole of 44 MMA bouts, so give him the historic placement he deserves.
3. Alex PereiraLight Heavyweight | 9-2
There has by no means been a fighter solely seven fights into their UFC profession that has completed what Alex Pereira has performed. The previous two-divisional Glory Mild Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion firstly took the 185-pound UFC title along with his November win final 12 months over Israel Adesanya. Though he would lose the belt in his MMA rematch, Pereira would shut out this 12 months with a cut up choice over Jan Blachowicz and his taking of the Mild Heavyweight Championship over Jiri Prochazka final month at UFC 295. An opponent is up for debate, however a protection at UFC 300 is the transfer.
#AndNew #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/bwk1xT7cHm
— danawhite (@danawhite) November 12, 2023
2. Jon JonesHeavyweight | 27-1, 1 NC
One of many all-time greats in MMA, Jon Jones, was pressured out of his UFC 295 foremost occasion in November versus Stipe Miocic after struggling a pectoral tendon tear in late October. And not using a controversial disqualification in late 2009 to Matt Hamill and an overturned third-round knockout of Daniel Cormier in the summertime of 2017, the previous two-time UFC Mild Heavyweight Champion could be undefeated in skilled MMA competitors courting again to his beginnings in 2008. Jones fought at UFC 100 and was additionally on faucet for UFC 200 till struggling a doping violation. The possibility for April 2023 is slim following the harm, but when the therapeutic is miraculously fast, allow us to get him scheduled.
1. Conor McGregorLightweight | 22-6
May or not it’s extra apparent? Conor McGregor, as talked about in #13, was imagined to battle at UFC 200 till failing media obligations that pressured him out of the highly-anticipated battle with Nate Diaz. He re-entered the USADA pool in early October, and even with a two-fight shedding skid and absent of a win since early 2020, McGregor could be one of the best and most logistical decide for headlining a card corresponding to April’s. All indicators, for the time being, level to “The Infamous” as being the face of April’s UFC 300.
🏊♂️ pic.twitter.com/rem6aHYWkA
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 11, 2023
Fights for April’s UFC 300 might be introduced within the upcoming weeks. Keep tuned to MMASucka for all of your MMA interviews, information, protection, and extra.
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