The UFC is ready to ship a trio of electrifying pay-per-view occasions this summer time, promising fierce battles within the Octagon. Their most up-to-date occasion, UFC 300, stole headlines the world over because of some brutal knockouts. Firstly, Max Holloway denied the naysayers as he starched Justin Gaethje to win the BMF belt in opposition to all odds. Then, in the primary occasion, Alex Pereira proved to the world that he was the world-class fighter he has all the time claimed to be by brutally ending former mild heavyweight king Jamahal Hill to say his dominance at 205 kilos.
Now, nonetheless, consideration turns to the long run and the summer time specifically. Followers have been left considerably disenchanted with the upcoming UFC 301 card. headlined by Alexandre Pantoja’s second defence of his bantamweight title in opposition to Steve Erceg. However when that’s out of the way in which, all the eye will flip to the summer time and the Return of the Mac. Here’s what we’ve to sit up for.
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UFC 302 – Makhachev vs. Poirier
Kicking off the summer time sequence on June 2nd, UFC 302 presents a headliner that has followers buzzing with anticipation. Islam Makhachev is a fighter whose grappling abilities and fight technique have drawn comparisons to the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov, his closest ally and coach. He’s set to face off with a person whom The Eagle conquered within the penultimate struggle of his profession, Dustin Poirier. The Diamond has grow to be a fan favorite lately for his willingness to struggle anyone and his capability to bounce again from crushing losses.
Oddschecker, which offers free bets and provides on the highest Octagon motion, corresponding to Bet365’s Guess £10 get £30 promotion, makes Poirier an enormous 4/1 outsider. For individuals who surprise how does a free guess work, must you place the aforementioned £30 on the underdog at these odds, you’d safe £120 in winnings and the stake gained’t be included… if he wins, after all. And that’s no assure.
Poirier was destroyed by the aforementioned Gaethje final July, however bounced again with a shocking knockout of up-and-coming French star Benoit Saint-Denis. With Gaethje’s loss at UFC 300, coupled with Charles Oliviera’s loss on the identical card and the unwillingness of his conqueror Arman Tsarukyan to struggle on brief discover, it’s Poirier who will get the title shot.
Makhachev heads into the struggle following a string of spectacular victories which have seen him dismantle opponents along with his suffocating floor sport and ever-improving stand-up abilities. His submission victory in opposition to the previous champion Do Bronx, coupled with back-to-back wins over former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski, have made him one of the vital feared fighters within the division. It stays to be seen as as to whether Poirier can lastly grow to be undisputed champion on the ripe outdated age of 35.
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UFC 303 – McGregor vs. Chandler
The joy reaches a fever pitch 4 weeks later at UFC 303 as Conor McGregor – the most important star that the game has ever seen – makes his much-anticipated return to the octagon in opposition to Michael Chandler. The Infamous One has been out of the Octagon since back-to-back losses in opposition to Dustin Poirier three years in the past, the second of which featured a grotesque leg break. It’s unknown whether or not the Irishman is identical charismatic hanging star that he was throughout his heyday again in 2015 and 2016 when he defeated the likes of Jose Aldo, Nate Diaz and Eddie Alvarez.
His opponent, however, goals to cement his legacy by taking out certainly one of MMA’s most iconic figures. Since making the transfer from Bellator in 2021, the 38-year-old hasn’t lived as much as expectations. He’s 2-3 in his UFC profession to this point, along with his solely victories being knockout wins over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson. The latest got here two years in the past and, at this level in his profession, he’s simply as unproven as McGregor.
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UFC 304 – Edwards vs. Muhammad
To shut out the summer time, UFC 304 provides a compelling rematch between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad. Their first encounter led to an unintentional eye poke that resulted in a no-contest, leaving followers and fighters alike clamouring for a definitive conclusion. Since then, Edwards has solidified his place, changing into the UFC welterweight champion with a vicious knockout of Kamaru Usman, earlier than efficiently defending the title in opposition to the Nigerian Nightmare and the brash American Colby Covington.
Muhammad isn’t the thrilling fighter that followers like to see, however he’s efficient, of that there isn’t a doubt. Not together with the No Contest, he’s at present on a nine-fight profitable streak stretching again to April 2019. This gained’t be one for the purists, however it will likely be an intriguing bout that might go both approach.
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