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A monumental day is approaching for the Final Preventing Championship.
UFC 300 will happen subsequent yr on Saturday, April thirteenth from the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is going to be the promotion’s tenth occasion of the calendar yr 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 relationship again to UFC 1: The Beginning 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 important card with a robust lineup of hungry opponents.
With UFC 300 just below 4 months away, hypothesis has begun for who shall be preventing on the occasion. On Thursday, December twenty first, UFC President Dana White announced 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 record 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 current victories over listed opponents haven’t been added. Lastly, no struggle pairings are listed, however some within the record may very well be matched with each other.
Listed here are 20 suggestions for fighters who ought to compete at UFC 300.
20. Andrei Arlovski
Heavyweight | 34-22, 2 NC
Andrei Arlovski is ranked quantity two within the record book with most fights and most wins in Final Preventing Championship historical past. Though the seasoned veteran shall be 45 by the point this occasion takes place, the previous UFC Heavyweight Champion has but to publicly announce plans for retirement. Arlovski can be trying 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 Guida
Light-weight | 38-24
One of the 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 seemingly 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 dropping skid, let’s make his third time the appeal on the most important attainable 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 title identified earning a contract to develop into the youngest fighter ever with the promotion. At 18 years of age, he develop into the youngest fighter in promotional historical past to have his hand raised. Now, along with his first profession loss in April of this yr and a second UFC win in September, the 19-year-old continues his path in direction of his final objective of turning into a World Champion. Why not showcase Rosas Jr. in what is going to seemingly be the largest card of all-time?
17. Matt Brown
Welterweight | 24-19
The Final Fighter 7 semifinalist 30-fight UFC competitor Matt Brown, much 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 document 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 transferring 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) May 13, 2023
16. Miesha Tate
Bantamweight | 20-9
A wild flip of occasions at 2016’s UFC 200 noticed former Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate within the evening’s headliner trying to defend her UFC Championship towards a then-challenging Amanda Nunes. The struggle, 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 Taira
Flyweight | 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 struggle quantity six on the horizon, why not give the rising star a platform to showcase his rising skillset?
14. Dominick Cruz
Bantamweight | 24-4
One other fighter nearing retirement sees former WEC and former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz. A mess of accidents had stored the Alliance MMA veteran sidelined between 2017 and 2019. Since 2020, Cruz has gained twice and misplaced twice having spent the present yr 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 struggle evening for Cruz in April can be the one.
13. Jim Miller
Light-weight | 36-17, 1 NC
Out of all issues on this record, Jim Miller will almost certainly be a part of UFC 300. His request for the cardboard seemed to be granted by UFC President Dana White just a few quick weeks in the past; nevertheless, the shot may very well be taken away depending on the results of his upcoming January bout with Gabriel Benitez. Miller holds a number of octagon data 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 resolution and UFC 200 over Takanori Gomi by first-round knockout. How cool wouldn’t it be to see him obtain the three-peat?
12. Derrick Lewis
Heavyweight | 27-12, 1 NC
Former Legacy FC Heavyweight Champion Derrick Lewis is the persona a card of such standing wants. Not solely wouldn’t it 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 Night time” receiving stoppage of Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291. The all-time UFC knockout recordholder turns 39 in February and has solely gained struggle in his final 5 fights, however his ending nature poses an unpredictable menace for anybody that stands in his manner.
11. Edson Barboza
Featherweight | 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 “Battle of the Night time” bonuses within the firm’s 30 years at 9 along with the fourth-most knockouts at 16 complete. 2023 was an enormous yr for Barboza profitable 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 positive contender for “2024 Battle of the 12 months.”
You possibly can NEVER depend Edson Barboza out! 👏
Does this Comeback earn #UFCHonors this yr?
🗳️ Voting begins on Dec twenty sixth pic.twitter.com/lZHCoIqR1a
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 21, 2023
10. Michael Chandler
Light-weight | 23-8
An outspoken and charismatic persona that has blossomed lately is that of Michael Chandler. The previous NCAA Division I Wrestler and three-time Bellator Light-weight Champion spent this yr 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 may very well be big for the upcoming April date.
9. Nate Diaz
Welterweight | 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 supposed 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 struggle in a hopeful octagon return.
8. Alexa Grasso
Flyweight | 16-3-1
Mexico’s first-ever feminine UFC Champion, Alexa Grasso, is amongst these thought of for 2023’s “Fighter of the 12 months.” 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 struggle suggestion from 115-pound title holder Zhang Weili, Grasso responded together with her curiosity of defending the championship towards the lighter opponent. Even when this struggle is just not the one to occur, an look from Grasso on the milestone card has unquestionably been earned.
7. Max Holloway
Featherweight | 25-7
Max Holloway, the previous interim and three-time defending UFC Featherweight Champion, is one other fighter identified for his all-time talents within the placing division. Internet hosting a big diploma of data 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 formidable 2023 calendar yr together with a dominant five-round resolution in April over Arnold Allen and an August knockout within the third over Chan Sung Jung.
6. Dustin Poirier
Light-weight | 29-8, 1 NC
A tweet from Dustin Poirier earlier this month hinted at his curiosity to compete on the milestone occasion. Battle followers grew excited with the publish at hopes the previous interim UFC Light-weight Champion and two-time title challenger will get scheduled. Regardless of dropping his solely 2023 look to Justin Gaethje, “The Diamond” by no means comes in need of being a menace 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 Weili
Strawweight | 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 special card. Weili is at present 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 Oliveira
Light-weight| 34-9, 1 NC
Charles Oliveira’s late profession run from 2018 to 2023 was been astoundingly inspiring. Profitable 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 data together with most finishes (20), submission wins (16), and “Battle Night time” bonuses (19) throughout all weight lessons. At 34 years of age, he nonetheless has time remaining in his profession regardless of an amassed complete of 44 MMA bouts, so give him the historic placement he deserves.
3. Alex Pereira
Gentle Heavyweight | 9-2
There has by no means been a fighter solely seven fights into their UFC profession that has achieved what Alex Pereira has completed. The previous two-divisional Glory Gentle Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion firstly took the 185-pound UFC title along with his November win final yr over Israel Adesanya. Though he would lose the belt in his MMA rematch, Pereira would shut out this yr with a cut up resolution over Jan Blachowicz and his taking of the Gentle 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 Jones
Heavyweight | 27-1, 1 NC
One of many all-time greats in MMA, Jon Jones, was forced out of his UFC 295 important occasion in November versus Stipe Miocic after struggling a pectoral tendon tear in late October. With no 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 Gentle Heavyweight Champion can be undefeated in skilled MMA competitors relationship 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 McGregor
Light-weight | 22-6
May or not it’s extra apparent? Conor McGregor, as talked about in #13, was imagined to struggle at UFC 200 till failing media obligations that compelled him out of the highly-anticipated struggle with Nate Diaz. He re-entered the USADA pool in early October, and even with a two-fight dropping skid and absent of a win since early 2020, McGregor can be the perfect and most logistical choose for headlining a card corresponding to April’s. All indicators, in the intervening time, 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 shall be introduced within the upcoming weeks. Keep tuned to MMASucka for all of your MMA interviews, information, protection, and extra.
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