The biggest event of the year is just a few days away. The UFC has pulled out all the possible stops and given us fans a card worthy of praise. Well, apart from the co-main event, it is what it is. As far as the event goes, this will showcase the UFC’s long tenure on top of the MMA world and cement its place as the premier organisation for professional fighting. The main card of UFC is filled with exciting fights as well as some serious title implications at both light heavyweight and lightweight. Let’s dig a little deeper into what’s at stake for the men competing at UFC 300.
The King of light-heavyweight
After the departure of one, Jon Jones, the division has just not been the same. The title has changed hands multiple times with neither champ being able to defend the strap more than once. Jan lost it to Glover, who then lost it to Hill. A ruptured Achilles caused the champ to vacate the belt and in walks Alex Periera who nukes Jiri Prohazchka to capture the belt. This will be Poatan’s first defense and he’s up against it. Hill is a bruiser who personifies ‘stand and bang’! If Alex does manage to beat Hill, it will bring him one step closer to becoming a legit legend in MMA. For Hill, it’ll be a coming-out party for the guy that everyone wrote off.
The Lightweight Dilemma
There’s a bit of confusion surrounding the lightweight division at the moment as there is no clear-cut contender to challenge Islam Makhachev. Dustin looks to be next but the fight between Charles Olivera and Arma Tsaryukyan could produce another title challenger. The old guard has pushed back against surging younger contenders and now it’s Charles’ turn to round out the trio of fights. He takes on a tough, technical and hungry Arman who has all but destroyed the competition put in front of him. He recently brutalized Beniel Dariush in under a minute and will be looking to do the same to Charles. This is Do Bronx’s moment as a finish of the highly touted Armenian will put him straight in line for a title fight.
Does the BMF belt really matter?
Max Holloway is moving up to lightweight to take on the ferocious Justin Gaethje for the BMF belt. Sure, it’s a silly little trinket but it does give us one of the best 5 round fights you could make. Does Justin take it to Max early and crack that durable chin or does Max weather the storm and lay it on Gaethje in the later rounds? These questions and more will be answered at UFC 300. The last time Max moved up, he had a war with Dustin Poirier who showed that the power these lightweights bring to the table is nothing to scoff at and who better to represent raw power better than Justin Gaethje?
Are the UFC pushing Bo Nickal too fast?
Nickal’s rise in MMA has been nothing short of phenomenal but is the UFC changing all its chips on this one guy? Well, Nickal does come with an extraordinary pedigree being a multiple-time NCAA champ and all but it really is his brash personality that rubs people the wrong way. So much so that they’re unwilling to look at the kid’s skills. Nickal has taken to fighting like a fish takes to swimming. The guy is built for it. While most wrestlers rely on their ground skills, here’s Nickal mixing it up and laying out fighters with clean striking. Look, if Bo is all that the pundits say he is, the UFC benefits but if he isn’t they’ll just move on to the next guy. No harm, no foul.
You can catch UFC 300 on SONY Liv at 7:30 AM Indian Standard Time on Sunday, April 14.
