Roundtable: What UFC 300 fight has you most hyped?

UFC 300 is days away, and whereas there’s loads of dialogue about the place the tricentennial occasion ranks among the many promotion’s best-ever lineups, all can agree that its depth is unmatched.

You need present champions in motion? How about two of them?

You need dream matchups? Does Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway scratch that itch?

You need contenders? Fan favorites? Motion fighters? The UFC is serving up Charles Oliveira, Arman Tsarukyan, Jiri Prochazka, Aljamain Sterling, Holly Holm, Kayla Harrison, Jalin Turner, Renato Moicano, Jessica Andrade, Deiveson Figueiredo, Cody Garbrandt, and, sure, Jim Miller. And extra!

With a stacked deck to select from, MMA Combating’s Damon Martin, Jed Meshew, Steven Marrocco, and Alexander Ok. Lee provide you with their picks for the fights that can have their.

Martin: To be honest, there isn’t a mistaken reply, as a result of UFC 300 actually is ridiculously stacked. However why overcomplicate issues? With a mixed 22 post-fight bonuses between them, together with 13 for “Struggle of the Night time,” Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway have essentially the most potential for an absolute barnburner on Saturday evening.

No person actually noticed this one coming till it was introduced. However now it’s the combat with nearly 100% certainty to ship.

At this level in his profession, Gaethje has most likely sacrificed years of his life to placed on the sort of memorable wars that made him arguably essentially the most entertaining fighter in UFC historical past. Even in his previous two performances, the place Gaethje targeted extra on technically out-dueling his opponents somewhat than simply marching ahead and launching bombs till any person fell over, he nonetheless managed to ship a three-round battle with Rafael Fiziev and a jaw-dropping knockout of Dustin Poirier.

As for Holloway, he’s taking one other stab on the light-weight division after a “Struggle of the Night time” outing with Poirier in 2019. On that evening, Holloway confessed he actually simply carried out as a bloated featherweight somewhat than a devoted light-weight. Now, he’s made a whole lot of modifications to make sure that he received’t be out-muscled or overpowered at 155 kilos.

By 32 profession fights, together with 28 within the UFC, Holloway has by no means been completed by strikes. That’s after going through a laundry checklist of knockout artists in his profession, together with Poirier, Conor McGregor, Jose Aldo and lots of extra. In the meantime, Gaethje is sort of a human automobile crash simply ready to occur. Even if you happen to beat him, you’re not strolling away unscathed.

Put these two issues collectively, and this combat shall be like pouring gasoline all around the octagon ground after which dropping a lit match. Flame on!

Meshew: Sure, sure, UFC 300 is superb, most likely the best MMA card ever assembled on paper. However y’all wish to know the perfect half about it? Essentially the most enjoyable combat of the night takes place proper out of the gate!

Different (lesser) males will argue for the virtues of Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill bonking one another on the pinnacle, or Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway tearing chunks from each other, however these males don’t know what the wisest amongst us know: that Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt is MMA nirvana.

Photograph by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Photographs

Many moons in the past, after I was simply getting concerned with Between the Hyperlinks, I argued that one of the fights I most wanted to see in all of MMA was “Figgy Smalls” vs. “No Love.” Nicely, it took just a few years, and it’s up a weight class. However we lastly obtained it, and let me let you know, buddy, I couldn’t be extra excited.

What will we love about combating? Barely mitigated violence. We love the knockouts, the extra spectacular the higher. When Francis Ngannou almost despatched Alistair Overeem into orbit, I ascended spiritually. When Dan Henderson bludgeoned Michael Bisping into the shadow realm after which hit him with a dive bomb for good measure, my soul crystalized and exploded like a Large Bang of glee. And each time Cody Garbrandt will get drawn right into a proper hook competitors, I hear the seraphim sing.

Garbrandt is chargeable for one of many single best performances in UFC title historical past together with his win over Dominick Cruz. However on the identical time, he has additionally misplaced the identical approach over and over: getting hit after which foolishly deciding it’s time to chew down on the mouthpiece and sling ‘em till somebody falls down. Invariably, it’s him that drops.

No fighter in historical past has ever been much less geared up however extra prone to go full Rock’em Sock’em than Garbrandt, and he’s about to do it towards a person who’s extraordinarily well-equipped to combat that type of battle. Perhaps this time he’ll really win it – it’s at all times attainable. However both approach, we’re in for a stunning little bit of violence between two future Corridor of Famers to kick off the night, and fairly probably a “KO of the 12 months” contender.

Marrocco: Being the OG of this wolf pack, I believe we have to give a shout out to the combat—or extra particularly, the fighter—that ties the centennial occasions collectively. Jim Miller is the one fighter to have competed at UFC 100, UFC 200 and UFC 300. That’s insane.

When he was battering Mac Danzig at UFC 100, Holloway was 18 and hadn’t fought professionally. In reality, solely 5 fighters on the complete April 13 card—Holloway, Oliveira, Calvin Kattar, Yan Xionan, and Miller’s opponent, Bobby Inexperienced—had fought professionally within the cage. Miller and Inexperienced are nice examples of the residing evolution of this sport and so they’re combating one another.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photographs

Need leisure? Miller is tied with Gaethje (in addition to Diego Sanchez and Joe Lauzon) for “Struggle of the Night time” bonuses. Need finishes? He’s simply behind Oliveira within the document books with 18. Need expertise? At 43 UFC bouts, there isn’t a yet another skilled.

Stats don’t at all times translate into nice fights, I do know. But additionally? Inexperienced is a fairly robust go for a man who’s fought actually everybody. It’s no sail off into the sundown for previous “A-10.” Inexperienced has eight post-fight bonuses to his identify, and after a string of choices, six of his previous eight haven’t seen the judges’ scorecards. Inexperienced likes to face and bang, and Miller can sling ‘em or submit ‘em.

The final centennial occasion, Miller completed Japanese legend Takanori Gomi. The sundown of his profession has been a delight of thumbed noses at Father Time, and given his submission skills, I believe we’re prone to see one other fairy story ending for essentially the most veteran of veterans. There’s loads of luster from mid-card on at UFC 300. I’m right here for the prelims too.

Lee: Outdoors of 1 matchup (Nickal vs. Brundage, I’m you), UFC 300 is all about matching the perfect with the perfect and there could also be no higher high-level matchup than Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan. To place it one other approach: Former champion vs. future champion.

Photograph by Jordan Jones/Getty Photographs

As a self-professed “Do Bronx Disciple,” I’m admittedly biased, however I don’t assume you’ll want to be a fan of the Brazilian star to get excited for this one. Oliveira has lengthy been one of the thrilling fighters in arguably MMA’s most enjoyable division and pairing him up with Tsarukyan is a components for chaos. They each have unfinished enterprise with Islam Makhachev and out of doors of their previous losses to the champ, they’ve thrashed nearly anybody who’s dared to face throughout from them.

This matchup can be compelling from a story standpoint, with Oliveira out to show that he’s nonetheless the true No. 1 contender at 155 kilos and Tsarukyan looking for that signature win that leaves little doubt he deserves a shot to avenge his loss to Makhachev. Tsarukyan wows followers each time he steps into the cage and a win over Oliveira would have them clamoring for the UFC to offer him his due.

The one disgrace right here is that somebody has to lose, as a result of Saturday might mark the start of the tip for both man’s title hopes. Oliveira has a whole lot of mileage on him and he might should reluctantly go the torch to Tsrarukyan; however, a disappointing efficiency by Tsarukyan might put a ceiling on his potential within the eyes of the matchmakers.

Oliveira vs. Tsarukyan is the final combat on the principle card earlier than a trio of title bouts, however don’t be shocked if the winner of this matchup is essentially the most talked-about fighter from the cardboard.

What UFC 300 combat are you most excited for? Tell us within the feedback.