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It’s lastly right here. UFC 300, the cardboard we’ve been ready for all yr, is lastly upon us. Given the construct up, the expectations for this card are by the roof. In spite of everything, that is fairly presumably the best MMA card ever assembled on paper. Will it ship? Time will inform, however that’s not why we’re right here right now.
As soon as upon a time, the UFC discovered itself in a bind as a result of COVID-19, and its answer was Struggle Island — a magical place the place the UFC may proceed placing on fights amid a world pandemic. When Struggle Island was first introduced, followers’ imaginations ran wild. Would the UFC take this chance to do one thing distinctive and superior? A Bloodsport-esque enviornment? A brand new cage? Some aesthetic modifications to delineate Struggle Island as its personal, distinctive factor?
The reply was no. Whereas the UFC is a massively profitable enterprise, it’s a creatively bankrupt promotion. No enjoyable shall be had within the octagon, simply monochromatic MMA motion, ideally with faceless Contender Collection drones who all make $10,000 to point out and $10,000 to win.
However that’s not us. We’ve enjoyable right here at MMA Combating. When Struggle Island was introduced, we did MMA Survivor, and so for some of the anticipated occasions ever, we’re doing one thing one thing comparable. It’s time to speak about UFC 300, and to take action by the lens of the 2006 motion movie 300, primarily based on the graphic novel of the identical title from the legendary Frank Miller.
“From the time he may stand, he was baptized within the fireplace of fight. Taught by no means to retreat, by no means to give up, taught that dying on the battlefield in service to Sparta was the best glory he may obtain in his life.”
This quote is from the opening scene of the movie, as Dilios recounts the childhood of King Leonidas in narration, however actually, couldn’t this be simply mentioned about each Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway? There may not be two males within the UFC who’ve been extra baptized by fireplace. Simply have a look at who they’ve fought, and extra importantly, how they fought them. The “BMF” title may not be actual, besides, there aren’t two fighters extra deserving of competing for it.
On Saturday, Gaethje and Holloway are going to beat the life out of each other within the Folks’s Most important Occasion and it’s going to rule. (Mike) Heck, it’s most likely going to be Struggle of the 12 months. This weekend, we’re all “Blessed.”
“Submission? Now that’s a little bit of an issue.”
Leonidas says this in response to the Persian emissary calling for him to undergo Xerxes, shortly earlier than front-kicking the person down the pit of despair. (Iconic scene.) It’s additionally one thing I think about Arman Tsarukyan would possibly say to Charles Oliveira whereas thumping him from prime place on Saturday.
Oliveira is the UFC’s all-time chief in submissions, with 16 of his 22 UFC wins coming by the use of faucet out. However Tsarukyan has by no means been submitted, and I’ve to be sincere, I don’t assume he ever will likely be. The person is a tank, and an distinctive grappler, in his personal proper. And in contrast to guys like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, who refused to go to the mat with Oliveira underneath any circumstances, Tsarukyan is of the Islam Makahachev mould the place he’ll be blissful to play on the ground with “Do Bronx.”
The inexplicable huge pit within the middle of Sparta
Simply probably the most memorable scene from this whole film is the above clip the place Leonidas punts the dude right into a pit that’s simply type of there in the midst of an in any other case occupied thoroughfare. No person ever explains what the pit is or why it’s there, it’s only a very cool, very bizarre set piece.
That’s Jalin Turner vs. Renato Moicano. The ultimate struggle of the early prelims is superior. An authorized banger. However I nonetheless don’t actually know what it’s objective it. In 4 weeks, the UFC goes to Brazil for a pay-per-view occasion that appears BAD on paper. That card may desperately use a struggle like Turner-Moicano. However for no matter cause, it’s right here, and it’s most likely going to be cool, even when it is mindless.
“Come again along with your protect, or on it.”
Queen Gorgo says this to Leonidas as he leads his 300 Spartans off to conflict in defiance of the Carneia, however I’m additionally pretty sure that that is what Jiri Prochazka’s coaches inform him earlier than each struggle.
Whereas UFC 300 options among the most enjoyable fighters within the promotion, there could also be no better get-or-get-got man within the historical past of MMA than Prochazka — 34 fights into his profession, solely two have gone to determination. Extra importantly, all 4 of Prochaza’s profession losses have come by the use of end. Merely put, Prochazka goes out to each struggle, and he both comes again with a win, or he goes out on his protect.
“You there, what’s your career?
“I’m a potter, sir.”
“And also you, Arcadian, what’s your career?”
“Sculptor, sir.”
“You?”
“Blacksmith.”
“Spartans! What’s your career?
“HA-OOH! HA-OOH! HA-OOH!”
“You see, outdated pal? I introduced extra troopers than you probably did.”
That is an alternate between Leonidas and Daxos, who leads a gaggle of Arcadian soldier to oppose the Persian advance. It doesn’t precisely match as a result of UFC 300 is so stacked with expertise that almost all people concerned is a top-tier skilled fighter, nevertheless it positively jogged my memory that simply a few years in the past, Alexandre Pantoja was driving Uber to pay the bills, as a result of the UFC pays its athletes a fraction that different sports activities entities do.
“Immortals. We’ll put their title to the check.”
Leonidas says this concerning the famed Persian warriors, however in my head it’s what Justin Gaethje thinks when pondering Max Holloway’s impenetrable chin.
“I’ve fought numerous occasions, but I’ve by no means met an adversary that may supply me what we Spartans name an attractive dying. I can solely hope, with all of the world’s warriors gathered towards us, there could be one down there who’s as much as the duty.”
Stelios says this whereas wanting down upon the huge Persian military, however in my head, it’s Max’s chin wanting on the prospect of preventing Gaethje.
“My arm!”
“It’s not yours anymore.”
After the Persian scout insults and makes an attempt to assault Stelios, he makes a leap worthy of the Olympics and chops his arm off, resulting in this interplay. Coincidentally, the very same quotes will likely be heard on Saturday shortly after Kayla Harrison and Holly Holm begin preventing.
“We struggle as a single, impenetrable unit. That’s the supply of our energy. Every Spartan protects the person to his left from thigh to neck. A single weak spot and the phalanx shatters.”
Leonidas says this to Ephialtes, the deformed Spartan outcast who makes an attempt to hitch him in protection of Sparta.
That is fairly clearly Cody Brundage. It wasn’t Ephialtes’s fault he couldn’t struggle in addition to the opposite Spartans, he was simply born restricted. In that very same vein, it’s not Brundage’s fault both; he’s simply not on the identical degree as another individual on this card. Considered one of these Spartans is just not just like the others, and that one is Mr. Brundage.
“That is the place we maintain them! That is the place we struggle! That is the place they die! Earn these shields, boys! Bear in mind at the present time, males, for it will likely be yours all the time!”
Leonidas’ speech to the Spartan troopers forward of their first true battle with the Persian Empire. This goes out our man Jim Miller, who has been ready for at the present time for a very long time. UFC 300 is about so many individuals, however above all of it, it’s Jim Miller’s day. Sadly, Bobby Inexperienced is the enemy this weekend.
“We do what we had been educated to do, what we had been bred to do, what we had been born to do. No prisoners, no mercy. A superb begin.”
Dilios in narration after the primary battle. This one goes out to Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt. It’s not on a regular basis you get an occasion the place the primary struggle of the night options two former champions, however that’s simply what we’ve right here. Garbrandt and “Figgy Smalls” are going to membership one another round till one in every of them falls down. That is one of my most anticipated fights of the year.
A superb begin certainly.
“Haven’t you observed? We’ve been sharing our tradition with you all morning.”
When Leonidas meets Xerxes face-to-face to parlay, that is his response to Xerxes calling for peace and shared understanding. This made me consider Aljamain Sterling’s transfer as much as featherweight, and the way Calvin Kattar would possibly welcome him to the division, and present him concerning the tradition of 145 kilos. Whether or not it will likely be as violent because the Spartan tradition stays to be seen, however the outlook is fairly good.
“The world will know that free males stood towards a tyrant, that few stood towards many, and earlier than this battle was over, that even a god-king can bleed.”
Leonidas says this when he meets Xerxes face-to-face and rejects his supply to serve him.
This one goes out to Nate Quarry, Cung Le, and all the rest of the anti-trust plaintiffs who settled with the UFC last month. The parallels between Dana White and Xerxes are virtually too apparent to say, however simply as Leonidas says, ultimately, the Persian god-king bled. Granted, it was barely greater than a flesh wound, however nonetheless, that’s one thing that nobody else ever achieved.
Sadly for the game of MMA, the anti-trust settlement gained’t result in an ideal rebellion of Greek resistance that in the end defeats the Persian advance. As an alternative it truly is only a scratch, and Saturday would be the nice victory feast for Dana White and TKO.
“The non-public guard to King Xerxes himself. The Persian warrior elite. The deadliest preventing pressure in all of Asia: the Immortals.”
Dilios says this in narration proper earlier than the primary battle between the Immortals and the Spartans. This one goes out to Weili Zhang and Yan Xiaonan. Is it a bit unusual that this all-China title struggle is going down in Las Vegas? Yep, positive is. However this struggle continues to be someway flying underneath the radar. The present prime pound-for-pound feminine fighter within the sport is about to tackle a bona fide No. 1 contender, and just like the Immortals, I think each girls are about to place up one hell of a struggle.
Don’t sleep on the co-main occasion.
“They shout and curse, stabbing wildly. Extra brawlers than warriors. They make a wondrous mess of issues. Courageous amateurs, they do their half.”
Dilios speaking concerning the Arcadians who assist in the struggle towards The Immortals, however can also be a becoming tribute to Sodiq Yusuff and Diego Lopes. Each males are positive fighters, among the many finest of their divisions, however they fall quick in comparison with 12 champions and former champions on this card (plus one two-time Olympic gold medalist). Extra brawlers than warriors, however they do their half.
“Prepared your breakfast and eat hearty, for tonight we dine in Hell!”
Leonidas to his troopers after discovering that Ephialtes betrayed them and led the Persian’s to the goat path, permitting them to outflank the Spartans. However that is additionally only a nice line you, the viewer, forward of Saturday’s mayhem.
“This won’t be over rapidly. You’ll not get pleasure from this.”
Queen Gorgo says this to Theron after stabbing him within the abdomen, and outing him as a traitor. That is additionally what Jessica Andrade will say to Marina Rodriguez at their face off, proper earlier than she bludgeons her across the octagon for quarter-hour or much less.
“The outdated ones say we Spartans are descended from Hercules himself. Daring Leonidas provides testomony to our bloodline. His roar is lengthy and loud.”
Dilios says this proper earlier than the climactic dying of Leonidas (spoiler alert for one thing that occurred 2,500 years in the past), but additionally, this feels simply as relevant to Alex Pereira.
At this level would anybody doubt if it got here out that Pereira was truly descended from Heracles? The person walks within the gentle. He gained the UFC middleweight title virtually as an afterthought after which turned a two-division champion on a lark! His battle cry on Saturday will likely be lengthy and loud, and whether or not or not he beats Jamahal Hill, he will definitely make Hill bleed.
And that’s ok I believe. We adequately talked all by UFC 300 and Zack Snyder’s solely good film. Now it’s time to take a seat again and benefit from the present, so I’ll depart you with the identical phrases Leonidas informed his males after the rebuffed the primary Persian assault and he rejected Xerxes:
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