Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill, Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway

It's finally UFC 300 and the MMA Knockouts team is putting all their chips on the table for their main card predictions.

UFC 300 will be a historic card, taking place on April 13th inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This card is packed top to bottom with a ton of notable names, from the first match of the qualifiers to the main event. .

Alex Pereira will face former titleholder Jamahal Hill for the UFC light heavyweight title. In addition, Zhang Weili defended his strawweight gold medal against Yang Xiaonan. BMF Hardware also has Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan, and the return of Bo Niccal.

Forget the rest, it's time for the UFC 300 nominations!

Alex Pereira (c) vs. Jamahal Hill – UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

fernando quiles jr.: Hill is dangerous in his own right, but he has never faced someone with as impressive a pedigree as Pereira. “Poitin” is seen cutting off Hill's leg with a kick before firing upstairs. I also don't know how Hill will fare from his Achilles injury, but as for Pereira, I believe he will get a TKO finish at some point. (Pick: Pereira)

Matthew Riddle: I think Hill is worth living in this match. His unorthodox striking and ruthless power are a wicked combination—Pereira also puts his chin on his plate.
That being said, there should be every benefit to a skill-versus-skill “poitan.” I like him better both as a champion and as a fighter, so I'll pick him to win. (Pick: Pereira)

Drew Beaupre: It's not the shocking main event that was promised when UFC 300 was still in the works, but it's still an interesting title fight in a division that has been in constant flux since Jon Jones left. As much as I'd like to see Hill come out and try Pereira's grappling and surprise everyone, as much as I'm sure he has “Sweet Dreams” on his hands, if this match survives I You have to support the champion. (Pick: Pereira)

Zain Bando: Alex Pereira's performance will pay big dividends against Jamahal Hill on Saturday night. Hill has been out for nine months, with ring rust proving to be a factor in his return from a serious injury. Just ask Anderson Silva. Nevertheless, Pereira is more balanced and should be able to use angles and feints to find openings, secure finishes and show why he is a true champion. (Pick: Pereira)

Christopher de Santiago: This fight between Jamahal Hill and Alex Pereira is just a toss-up. Hill is more balanced and has more ways to win, but there's no denying that Pereira's left hook can be a game-changer at any point in the fight. But the younger Hill is no slouch, having never been knocked out in his professional career with seven knockouts. I believe Hill's distance management will be a big factor, and I think the longer the fight goes on the better it will be for him. Won by TKO over Jamahal Hill in the championship round. (Pick: Hill)

consensus: 4-1, Alex Pereira

Zhang Weili (c) vs. Yang Xiaonan – UFC Women's Strawweight Championship

fernando quiles jr.: It's hard to imagine Yang being able to stop Chan's blitz. I think this will all be Zhang unless Weili rushes in and gets caught in the sweet spot. Yang is not well known for his powers, but Chan has plenty of them. Yan can survive and go far, but victory here seems out of reach. (Pick: Weili)

Matthew Riddle: For me, what tilts this fight is Zhang's balance. Yan looked phenomenal against Andrade, but it's only been a few years since he was controlled and TKO'd by Carla Esparza. Beating Mackenzie Dern in a title fight doesn't prove to me that she can defend the title at the pace that Chan utilized in her last title defense. (Pick: Weili)

Drew Beaupre:When I lived in Beijing, the excitement for Zhang's fight was incredible, and I hate the fact that the UFC couldn't put this fight on the back burner to make a headline card in China. This matchup remains a historic matchup worthy of this huge card, and I hope “Magnum” gets a chance to defend his belt in China at some point in the near future.
(Pick: Weili)

Zain Bando: Weili Zhang is the best strawweight in the world, there's no debate about that. She is better all around and is fighting a version of Xiaonan Yan, who last secured victory in May 2023, defeating the aging Jessica Andrade and Mackenzie Dern. Chan's resume is much stronger, and when she puts it all together, it could be a bad night. (Pick: Weili)

Christopher de Santiago: Zhang Weili should be able to deal with whatever storm Yang Xiaonan creates in the grappling department with her own storm. I believe the key to Chan's victory is to completely mix up her grappling skills while maintaining distance on her feet, landing damage from top position, and showing off her wrestling. Xiaonan has grown as a fighter, but previously showed weakness in grappling and lack of takedown defense against Carla Esparza. Expect Chan to take advantage of that. It depends on Mr. Zhang's decision. (Pick: Weili)

consensus:5-0, Zhang Weili

Justin Gaethje (c) vs. Max Holloway – BMF Championship

fernando quiles jr.: The last time Max Holloway tried out for lightweight, he immediately noticed the difference in punching power between 145 and 155 pounds. Holloway was as tough as anyone expected against Dustin Poirier, but the damage he took looked much different than in his fight at featherweight. I think history will repeat itself, but this time Gaethje will actually stop “Blessed” to retain the iconic BMF Championship. (Selection: Gaethje)

Matthew Riddle:For a while I thought Gaethje might be the guy to KO Max, but the fact that he's 35 years old and a lightweight “title” holder makes my weird obsession with over-35 status was taken over. Combine this with Holloway looking like a beast in recent training footage and I think you have a recipe for an upset. (Pick: Holloway)

Drew Beaupre: The legitimacy and value of the “BMF” belt aside, this is a sensational matchup that many fans rightfully chose as the clear frontrunner for Fight of the Night. MMA math suggests Gaethje should get the job done with a rematch with Dustin Poirier and Holloway's final shot at lightweight, but I think he pulls off an upset in what should be a violent bout. For this reason, I intend to be on the side of “blessing''. (Pick: Holloway)

Zain Bando:This fight is what MMA is all about. Two brawlers who don't care about the champion's stamina, weaknesses, or hearts. There's a good argument to be made that Justin Gaethje should fight Islam Makhachev next, but both he and Max Holloway admit they're here to entertain the fans, and that's exactly what happened on Saturday night. It will happen. Holloway's boxing was a little sharper, though, and he narrowly survived a close and controversial decision that would have kept T-Mobile Arena in suspense as second-placed Bruce Buffer was declared the winner. (Pick: Holloway)

consensus: 3-1, Max Holloway

Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan

fernando quiles jr.: I hope Oliveira does well in this fight and doesn't end up like his failed title defense against Islam Makhachev. This will be a fun match in the grappling department and on the feet, but I think Tsarukyan has enough balance to avoid submissions and keep “De Bronx” honest on the feet. Take Tsarukyan to a fun and competitive scrap. (Pick: Tsarukyan)

Matthew Riddle: This match is a coin flip for me as both fighters are dangerous in every aspect. I think Oliveira is staggering in terms of reaction to damage, and Tsarukyan was very aggressive in his last fight, so I'm giving the edge to the Armenian. (Pick: Tsarukyan)

Drew Beaupre: This might be the hardest fight to pick on the entire card. On paper, it looks like Oliveira could feed into the emerging contender and Tsarukian could finally get the first chance at the belt, but stylistically it's hard to see either one having an edge over the other. is. I hope it's a long enough fight for both lightweights to showcase their considerable skill. Although I think the current betting odds are too wide, I would pick Tsarukyan to get the biggest win of his career. (Pick: Tsarukyan)

Zain Bando: Charles Oliveira is on a revenge tour and will likely be looking to regain the lightweight belt in one more fight. Arman Tsarukian has won four straight and has been on a roll since his last loss in June 2022, most recently defeating Beneil Dariush in a one-sided fashion. Whoever makes the first mistake will ultimately lose, and Oliveira's championship pedigree will ultimately be too much for Tsarukian. (Pick: Oliveira)

consensus: 3-1, Arman Tsarukyan

Bo Niccal vs. Cody Brundage

fernando quiles jr.: Brundage has some experience, but this is another matchup to keep Knickal in the Octagon before the competition heats up. I actually like the slow approach the UFC has taken with Knickal, but this can definitely not be said about the promotion's other prospects. In my opinion, Nikkal wins the way he wants. (Pick: Nickal)

Matthew Riddle:I think Knickal should fight higher competition, but in fairness his UFC resume is lacking and Brundage is dangerous in some areas. However, unless Brundage performs a shock guillotine, I'm not sure that will matter. (Pick: Nickal)

Drew Beaupre: There are multiple matches for this match that deserve a spot on PPV, but it's clear how heavily invested the UFC is in Knickal at this point. Brundage is a reasonable step up in competition based on Knickal's current trajectory, and it's interesting to see who he matches up with next, whether he can handle the UFC veteran as easily as his previous opponents. It will be interesting to see if it comes up. (Pick: Nickal)

Zain Bando: Controversial or not, Bo Knickal will open the main card of the biggest UFC event in nearly a decade. If you don't know where this promotion stands in terms of the idea of ​​developing stars, you have no idea. Nickal should have no problem securing his victory. (Pick: Nickal)

consensus: 4-0, Beau Nickal

MMA Knockout Staff 2024 Record

• Fernando Cres Jr: 10-5
• Matthew Riddle: 4-6
• Drew Beaupre: 9-6
• Zain Bando: 6-9
• Christopher de Santiago: 4-1

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