LAS VEGAS — Isn't it great when things are as good as you expect them to be? And maybe when they're even better?
UFC 300 was touted as the greatest fight of the night in mixed martial arts history. This is clearly an absurd promise. Pure runaway advertising. Then, when the leather started flying here at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday and everything stopped and I had a chance to catch my breath, I have to admit that this was, in fact, the single best night of professional fighting. did not. “I've never seen it before.
Perhaps that's not surprising. Put together a lineup featuring 13 current or former champions and you should end up with something good. But this was better than good. This was special.
Much of the credit for that has to go to Max Holloway. In recent weeks, people have been saying that he made a mistake moving up in weight for his BMF title fight against Justin Gaethje. Didn't he remember what happened the last time he fought at 155 pounds (loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 236)? Wouldn't he be better off staying at home at featherweight and insisting on a challenge to new champion Ilya Topria?
But what he wanted, Holloway insisted, was to become a legend in the sport. And how can you become a legend if you don't take big risks and do legendary things?
In case you thought he was just saying something, with 10 seconds left in the final round of the fight, Holloway clearly looked like he was on his way to victory, and he not only agreed, but effectively demanded Gaethje's participation. In the center of the cage for a final brawl. It's dangerous, to say the least. That was basically Gaethje's only chance left, and Holloway handed it to Gaethje. It was enough to win the battle. It seemed pretty crazy to risk losing it like that.
Holloway then landed that clean right hand that stood in the eye of the hurricane. Gaethje then collapsed to the floor. At that moment, the crowd's screams nearly blew a hole through the roof of the building, proving that Holloway had just become a legend in the sport.
This was one of the best and most dramatic finishes ever seen in an MMA fight. And there were still two games left.
The UFC aimed to make the 100th anniversary event better than the previous two events. While the main event didn't produce any blockbusters, they relied on the depth of their roster to provide some magic as a whole. What does it mean to be able to invite a player like Holloway to be the star of the undercard? It's a luxury that most fight promoters cannot have, and it may be a gift that fight fans barely deserve.
More notes about UFC 300…
-
Alex Pereira tells Jamahal Hill he will remind him of the moment he mocked the champion for his pre-match prop choices. As Pereira stood on top of the crumbling hill after his first-round knockout win in the main event, he gestured at the man repeatedly, as if to say: Here it is.
-
In a sport full of professional tough guys, Pereira somehow manages to be terrifying on a whole other level. His expression never changes, but he always radiates a certain intensity. After successfully defending his 205-pound belt, he said he would like to move on to the heavyweight division. I think it's natural to think that if he already has UFC titles in two divisions, why can't he win a third as well? Whoever brings him into the ranks better not be someone who can be easily intimidated.
-
On the other hand, what if Pereira chooses to stick to light heavyweight? Jiri Prochaska certainly made a strong case for a rematch with a TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic on the undercard. After being steadily pulled away for much of the match, Prochaska landed a clean right hand to turn the tide and swarmed toward the finish. It was a quick turnaround in a game they clearly looked like they would lose. Obviously, that's for everyone but him.
-
One of Prochaska's great strengths (and weaknesses) is that she fights as if she had no idea she could get hurt. Doing so may make it seem like he's not all that interested in saving face, but it also ensures that his confidence doesn't suffer when things don't go well. He's dangerous even when he's losing. Pereira may have beaten him once, but that doesn't mean anyone should rule him out of a possible rematch.
-
Zhang Weili struggled more than most expected in his UFC strawweight title defense against Yang Xiaonan, but he came through in the end. She had to walk to the victory line on two separate occasions before she finally won by decision. She also had to rely heavily on her rapidly improving wrestling. It paid off tonight against a very tough challenger who was not going to be easy to beat. Weili also becomes an even more difficult puzzle for everyone to solve.
-
With the arrival of Kayla Harrison, business in the women's bantamweight division is looking up. The division has been in a bit of a lull since the retirement of longtime champion Amanda Nunes. But it looks like there's a new reason to be excited about the division, as Harrison showed up by defeating her former champion Holly Holm in her UFC debut. If Harrison can consistently reach her weight, she will be a big problem for other 135-pounders.and Judging by her reaction at home the night of the game.Nunez is also starting to feel a renewed interest in the division with Harrison now that he's here.
