As you may have already heard, Saturday's UFC 300 is a pretty big event. Huge, some might say. The greatest night in the history of unarmed combat, that might be how UFC President Dana White describes it.
Whether you're measuring viewership, live gate reception, or just plain old fan hype, there's no question that UFC 300 is one of the biggest MMA pay-per-views in recent years. But why is this the case, and what are the stories and statistics behind the 13 games on Saturday's card? I'm glad you asked. Here's a quick introduction to UFC 300 from bottom to top.
Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt
Who are they: Figueiredo is a former UFC flyweight champion known for his fast and frenetic fighting style. Garbrandt is a former UFC bantamweight champion who once had a smooth, powerful striking, but has since become obsessed with stretching his legs and throwing bombs (and getting knocked out).
Why it's important: I have two questions here. Can Figueiredo become a true contender in the 135-pound division? And can Garbrandt win three straight fights and prove that losses and unrealized potential are in the rearview mirror?
Number to remember: 2016. This year was the last time Garbrandt won three consecutive championships. This was also the last time he was a UFC champion.
Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
Who are they: Green is the type of striker who thinks wasting his hands to protect his face is the wrong way to use them, and he'll be talking from start to finish once the game starts. Miller is the very definition of a savvy veteran in this game, holding the distinction of being the only man to have fought in UFC 100, UFC 200, and now UFC 300.
Why it's important: This is not about ranking lightweight title pictures. Rather, it is about the history and unfinished business of these two men. Plus, it's just a fun clash of styles, pitting Miller's submission game against Green's smooth, unconventional striking.
Number to remember: two. This is the number of times Green has competed in MMA matches. Both appeared early in his career, and neither was in the UFC.
Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez
Who are they: Andrade is a former UFC strawweight champion who has moved back and forth between 125 and 115 pounds. Rodriguez was once a fighter on a tear, until consecutive losses stalled his momentum.
Why it's important: This is one of those matches where you take two fighters who are on the brink of getting noticed again or steadily declining, lock them in a room together, and tell them to work it out between the two of them. is.
Number to remember: Five. That is the difference in height between these two in inches. At just over 5 feet tall, Andrade is no doubt used to being a short fighter by now.
Jalin Turner vs. Renato Moicano
Who are they: Turner is a lightweight who loves tarantulas (actually, this guy owns spiders and seems to really love them), but he stumbles when he climbs high enough to face some of the best fighters in the division. Ta. Moicano is an outspoken money enthusiast, fighter and YouTuber who invites us into his frenzied exploration of fiat currencies.
Why it's important: Turner is ranked 10th in the 155-pound weight class and Moicano is ranked 13th. It's not quite in the realm of a really serious candidate, but it's almost there. If either of them wins here, their ranking could rise to single digits.
Number to remember: 10. This is Moicano's number of submission wins. And he takes it to the cage against someone he's never submitted to before.
Sodiq Yousaf vs. Diego Lopez
Who are they: Yusaf is a hard-charging featherweight who has defeated every intermediate-level fighter he has ever faced, only losing to a truly established fighter. Lopez is a guy who looks like he belongs on Warped Tour in 2008, but he's actually very good at fighting.
Why it's important: It's probably the least star-studded match on the card, but it could be a very fun match to watch, especially if Lopez has his way.
Number to remember: zero. That's the number of fighters Lopez has defeated in the featherweight ranks. Yusaf may be his first.
Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison
Who are they: Holm, a former UFC bantamweight champion, is unlikely to be able to recapture her glory days when she knocked out Ronda Rousey and became a champion, but she is still in a tough spot in her 40s. Harrison is a two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo and finally made his UFC debut after years of beating the competition in the PFL.
Why it's important: Harrison, 33, had already passed his first test when he weighed in at 136 pounds for the first time in his career on Friday. Judging by the pain on her haggard face at the weigh-in, it wasn't easy. Harrison is the heavy favorite, but Holm is good enough to expose an opponent who may have left her best on the sauna floor.
Number to remember: Nine. The age difference between these two. Another way Holm, 42, thinks about it…is she has a lot of experience on her side?
Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
Who are they: Kattar is a stubborn boxer who is trying to rise to the top of the featherweight division, but he keeps hitting his head against the ceiling. Sterling recently became bantamweight champion, but he decided to try his luck this time by moving up to a weight class where it would be easier to make weight.
Why it's important: Qatar need a win to get back on the map after losing three of their last four matches. Sterling is trying to figure out if his wrestling-based style will work against larger opponents who can't be easily thrown around.
Number to remember: four. That's how many inches of height Sterling is giving up here. And he's not used to being the little guy in that cage.
Jiří Prochaska vs. Aleksandar Rakić
Who are they: Prohaska is a dynamic former 205-pound champion who is also so delightfully weird that it seems like a natural fit for him. Rakic is a big, scary-looking light heavyweight who should be more successful — or at least fun to watch — than his recent bouts.
Why it's important: If the UFC had a European title, this would be a legitimate fight to decide its fate. Prochaska needs a rebound after being stopped with strikes to regain the 205-pound belt. But if Rakic can beat him, all of a sudden he's in the conversation.
Number to remember: 25. This is the number of knockout wins Prochaska has achieved so far. And he has only fought 34 games in total.
Bo Niccal vs. Cody Brundage
Who are they: Nickal was a three-time U.S. champion as a wrestler and quickly became one of MMA's brightest prospects as soon as he hung up the gloves. Brundage (10-5, 5 KOs) is the guy the UFC called up to fight next.
Why it's important: This should be the next in a series of showcase fights for Nickal (5-0, 2 KOs). He has yet to have a match longer than one round, and his last match showed that he has learned some striking to complement his world-class wrestling skills. Brundage is treated as a human sacrifice, but he could soon be the (very unlikely) victor here.
Number to remember: +1200. That's how big an underdog Brundage was at one point. This is unheard of in the UFC. If he wins this, it could be the biggest upset in UFC history.
Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Who are they: Oliveira is a beloved former lightweight champion; ton It's about fan support. Tsarukyan is an up-and-coming fighter who plays the role of a villain to many fans simply because he's the guy who has to fight Oliveira.
Why it's important: Simply put, the winner here will likely win the lightweight title next. Oliveira has already defeated one of his top contenders, defeating Beneil Dariush, who also knocked out Tsarukian in his last fight. Tsarukyan is trying to prove he's different while injecting new blood into his title picture.
Number to remember: Nine. If you know what the judges are looking at in his fight with Mateusz Gamrot, this is Tsarukian's winning streak.
Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway
Who are they: Now you know who they are. Gaethje is the most hilarious knockout she artist in this division. Holloway is a former featherweight champion who is moving up in weight for this one-time special attraction.
Why it's important: Officially, it's a completely ceremonial “BMF” title (an acronym that stands for the same thing Samuel L. Jackson's character had stamped on his wallet in “Pulp Fiction”). But this match doesn't need a belt to be special. A wild and crazy combination to see who will emerge from this dust cloud with their faces and consciousness intact. And it should be a lot of fun.
Number to remember: 47. This is the total number of rounds Holloway has fought in his last 10 fights. On the other hand, it should end up costing you dearly, right? On the other hand, obviously this is someone who knows how to show up and go to work.
Zhang Weili vs Yang Xiaonan
Who are they: Chan is the current strawweight champion and has been on a roll since first winning the belt in 2019. Yang is the clear top contender and also helped the UFC land its first title match between two Chinese fighters.
Why it's important: The belt is on the line, it's currently held by the champion, and it looks like she can hold it for a long, long time. Isn't that enough?
Number to remember: 2013.This was the last time Weili lost to someone. do not have It was named Rose Namajunas.
Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill
Who are they: Pereira is the current 205-pound champion, defeating Prochaska to win the vacant title. After less than three full years in the UFC, he won his second UFC belt in two weight classes. Hill is a former champion who ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing basketball, of all things, and took his belt for coffee before relinquishing it.
Why it's important: In the post-Jon Jones era, the light heavyweight division has struggled mightily to find lasting stability at the top. There is a good chance that the player who wins here will change things. Also? When you combine two big, lanky strikers, score a lot of knockouts, and can't get any wins by submission, that should be a recipe for a violent and memorable main event.
Number to remember: 15. That's the number of months since Hill's last fight, a decision victory over Pereira's longtime coach Glover Teixeira. This will be the longest layoff of his professional career. And with his injury, it's not particularly easy for him to bounce back from that.
