An entire fight card will be on the line for the first time in MMASucka staff picks history.
Would there be a better card for the occasion than UFC 300? A lineup featuring some of the world’s greatest mixed martial artists will duel for the masses later today, April 13th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Ultimate Fighting Championship reached their first milestone event with UFC 100 in July 2009, followed by UFC 200 in July 2016.
Early preliminary fights will begin at 6:00pm ET (3:00pm PT) on UFC Fight Pass, ESPN, and ESPN+. Regular prelims are to follow at 8:00pm ET (5:00pm PT) on both ESPN and ESPN+. The night’s five-fight main card will be available on pay-per-view available for purchase through ESPN+ starting at 10:00pm ET (7:00pm PT).
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UFC 300 results will be available here at MMASucka.
Be sure to recap our staff picks from Friday’s PFL 2 2024 Regular Season event.
Main Event
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will look to defend his Title against challenger Jamahal Hill in the featured event of the night. Former multi-promotional Kickboxing Champion and former Middleweight Title holder Pereira aims for his first defense of his 205-pound belt after his second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in November. Former divisional Champion Hill vacated the belt in July of last year due to a leg injury just months removed from his fourth consecutive win and Title-crowning performance by decision over Glover Teixeira.
Co-Main Event
A second Championship pairing sees a China versus China matchup in the co-main spot between defending Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili and opponent Yan Xiaonan. Two-time divisional queen Weili returned to the peak with her Title-crowning submission of Carla Esparza in late 2022 and a defense last August by decision over Amanda Lemos. Eight-time octagon victor Xiaonan earned her first Title opportunity with back-to-back victories over Mackenzie Dern by majority decision and, most recently, Jessica Andrade by first-round knockout.
WEILI vs YAN! #UFC300 is LIVE TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus PPV! pic.twitter.com/46kfPjiGpv
— danawhite (@danawhite) April 12, 2024
Main Card
Who is the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s B.M.F.? Fan-favorite veterans Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway will scrap for the honor across five possible five-minute rounds at 155 pounds. Two-time Lightweight Title challenger and former WSOF (PFL) Lightweight Champion Gaethje claimed the symbolic Title with his thrilling head kick knockout over Dustin Poirier last July. After losing his third trilogy bout to Alexander Volkanovski, former UFC Featherweight Champion Holloway saw a successful 2023 calendar year with dominant wins over Arnold Allen and Chan Sung Jung.
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Another fight at lightweight sees Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan looking to steal the show. After losing the UFC Lightweight Championship, 19-time post-fight bonus recipient Charles Oliveira bounced back in June with a thrilling first-round knockout over Beneil Dariush. 27-year-old Tsarukyan is nearing a chance at gold riding a three-bout win streak including finishes over Joaquim Silva and, most recently, the aforementioned Dariush. Both look for a chance to avenge prior losses to current Champion Islam Makhachev.
Middleweights Bo Nickal and Cody Brundage will open the awaiting pay-per-view. Former freestyle wrestler Nickal, the biggest favorite of the night, brings his undefeated run of five professional wins all by stoppage inside the first round. Factory X’s Brundage will look for the upset and a potential third straight victory following a three-fight skid which nearly ended his promotional tenure.
Preliminary Card
Headlining the televised portion of the night features a pivotal light heavyweight meeting between Jiri Prochazka and Aleksandar Rakic. Former RIZIN and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion (209 LBS. – RIZIN), Prochazka, looks for a trip back to the win column after having his 13-fight run snapped to Champion Alex Pereira by second-round knockout in November of last year. Austria’s Rakic makes his highly-anticipated return after months of recovery from shoulder surgery and a canceled pairing with Jan Blachowicz in January.
Technical talents of Calvin Kattar and Aljamain Sterling are set for three rounds in the featherweight division. An October of 2022 knee injury in a matchup with Arnold Allen was Kattar’s second straight defeat as the New England Cartel fighter also makes his octagon return. Former Bantamweight Champion Sterling makes the move up to 145 pounds after losing the belt to current Title holder Sean O’Malley.
Women’s bantamweights Holly Holm and Kayla Harrison bring their legendary resumes to a head. Former divisional Champion and striking great Holm continues her MMA journey at 42 years of age with three wins in her last five fights (excluding a July “No Contest” with Mayra Bueno Silva); most recently, a unanimous decision in March over Yana Santos. Judoka, former Olympic gold medalist, and two-time PFL Lightweight Tournament Champion Harrison makes her first UFC appearance with wins in all but one of her 17 professional bouts.
Television’s first fight of the evening comes in another featherweight pairing with Sodiq Yusuff and Diego Lopes. 2018 Contender Series contract victor Yusuff comes in nearly six months removed from his main event defeat to Edson Barboza as rising Brazilian star Lopes aims for three in a row following quick finishes of Gavin Tucker and Pat Sabatini last year.
Early Preliminary Card
A dangerous matchup comes as the featured early preliminary between Jalin Turner and Renato Moicano. 100% finisher Turner ended his 2023 with a tenth career knockout over Bobby Green as submission ace Moicano returned in February following a nearly 15-month hiatus securing a unanimous decision atop Drew Dober.
Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Jessica Andrade snapped a three-fight finishing skid in November of last year with a second-round knockout over Mackenzie Dern. In the 115-pound division, she will meet Dana White Contender Series Brazil 2 signee Marina Rodriguez who makes her 13th octagon walk while looking for career win number 18.
Veterans Bobby Green and Jim Miller are set to duel for the fans at lightweight. Former two-divisional King of the Cage Champion and 24-time octagon competitor Green saw a two-fight streak snapped to the aforementioned Jalin Turner by knockout in December. Multi-category promotional record holder Miller will leave his footprint in history as he will have fought at UFC 100, UFC 200, and UFC 300.
One of the night’s most anticipated brawls sees Deiveson Figueiredo and Cody Garbrandt ready to battle at 135 pounds. Two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Figueiredo saw success in his December bantamweight debut securing a decisive decision over Rob Font. Oppositely, former divisional Title holder Garbrandt turned the tides with back-to-back wins in 2023 over Trevin Jones by decision and Brian Kelleher by first-round knockout.
See further below for our picks and betting predictions for UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill.
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Staff Picks
MMASucka staff picks are composed of four of the world’s leading mixed martial arts organizations: the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the Professional Fighters League (PFL) with Bellator MMA, ONE Championship (ONE FC), and Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS).
- UFC picks will include main card fights ranging from four to six matchups per event (full UFC 300 card).
- PFL and Bellator MMA see picks from main cards for pay-per-views and from tournament fights in the Regular Season, Playoffs, and Finals.
- ONE FC and DWCS picks will feature all MMA fights from the event with a minimum of three matchups.
The individual who picks the most victorious fighters by the end of 2024 will have a choice between receiving a custom-made championship belt from ProAmBelts or a detailed chain from Championship Chains. Staff picks in 2023 were won by Ben Jamieson with a record of 300-148.
Who has the MMASucka crew picked to win at UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill? Find out below.
RECORDS AFTER UFC VEGAS 90:
1. Nate Freeman: 70-37
2. Wesley Riddle: 65-42
3. Frazer Krohn: 63-44
4. Michael DeSantis: 62-37
5. Jeremy Brand: 61-46
6. Andrew Benjamin: 44-46
7. Lukas DeWitt: 32-29
8. Julio Monteros Jr.: 28-11
9. Michael Kachan: 11-7
10. Casey Cooper: 4-5
*Note – not all staff pick for every event*
*Note – PFL 2 2024 picks will be added to records NEXT weekend*
Deiveson Figueiredo (22-3-1), -300
vs.
Cody Garbrandt (14-5), +240
BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION
– EARLY PRELIMS –
– 135 LBS. ~ 61.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Figueiredo via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Figueiredo via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Garbrandt via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Garbrandt via Split Decision
Nate Freeman: Figueiredo via Round 2 TKO
Staff picking Figueiredo: 4
Staff picking Garbrandt: 2
Bobby Green (31-15-1, 1 NC), -185
vs.
Jim Miller (37-17), +150
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
– EARLY PRELIMS –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Green via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Miller via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Miller via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Miller via Round 2 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Miller via Round 2 SUB
Nate Freeman: Miller via Split Decision
Staff picking Green: 1
Staff picking Miller: 5
Jessica Andrade (25-12), -140
vs.
Marina Rodriguez (17-3-2), +115
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHT DIVISION
– EARLY PRELIMS –
– 115 LBS. ~ 52.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Andrade via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Rodriguez via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Andrade via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Andrade via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Rodriguez via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Rodriguez via Split Decision
Staff picking Andrade: 3
Staff picking Rodriguez: 3
Jalin Turner (14-7), -250
vs.
Renato Moicano (18-5-1), +195
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
– EARLY PRELIM HEADLINER –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Turner via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Moicano via Round 2 SUB
Michael DeSantis: Turner via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Moicano via Round 3 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Turner via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Turner via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Turner: 4
Staff picking Moicano: 2
Sodiq Yusuff (13-3), +125
vs.
Diego Lopes (23-6), -150
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Lopes via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Lopes via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Lopes via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Yusuff via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Lopes via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Lopes via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Yusuff: 1
Staff picking Lopes: 5
Holly Holm (15-6, 1 NC), +340
vs.
Kayla Harrison (16-1), -440
WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 135 LBS. ~ 61.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Harrison via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Harrison via Split Decision
Michael DeSantis: Harrison via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Holm via Split Decision
Frazer Krohn: Harrison via Round 3 TKO
Nate Freeman: Harrison via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Holm: 1
Staff picking Harrison: 5
Calvin Kattar (23-7), +145
vs.
Aljamain Sterling (23-4), -175
FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIMS –
– 145 LBS. ~ 65.8 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Kattar via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Sterling via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Sterling via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Kattar via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Sterling via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Sterling via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Kattar: 2
Staff picking Sterling: 4
Jiri Prochazka (29-4-1), -105
vs.
Aleksandar Rakic (14-3), -115
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
– PRELIM HEADLINER –
– 205 LBS. ~ 93.0 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Rakic via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Prochazka via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Prochazka via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Prochazka via Round 1 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Prochazka via Round 2 TKO
Nate Freeman: Prochazka via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Prochazka: 5
Staff picking Rakic: 1
Bo Nickal (5-0), -2000
vs.
Cody Brundage (10-5), +950
MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN CARD –
– 185 LBS. ~ 83.9 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Nickal via Round 1 SUB
Wesley Riddle: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Nickal via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Nickal via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Nickal via Round 1 SUB
Nate Freeman: Nickal via Round 1 TKO
Staff picking Nickal: 6
Staff picking Brundage: 0
Charles Oliveira (34-9, 1 NC), +185
vs.
Arman Tsarukyan (21-3), -225
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
– MAIN CARD –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Tsarukyan via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Tsarukyan via Unanimous Decision
Michael DeSantis: Oliveira via Round 2 SUB
Andrew Benjamin: Oliveira via Round 1 SUB
Frazer Krohn: Oliveira via Round 1 TKO
Nate Freeman: Tsarukyan via Round 2 SUB
Staff picking Oliveira: 3
Staff picking Tsarukyan: 3
Justin Gaethje (26-4), -150
vs.
Max Holloway (25-7), +125
LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION
– BMF TITLE –
– 155 LBS. ~ 70.3 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Gaethje via Unanimous Decision
Wesley Riddle: Gaethje via Round 4 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Gaethje via Unanimous Decision
Andrew Benjamin: Holloway via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Holloway via Unanimous Decision
Nate Freeman: Gaethje via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Gaethje: 4
Staff picking Holloway: 2
Zhang Weili (24-3), +390
vs.
Yan Xiaonan (17-3, 1 NC), -550
STRAWWEIGHT DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
– CO-MAIN EVENT –
– 115 LBS. ~ 52.2 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Weili via Round 2 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Weili via Round 5 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Weili via Round 5 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Weili via Unanimous Decision
Frazer Krohn: Weili via Round 5 TKO
Nate Freeman: Weili via Unanimous Decision
Staff picking Weili: 6
Staff picking Xiaonan: 0
Alex Pereira (9-2), -135
vs.
Jamahal Hill (12-1), +110
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
– MAIN EVENT –
– 205 LBS. ~ 93.0 KG. –
Jeremy Brand: Hill via Round 1 TKO
Wesley Riddle: Pereira via Round 1 TKO
Michael DeSantis: Pereira via Round 2 TKO
Andrew Benjamin: Pereira via Round 2 TKO
Frazer Krohn: Pereira via Round 4 TKO
Nate Freeman: Pereira via Round 3 TKO
Staff picking Pereira: 5
Staff picking Hill: 1
Only one will leave as the LWH Champ tomorrow night 🏆@AlexPereiraUFC vs @JamahalH
[ Main Card | live TOMORROW on @ESPNPlus PPV | 10pmET/7pmPT | #UFC300 ] pic.twitter.com/z3Z2FIoDCm
— UFC (@ufc) April 12, 2024
