A monumental day is approaching for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
UFC 300 will take place next year on Saturday, April 13th from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be the promotion’s tenth event of the calendar year but, most importantly, a historic milestone for the world’s leading mixed martial arts company. The card comes as the UFC’s 300th pay-per-view dating back to UFC 1: The Beginning on November 12th, 1993; the first-ever event for the promotion over 30 years ago. UFC 100 in July of 2009 and UFC 200 in July of 2016 both proved successful at their historic moments; the promotion stacking each undercard, prelim, and main card with a strong lineup of hungry competitors.
With UFC 300 just under four months away, speculation has begun for who will be fighting at the event. On Thursday, December 21st, UFC President Dana White announced the card’s first three matchups: Jiri Prochazka versus Aleksandar Rakic at light heavyweight, Aljamain Sterling versus Calvin Kattar at featherweight, and Bo Nickal versus Cody Brundage at middleweight. Who and what fights are next?
This following list and likely the actual card sees the absence of those partaking in Ramadan, as the Muslim holiday runs concurrent in the weeks and days leading up to the card. Additionally, no fighters from outer-promotions were included. Some fighters that have secured recent victories over listed opponents have not been added. Lastly, no fight pairings are listed, but some in the list could be matched with one another.
Here are 20 recommendations for fighters who should compete at UFC 300.
20. Andrei Arlovski
Heavyweight | 34-22, 2 NC
Andrei Arlovski is ranked number two in the record book with most fights and most wins in Ultimate Fighting Championship history. Although the seasoned veteran will be 45 by the time this event takes place, the former UFC Heavyweight Champion has yet to publicly announce plans for retirement. Arlovski would be looking to snap a two-fight finishing skid after having a four-fight run of victories from April of 2021 to April of 2022 come to an end.
19. Clay Guida
Lightweight | 38-24
One of the most recognizable faces in UFC history comes Clay Guida. An octagon veteran of 36 fights, the former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion turned 42 at the beginning of the December month as he nears what are likely the final bouts of his mixed martial arts career. Guida’s first UFC event fell at UFC 64 in October of 2006 and missed out on both prior milestone cards, and despite a current two-fight losing skid, let’s make his third time the charm on the largest possible stage.
18. Raul Rosas Jr.
Bantamweight | 8-1
On Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, then-17-year-old Raul Rosas Jr. made his name known earning a contract to become the youngest fighter ever with the promotion. At 18 years of age, he become the youngest fighter in promotional history to have his hand raised. Now, with his first career loss in April of this year and a second UFC win in September, the 19-year-old continues his path towards his ultimate goal of becoming a World Champion. Why not showcase Rosas Jr. in what will likely be the biggest card of all-time?
17. Matt Brown
Welterweight | 24-19
The Ultimate Fighter 7 semifinalist 30-fight UFC competitor Matt Brown, similar to that of the aforementioned Guida, did not contest at UFC 100 or UFC 200 despite being under contract at both times. He sits with a 4-4 record since 2017 having finished the four wins by knockout inside the first two rounds including his most recent victory in March over Court McGee. Another finish would move Brown to third all-time for stoppages with another knockout moving him to a tie for first all-time. Let there be an opportunity for these at UFC 300.
OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!!!!!! @IAmTheImmortal | #UFCCharlotte pic.twitter.com/dgUmagrfUN
— UFC (@ufc) May 13, 2023
16. Miesha Tate
Bantamweight | 20-9
A wild turn of events at 2016’s UFC 200 saw former Strikeforce Bantamweight Champion Miesha Tate in the night’s headliner looking to defend her UFC Championship against a then-challenging Amanda Nunes. The fight, unfortunately, did not go in her favor, with Tate having only two wins in seven fights following her loss of the 135-pound title. She did, however, bounce back weeks ago at UFC on ESPN 52 with a one-sided victory in the third round by submission over Julia Avila. Give the women’s MMA pioneer another go to avenge the prior historic defeat.
15. Tatsuro Taira
Flyweight | 15-0
Okinawa, Japan’s Tatsuro Taira is arguably the UFC’s hottest prospect. Having amassed an undefeated run of 15 professional victories including his 2021 capturing of Shooto’s Flyweight Championship, the 23-year-old is ready for a step up in competition. Taira’s December 9th stoppage of Carlos Hernandez was his fifth pairing with the company, and with fight number six on the horizon, why not give the rising star a platform to showcase his growing skillset?
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14. Dominick Cruz
Bantamweight | 24-4
Another fighter nearing retirement sees former WEC and former two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz. A multitude of injuries had kept the Alliance MMA veteran sidelined between 2017 and 2019. Since 2020, Cruz has won twice and lost twice having spent the current year inactive from professional competition. If there is a time for the unorthodox talent to make a return, and if all stays in good health across the next few months, a fight night for Cruz in April would be the one.
13. Jim Miller
Lightweight | 36-17, 1 NC
Out of all considerations on this list, Jim Miller will most likely be part of UFC 300. His request for the card appeared to be granted by UFC President Dana White a few short weeks ago; however, the shot could be taken away dependent on the result of his upcoming January bout with Gabriel Benitez. Miller holds multiple octagon records with the most fights, wins, and submission attempts in UFC history (42) with wins at UFC 100 over Mac Danzig by decision and UFC 200 over Takanori Gomi by first-round knockout. How cool would it be to see him achieve the three-peat?
12. Derrick Lewis
Heavyweight | 27-12, 1 NC
Former Legacy FC Heavyweight Champion Derrick Lewis is the persona a card of such status needs. Not only would it be for his entertaining pre- or post-fight interviews but for his devastating power having 22 of his 27 victories come by way of knockout, including his blistering 33-second, “Performance of the Night” receiving stoppage of Marcos Rogerio de Lima at UFC 291. The all-time UFC knockout recordholder turns 39 in February and has only won fight in his last five fights, but his finishing nature poses an unpredictable threat for anyone that stands in his way.
11. Edson Barboza
Featherweight | 24-11
Edson Barboza is considered by many as one of the greatest strikers in MMA history. His dynamic arsenal of arm and leg strikes has resulted in the most “Fight of the Night” bonuses in the company’s 30 years at nine in addition to the fourth-most knockouts at 16 total. 2023 was a big year for Barboza winning by knockout over Billy Quarantillo in April and, most recently, a comeback over Sodiq Yusuff in across five rounds in October. Find another standup talent to pair in the opposite corner and UFC 300 would have a sure contender for “2024 Fight of the Year.”
You can NEVER count Edson Barboza out! 👏
Does this Comeback earn #UFCHonors this year?
🗳️ Voting starts on Dec 26th pic.twitter.com/lZHCoIqR1a
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 21, 2023
10. Michael Chandler
Lightweight | 23-8
An outspoken and charismatic personality that has blossomed in recent years is that of Michael Chandler. The former NCAA Division I Wrestler and three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion spent this year sidelined from competition after his Season 31 coaching of The Ultimate Fighter with fellow competitor Conor McGregor. His tenure with the UFC has been nothing short of thrilling in both victory and defeat despite a lone knockout of Tony Ferguson being his only win in his last three outings. Nonetheless, Chandler is another face that could be huge for the upcoming April date.
9. Nate Diaz
Welterweight | 21-13
The Ultimate Fighter 5 tournament victor and 16 post-fight UFC bonus recipient, Nate Diaz, is in the free agency pool as his future with an organization remains unknown. He last left us with a fourth-round guillotine choke at UFC 279 over Tony Ferguson; his first win since Anthony Pettis in August of 2019 and stoppage since Conor McGregor in March of 2016. Diaz was intended to rematch McGregor at UFC 200 but was removed after McGregor failed media obligations. Although pairing these two together seems unlikely, there is some opportunity for Diaz to get a mega fight in a hopeful octagon return.
8. Alexa Grasso
Flyweight | 16-3-1
Mexico’s first-ever female UFC Champion, Alexa Grasso, is among those considered for 2023’s “Fighter of the Year.” Her fourth round submission at UFC 285 in March over all-time great Valentina Shevchenko followed by her retaining of the belt in a September headlining rematch added to her growing legacy at just 30 years of age. After a UFC 300 fight suggestion from 115-pound title holder Zhang Weili, Grasso responded with her interest of defending the championship against the lighter opponent. Even if this fight is not the one to happen, an appearance from Grasso at the milestone card has unquestionably been earned.
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7. Max Holloway
Featherweight | 25-7
Max Holloway, the former interim and three-time defending UFC Featherweight Champion, is another fighter known for his all-time abilities in the striking department. Hosting a large degree of records in the featherweight division as well as connecting with the most all-time strikes in UFC history, the Hawaiian native sits at 4-1 in his last five with an impressive 2023 calendar year including a dominant five-round decision in April over Arnold Allen and an August knockout in the third over Chan Sung Jung.
6. Dustin Poirier
Lightweight | 29-8, 1 NC
A tweet from Dustin Poirier earlier this month hinted at his interest to compete at the milestone event. Fight fans grew excited with the post at hopes the former interim UFC Lightweight Champion and two-time title challenger gets scheduled. Despite losing his only 2023 appearance to Justin Gaethje, “The Diamond” never comes short of being a threat for the championship as he continues his well-rounded evolution at 155 pounds. Everyone is in agreement for a Poirier appearance at UFC 300.
300💎
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) December 17, 2023
5. Zhang Weili
Strawweight | 24-3
Champion versus champion has a nice ring to it. In the previously-mentioned #8, current UFC Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili called for a potential meeting with current 125-pound Champion Alexa Grasso in a superfight between two of the world’s greatest female MMA fighters. There are, however, alternative options if Grasso gets a different card. Weili is currently on her second run as the division’s title holder having three straight wins since 2022 including an August defense at UFC 292 versus Amanda Lemos; the string coming after back-to-back 2021 losses in championship fights against Rose Namajunas.
4. Charles Oliveira
Lightweight| 34-9, 1 NC
Charles Oliveira’s late career run from 2018 to 2023 was been astoundingly inspiring. Winning twelve of his last 13 fights, the former UFC Lightweight Champion has earned his status as one of the greatest in both 155-pound and promotional history. Oliveira holds various organizational records including most finishes (20), submission wins (16), and “Fight Night” bonuses (19) across all weight classes. At 34 years of age, he still has time remaining in his career despite an amassed total of 44 MMA bouts, so give him the historic placement he deserves.
3. Alex Pereira
Light Heavyweight | 9-2
There has never been a fighter only seven fights into their UFC career that has accomplished what Alex Pereira has done. The former two-divisional Glory Light Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion firstly took the 185-pound UFC title with his November win last year over Israel Adesanya. Although he would lose the belt in his MMA rematch, Pereira would close out this year with a split decision over Jan Blachowicz and his taking of the Light Heavyweight Championship over Jiri Prochazka last month at UFC 295. An opponent is up for debate, but a defense at UFC 300 is the move.
#AndNew #UFC295 pic.twitter.com/bwk1xT7cHm
— danawhite (@danawhite) November 12, 2023
2. Jon Jones
Heavyweight | 27-1, 1 NC
One of the all-time greats in MMA, Jon Jones, was forced out of his UFC 295 main event in November versus Stipe Miocic after suffering a pectoral tendon tear in late October. Without a controversial disqualification in late 2009 to Matt Hamill and an overturned third-round knockout of Daniel Cormier in the summer of 2017, the former two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion would be undefeated in professional MMA competition dating back to his beginnings in 2008. Jones fought at UFC 100 and was also on tap for UFC 200 until suffering a doping violation. The chance for April 2023 is slim following the injury, but if the healing is miraculously quick, let us get him scheduled.
1. Conor McGregor
Lightweight | 22-6
Could it be more obvious? Conor McGregor, as mentioned in #13, was supposed to fight at UFC 200 until failing media obligations that forced him out of the highly-anticipated fight with Nate Diaz. He re-entered the USADA pool in early October, and even with a two-fight losing skid and absent of a win since early 2020, McGregor would be the best and most logistical pick for headlining a card such as April’s. All signs, at the moment, point to “The Notorious” as being the face of April’s UFC 300.
🏊♂️ pic.twitter.com/rem6aHYWkA
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 11, 2023
Fights for April’s UFC 300 will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned to MMASucka for all your MMA interviews, news, coverage, and more.
