UFC 300

Review

The event of events, summarized here for you

Wow, was für ein Abend!

Huge names - Huge show!

After covering this sport for over a year and witnessing some truly memorable and historic moments during that time, it's rare that we're left speechless after an event, but that's exactly what happened on Saturday night.

UFC 300 was even more spectacular than anyone could have imagined, with great performances from legends and champions, a moment for the ages thanks to Max Holloway, and so much to unpack that it took most of Sunday to process our thoughts and figure out what to talk about.

A magical evening that reminds us once again why we love this sport and its athletes so much. UFC 300 – now for you in the Corner Review.

Chama & Chapeau, Poatan!

Alex Pereira with a brilliant performance

Since UFC 300 was actually full of main events, we'll start chronologically with the "real" main event of the evening. Jamal Hill challenged Alex Pereira (C) for light heavyweight gold.

A cult classic for every UFC fan, the show began with the Brazilian champion's legendary Bow & Arrow walk-in. Even before referee Herb Dean gave the green light for the dance, the atmosphere at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was filled with goosebumps.

The fight began with both opponents cautiously feeling each other out. While Pereira tried to constantly put pressure on Hill, the American didn't want to reveal his cards and relied on defensive kicks. However, this only worked for about three minutes.

Pereira took the center of the ring with his opponent's back to the cage. Hill attempted another kick, but this time below the belt. Herb Dean spotted this infraction and tried to give Pereira a break with a timeout. However, the Brazilian simply pushed the referee aside, and the fight immediately resumed.

Less than five seconds later, Pereira landed a perfect left hook to Hill's chin, sending him to the floor. After several hammerfists from Pereira, Herb Dean stopped the fight. The main event of UFC 300 was decided after less than one round. An incredible performance by Pereira, who continues to grow his legendary status in the UFC.

The champion is now 7-1 in the UFC, having won gold in two divisions and scoring each of his last five victories against individuals who have held the championship belt at some point—all in less than three years.

Weili Zhang one shoe size too big

Multifaceted women's championship fight

In the co-main event, veteran Zhang Weili (C) and newcomer Yan Xiaonan clashed. Unlike the main event, this one went the full five rounds. These rounds can be perfectly summarized:

In the first round, Yan started well and quickly demonstrated her quick hands. It took Weili a while, but she was then able to exude tremendous dominance and had her challenger in a rear-naked choke at the end of the round, which Yan Xiaonan survived by a whisker. A classic Saved by the Bell moment.

In rounds 2 and 3, Zhang Weili managed to bring her opponent to the mat and demonstrated her class with icy coolness. While the stand-up duel was open, the ground fight was a one-way street. Time and again, she was on the verge of being stopped by the referee.

Towards the end (rounds 4 and 5), Yan Xiaonan, who showed great resilience, was able to repeatedly inflict pinpricks on the somewhat tired-looking champion. However, the latter had long since realized that she needed to move the fight to the ground to avoid any further problems.

Zhang Weili succeeded in doing this - and so the impressive "And Still!" was the title.

The Best is Blessed!

Max Holloway is the star of the evening

The most spectacular moment of UFC 300 night was the fight for the BMF belt between Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje and Max "Blessed" Holloway. This fight took place at lightweight, meaning Holloway moved up a weight class.

Despite this fact, we saw the best Max Holloway of all time. From round 1, the Hawaiian dominated this fight, taking Gaethje's leg kicks like caresses. With great boxing combinations, Holloway was able to repeatedly nudge Gaethje, while the latter only managed to do so once in round 4, when Holloway was knocked down for the first time in UFC history, which, strangely enough, was officially ruled a slip. So, just to recap: Max Holloway has been dominant for five rounds, with ten seconds left on the clock. What happened from then on is pure madness:

With ten seconds left, Holloway points to the center of the ring and invites them to dance one last time. The two opponents swing their fists and go on the offensive. With one second left, Holloway puts Gaethje to sleep and wins the BMF title.

By challenging for one last brawl, Blessed could only lose, as he was clearly ahead on all the judges' scorecards. Nevertheless, with this "Big Balls" move, he became the biggest winner of the evening. A thoroughly deserved "And New!" for the new BMF titleholder, Max Holloway, who also picked up $600,000 in bonuses: $300,000 for Fight of the Night and $300,000 for Performance of the Night. The purse was increased from $50,000 to $300,000 for this special event.

Great moments in the Mega Card

Spectacular fights at UFC 300

In addition to the three incredible main event fights on this card, UFC 300 featured several other stars.

In an exciting fight, Arman Tsarukyan was the better man and survived two close submission moments, defeating former champion Charles Oliveira by split decision.

Bo Nickal opened the main card against Coady Brundage and took a submission win in round 2.

In an incredibly spectacular fight between Alexander Rakic and Jiri Prochazka , the Czech retained the upper hand after a defeated first round, scoring a TKO finish in round 2 and taking home the second bonus of $300,000 for Performance of the Night.

Also victorious were Aljamain Sterling (Dec-unanimous), Kayla Harrison (Sub), Diego Lopes (TKO), Roberto Moicano (TKO), Jessica Andrade (Dec-Split), Bobby Green (Dec-unanimous) & Deiverson Figueirdo (Sub)

What happens next?

Insane fights,
crazy announcements

Direkt nach den Fights wurde natürlich sofort spekuliert, wie es mit den Superstars weitergeht. Für Alex Pereira, der in seinem Post-Fight-Interview mit Joe Rogan einen Move ins Schwergewicht vorschlug, geht es trotzdem wohl noch einmal im Halbschwergewicht zur Sache, eventuell gegen #3 Magomed Ankalaev.

Für Zhang Weili wird die nächste Gegnerin wohl Tatiana Suareg #1 lauten.

Max Holloway hat sich mit seiner atemberaubenden Leistung die Tür für einen Titelkampf gegen Neo-Featherweight-Champion Ilia Topuria ganz weit aufgemacht.

Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, Aleksandar Rakic und Jiri Prochazka zeigten allesamt gute Leistungen die sie für weitere Topfkämpfe in ihrer jeweiligen Division empfehlen. Für die beiden Sieger natürlich etwas weiter oben in der Rangliste.

Als wäre das alles aber noch nicht genug, bekam Dana White bei der Post-Fight-Pressekonferenz einen Schummelzettel mit folgenden Ankündigungen in die Hand gedrückt:

UFC 302, 1. Juli, Makhachev (C) vs Porier

Costa vs Strickland

UFC 303, 29. Juli, McGregor vs Chandler

Wir haben also als Draufgabe zu diesem Mega-Event auch noch endlich das Datum für die Rückkehr von The Notorious. Es fühlt sich an, wie der UFC-Himmel auf Erden!

UFC 300 - Dankeschön!