In a competition known for its big showcases and even bigger personalities, the UFC hasn’t quite answered the call from fans to make its milestone card a monster. But make no mistake, UFC 300 is a solid card.
And with the promotion is closing in on its 300th pay-per-view event, the main event is locked in, following an announcement at 298; Brazilian Alex Pereira will defend his Light Heavyweight belt against Chicago native Jamahal Hill, the number one contender in the division.
It comes amid speculation the company’s most rich and recognisable figure Conor McGregor was rumoured to be involved in the show. But it’s likely the Irishman will headline his own event mid-year at some point.
UFC 300 and the major details
With UFC 300 right around the corner, we’ve got everything you need to know about the organisation’s big milestone event.
When is UFC 300
April 13, 2024
Where will UFC 300 be held?
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
The UFC’s previous milestone events, UFC 100 and 200, were both held in the ‘fighting capital of the world’ Las Vegas, so it’s only fitting Sin City hosts the competition’s 300th pay-per-view.
T-Mobile Arena has long been synonymous with some of the UFC’s biggest affairs, including UFC 200, the bout of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, and Australian Alex Volkanovski’s round three victory over Yair Rodriguez to defend the UFC’s Featherweight championship in UFC 290.
Who is fighting at UFC 300?
While Dana White has confirmed that two more fights still need to be added to the card, fight fans have been blessed with a stacked card for UFC 300.
Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill – Light Heavyweight title bout
Zhang Weili vs Yan Xiaonan – Women’s strawweight title bout
Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway – Lightweight bout
Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan – Lightweight bout
Jiri Prochazka vs Aleksandar Rakic – Light heavyweight bout
Aljamain Sterling vs Calvin Kattar – Featherweight bout
Bo Nickal vs Cody Brundage – Middleweight bout
Deiveson Figueiredo vs Cody Garbrandt – Bantamweight bout
Holy Holm vs Kayla Harrison – Women’s bantamweight bout
Sodiq Yusuff vs Diego Lopes – Featherweight bout
Jessica Andrade vs Marina Rodriguez – Women’s strawweight bout
Bobby Green vs Jim Miller – Lightweight bout
Pereira v Hill
Pereira’s Light Heavyweight title goes on the line in 300’s main event.
It’ll be the Brazilian’s first title defence and only third time in the octagon at that weight class; he moved up after surrendering the Middleweight belt back to Israel Adesanya just under a year ago.
He pinched the LH championship from Czech enforcer Jiří Procházka in November, winning via TKO in New York at UFC 295.
The challenger, Jamahal Hill, has put together four straight wins in the octagon — the most recent in January 2023 where he actually claimed the Light Heavyweight belt, but had to vacate it due to injury. Hill comes for what he was forced to hand in.
Despite the clear storylines at play here, fans were left a little underwhelmed, hoping for one of the company’s brightest stars to be announced.
Was Conor McGregor going to fight at UFC 300?
After nearly three years out of the octagon, fight fans worldwide can be forgiven for crying out for a Conor McGregor return. However, their wait may have to last a little longer with the Irishman still unconfirmed for the event.
Dana White left the door open for a McGregor return by hinting two extra fights are still to be added to the UFC 300 card, however hope was put to bed at UFC 298 in mid-Feb when the Pereira headline announcement was made.
With this in mind, many fans still clinging to the faintest hope that McGregor’s highly anticipated UFC return will occur at the event will need to shift their focus to a return to the octagon mid-year.
In a now-deleted tweet, McGregor alluded to his participation in the event, stating; “Picture me running up this motherf@*ker with a chainsaw, UFC 300 is mine!!!”.
It didn’t stop there either, with the Irishman following up that tweet with, “This is Sparta baby, break the panties out”.
However, despite the fanfare and excitement, experts suggest it makes no sense to stack the card as much as fans were wishing, despite the obvious fact it’s a huge milestone event. McGregor will headline a card comfortably on his own, so diluting his presence on the 300 card is not the kind of business decision White would go for.
Who could Conor McGregor fight (eventually)?
Michael Chandler
It’s been reported for months now that Conor McGregor would return to the octagon to face the opposing coach from The Ultimate Fighter, Michael Chandler.
In order for him to fight in UFC 300, McGregor submitted his un-retiring papers and had to wait six months in the USADA ‘testing pool’ before entering the octagon. And step one is in motion after Dana White confirmed that McGregor had filed his paperwork.
“He’s not officially in the USADA testing pool,” White said.
“He submitted the paperwork, probably by Monday (October 30) he’ll be submitted. Again, don’t hold me to that, but the paperwork is submitted, next week sometime.”
This shows Conor McGregor’s first serious move to re-enter the UFC and potentially be the headline fight for UFC 300.
