Happy UFC Christmas fight fans!
Just in case some of you have recently emerged from a long-term coma or the wifi-less wastes of some massive desert, we’re just a few hours away from the biggest fight card of the year. UFC 300 is absolutely stacked, and it’s scheduled to go down TONIGHT (Sat., April 13, 2024) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (start time = 6 p.m. ET).
Twelve former or current champions. A bunch of the most exciting action fighters on the roster. Beloved veterans and an Olympian debutant. What more could a red-blooded fight fan possibly ask for?!?
In celebration of the monumental event, I’ve taken the time to break down and predict every single fight on the card in considerable detail. Included are the betting odds for the straight outcome and prop bets, which I do not take into consideration for my prediction. Below are the outcomes I feel most likely, as well as the reasoning.
Do with this information what you will (which is to say, don’t nag me on Twitter if a +800 prop bet doesn’t pay off for you). If you’d like an alternate perspective that’s fully focused on the betting side, please take a look at my fellow MMAmania.com writer Patrick Stumberg’s best bets and breakdowns.
Enough preamble, let’s recap all these predictions, starting from the top!
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Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill
Prediction: Jamahal Hill via knockout (+180)
Bottom Line: Hill is younger, more athletic, and more likely to win the wrestling battle if these two grapple at any point.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Zhang Weili vs. Xiaonan Yan
Prediction: Zhang Weili via decision (+175)
Bottom Line: Weili is unbelievably athletic, can likely win the kickboxing battle, and holds a significant wrestling advantage.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Max Holloway vs. Justin Gaethje
Prediction: Holloway via knockout (+800)
Bottom Line: Holloway is inhumanly durable, smart enough to hit the body, and the much cleaner technician in prolonged exchanges.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
Prediction: Oliveira via knockout (+800)
Bottom Line: Tsarukyan doesn’t have the defensive savvy of Islam Makhachev, meaning he’s not going to be able to safely implement his striking or wrestling attack.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
Prediction: Nickal via submission (-110)
Bottom Line: Nickal is the biggest favorite in UFC history, and Brundage hasn’t shown any of the skills needed to stop his ground assault.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic
Prediction: Prochazka via knockout (+180)
Bottom Line: Prochazka is too difficult to hold down forever, and once on the feet, Rakic’s possible ring rust is going to be a problem in the face of Prochazka’s chaotic offense.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Aljamain Sterling vs. Calvin Kattar
Prediction: Calvin Kattar via decision (+275)
Bottom Line: Katter is a stellar defensive wrestler, and Sterling will be without his usual height and reach advantages.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Kayla Harrison vs. Holly Holm
Prediction: Harrison via decision (+120)
Bottom Line: Harrison is younger, bigger, and a far superior grappler.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Sodiq Yusuff vs. Diego Lopes
Prediction: Yusuff via decision (+250)
Bottom Line: Yusuff has the power to hurt Lopes and the wrestling to control him, as well as an overall technical edge on the feet.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Jessica Andrade vs. Mayrina Rodriguez
Prediction: Andrade via submission (+600)
Bottom Line: Andrade may or may not win the stand up battle, but her wrestling and jiu-jitsu are worlds ahead of her opponent.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Jalin Turner vs. Renato Moicano
Prediction: Turner via knockout (-135)
Bottom Line: Turner is way too big for Moicano to hold down, and he hits brutally hard.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
Prediction: Green via decision (+140)
Bottom Line: Green has the wrestling to keep this one standing, where he’s the faster, sharper, and more high-volume boxer.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
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Cody Garbrandt vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
Prediction: Garbrandt via decision (+550)
Bottom Line: Garbrandt will have a significant speed advantage, allowing him to get in-and-out of Figueiredo’s wide swings.
Click HERE for the full breakdown!
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 300 fight card right here, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), before the pay-per-view (PPV) main card start time at 10 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 300: “Pereira vs. Hill” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.