April 13 marks what needs to be one of many largest occasions in MMA historical past, as UFC 300 hits Las Vegas. The one difficulty is that, proper now, the occasion doesn’t have a headline bout.
Plenty of high-profile fights have been introduced for UFC 300, however nothing that stands out as a most important occasion – so what could possibly be that struggle?
There are a selection of choices for the promotion, and whereas the likes of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones received’t be concerned, they might nonetheless put collectively an enormous headliner.
With that in thoughts, listed below are 5 potential headliners for UFC 300.
#5. UFC gentle heavyweight title: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
It’s debatable that by way of the champions who could be out there to headline UFC 300, present gentle heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira is the most important star.
The previous middleweight titleholder turned the promotion’s newest two-division champion by knocking out former kingpin Jiri Prochazka in November, regardless of solely having one earlier struggle at 205 kilos.
Theoretically, ‘Poatan’ needs to be able to go once more by April, and if that’s the case, probably the most logical challenger for him from a sporting perspective can be Magomed Ankalaev.
Certain, that’d imply leapfrogging Jamahal Hill, who vacated the title in his personal proper final yr. However he received’t be able to return till the summer season, and in the case of an enormous occasion like this, wants should.
Ankalaev knocked out Johnny Walker this previous weekend, hasn’t misplaced a struggle since 2018, and a few argue deserved to win the title when he went to a controversial draw with Jan Blachowicz in December 2022 anyway.
Okay, so the Dagestani isn’t probably the most marketable challenger, however Pereira’s star energy in addition to the occasion itself ought to promote the bout, and it’d in all probability show to be a cool struggle to observe anyway.
If Dana White and firm need a simple choice, then that is it.
#4. UFC interim heavyweight title: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
Present interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is at present backed right into a nook considerably. The native of the UK is determined for a unification bout with reigning champ Jon Jones, however there are just a few points with that.
Firstly, Jones is injured and might be out for a prolonged whereas but. Secondly, ‘Bones’ has set his sights on a struggle with Stipe Miocic and seemingly isn’t thinking about going through Aspinall. And thirdly, Dana White and firm appear completely satisfied to let this occur.
If Aspinall can’t get a struggle with Jones, then, one of the best ways for the Mancunian to essentially promote himself because the world’s greatest heavyweight proper now would certainly be to defend his interim crown.
If he may do that within the headline bout of an occasion like UFC 300, then the highlight can be on him like by no means earlier than, and if he may win, that could possibly be sufficient to entice Jones into going through him.
Who can be the perfect opponent for Aspinall on this occasion? In all probability former interim titleholder Ciryl Gane. The French striker continues to be ranked at No.2 within the division and is coming off a robust win over Serghei Spivac final September.
He’d positively relish one other crack on the gold, whereas if Aspinall may take him out with the identical ease that Jones did, it’d solely strengthen his declare because the promotion’s high heavyweight.
Certain, headlining an enormous occasion like this with an interim title struggle would possibly really feel bizarre, but it surely may additionally make sense, too.
#3. UFC middleweight title: Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev
This weekend’s UFC headliner will see a middleweight title bout between champion Sean Strickland and Dricus du Plessis. The struggle could effectively find yourself being a battle, that means that any thought of the winner competing in April turns into not possible.
Nonetheless, if the struggle ends rapidly, then there’s each probability that the champion, be it ‘Tarzan’ or ‘Stillknocks’, will need to compete on what needs to be 2024’s largest occasion.
If that’s the case, then the most important attainable struggle for them would undoubtedly be in opposition to Khamzat Chimaev.
One of many quickest rising stars within the promotion proper now, ‘Borz’ final fought in opposition to former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman in October, beating him over three rounds.
That win was rumoured to have been sufficient to cement a title shot for the Chechen, however a hand harm suffered within the struggle meant that the shot went to du Plessis as an alternative.
By April, although, Chimaev needs to be again, and a conflict between him and both Strickland or du Plessis can be enormous – and would positively be sufficient to headline a colossal occasion like this.
#2. UFC welterweight title: Leon Edwards vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov
The struggle that has been linked with UFC 300’s most important occasion probably the most is a welterweight title bout pitting champion Leon Edwards in opposition to No.2-ranked Belal Muhammad.
To a sure extent, the struggle is sensible. Muhammad has not been overwhelmed since 2019 and has received 9 of his final 10 bouts. Extra importantly, the one struggle he didn’t win was a No Contest with Edwards, previous to the UK-based fighter’s title win.
Nonetheless, if we’re sincere, Edwards vs. Muhammad 2 simply doesn’t appear to be the form of huge struggle that might headline this April’s mega-event.
Certain, ‘Rocky’ has headlined huge exhibits earlier than and has been concerned in loads of huge fights, however Muhammad isn’t all that thrilling and doesn’t appear to have the followers behind him.
Due to this fact, if the promotion needs to headline with a welterweight title conflict, they need to pit Edwards in opposition to No.3-ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov as an alternative.
‘Nomad’ is the most well liked contender within the division proper now, holding an unbeaten 18-0 report. He additionally defeated Stephen Thompson in December, making him brisker within the thoughts of the followers than Muhammad.
Most significantly, although, Rakhmonov is way extra thrilling than his title rival and will take off because the promotion’s subsequent huge star with a win.
General, ‘Remember the Name’ may in all probability afford to take a seat out and look forward to his shot – leaving Edwards and the Kazakh native to duel it out in an enormous bout in Las Vegas.
#1. UFC gentle heavyweight title: Alex Pereira vs. Israel Adesanya
As was mentioned earlier, it feels just like the most definitely champion out there to headline UFC 300 is gentle heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira. And positive, it’s true that within the absence of Jamahal Hill, probably the most logical challenger to his throne is Magomed Ankalaev.
Nonetheless, Ankalaev isn’t an enormous star in his personal proper, and the reality is that the UFC has by no means actually gone with the logical or sporting choice if a better-drawing one is offered.
With that in thoughts, why not provide a shot at Pereira to his previous foe, Israel Adesanya?
Certain, ‘The Last Stylebender’ has solely ever fought at 205 kilos as soon as, and he’s additionally coming off the worst lack of his profession by the hands of Sean Strickland final yr. Adesanya has additionally said that he needs to take a while off.
Regardless of this, may he actually resist one other crack at ‘Poatan’? The Brazilian might be his biggest rival, as he holds three fight sports activities wins over ‘The Last Stylebender’ with Adesanya solely holding one over him in return.
That lone win for Adesanya got here of their final conflict, although, and so it’s possible that Pereira would like to get one again over him.
The carrot for Adesanya, however, can be one other win over his rival, plus the prospect to develop into a double champion – one thing he narrowly missed out on again in 2021.
Whether or not ‘The Last Stylebender’ would actually go for it’s a truthful query, but when the UFC needs a genuinely enormous struggle to headline the most important present of 2024, that is it.
