5 fighters who cannot afford to lose at UFC 300

With UFC 300 approaching, the fighters scheduled to compete at the biggest event of 2024 are surely feeling the pressure.

The upcoming UFC 300 event will bring a heightened level of attention to the featured fighters, and the stakes are high for many of them. Whether it jeopardizes their path to a title or their overall career prospects, a loss is not an option for these fighters and they must secure a victory.

Of utmost importance are these five fighters who simply cannot afford to suffer defeat at UFC 300.

#5. Amanda Nunes – two-division UFC champion

Despite being a star-studded event, UFC 300 does not include any fighters whose octagon career is in jeopardy.

Despite being a former bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt may be persuaded to retire if he were to suffer a loss.

In 2016, ‘No Love’ achieved one of the greatest title wins in the promotion’s history by defeating Dominick Cruz and becoming the 135 pound champion.

Despite his previous success, it has been far from smooth sailing for Garbrandt. He lost his title to TJ Dillashaw and subsequently experienced four additional defeats in just five fights.

In 2023, he made a strong comeback by defeating both Trevin Jones and Brian Kelleher in an impressive manner. Despite this, he was unable to reclaim his spot in the top 15. However, a victory against Deiveson Figueiredo next weekend would undoubtedly secure his place in the rankings once again.

If Garbrandt were to suffer a loss, especially by knockout, there would be concerns about his future. Fans may doubt his ability to continue competing and there may be suggestions for him to consider taking a break from the octagon for the sake of his well-being.

Hence, in order for ‘No Love’ to have a successful future in MMA, it is crucial that he does not suffer a defeat against the former flyweight champion in their upcoming fight.

#4. Charles Oliveira – Current UFC Featherweight Champion

Among the three title fights, the lightweight matchup between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan holds the most significance at UFC 300. The victor of this contest is highly expected to earn a title shot against current 155 pound champion Islam Makhachev. However, the stakes are undeniably greater for Oliveira.

If Tsarukyan were to suffer a loss, it would not significantly impact his ranking and he would have the ability to work towards another title opportunity in the future.

Despite his tenacity, ‘Do Bronx’ would face significant challenges if he were to suffer a loss in this match. Not only would it be difficult for him to regain his standing in the division, considering his previous defeat to Makhachev, but at 34 years old, it would be reasonable to question how much longer he can maintain his position at the pinnacle of the sport.

Despite Oliveira’s lethal finishing abilities, his position in the rankings suggests he would likely defeat many of the lower-ranked fighters. However, he may be viewed more as a skilled gatekeeper rather than a top-tier contender.

It is not a position that any fighter, especially those with title aspirations, would want to find themselves in. As a result, ‘Do Bronx’ cannot afford to suffer a defeat next weekend.

#3. Jamahal Hill – Rising UFC Star and Light Heavyweight Contender

It would be a huge understatement to claim that UFC 300 may have a significant impact on the career of former light-heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill.

‘Sweet Dreams’ has not competed since his victorious fight against Glover Teixeira for the vacant title in early 2023. Due to injuries, he was unable to defend his crown and now, the upcoming weekend presents his first opportunity to reclaim it.

To reclaim his title, he will need to defeat Alex Pereira, one of the most accomplished strikers in MMA history who has garnered a reputation for being extremely feared.

There’s nothing wrong with losing to ‘Poatan’, so why can’t Hill afford to lose next weekend?

In simpler terms, the reason is that there are still doubts about the true quality of ‘Sweet Dreams’. While he did defeat the older Teixeira, the title fight was only arranged due to the underwhelming performances of Jan Blachowicz and Magomed Ankalaev in their drawn match.

Apart from Teixeira, Hill has yet to defeat a top-tier opponent. As a result, a disappointing defeat against Pereira could easily result in a rapid decline down the rankings.

‘Sweet Dreams’ simply cannot afford to lose in this massive headliner, especially with all eyes on him like never before.

#2. Calvin Kattar – Rising Star in the UFC Featherweight Division

As the card is stacked with talented fighters, the majority of those set to compete at UFC 300 are not facing losing streaks.

However, one fighter who stands out from this pattern is Calvin Kattar. Known as ‘The Boston Finisher’, he will be facing former bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling in his featherweight debut, promising an exciting match for viewers.

Despite his previous success in the octagon, Kattar has suffered defeat in his past two visits. In fact, one would have to look back to January 2022 to find his most recent victory, which was a decision win against Giga Chikadze.

After his victory, Kattar experienced a close defeat against Josh Emmett and suffered a knee injury in a main event match against Arnold Allen. Although these losses are not a source of shame, it would be difficult for him to defend his position in the top 10 rankings if he were to be defeated by Sterling in the upcoming weekend.

Despite the possibility of a loss, Kattar’s exceptional talent and thrilling performances ensure that he will not be at risk of being eliminated. Nevertheless, a defeat would undoubtedly mark the conclusion of his career as an elite fighter, making it imperative for him to avoid defeat.

#1 Bo Nickal – Olympic wrestling champion

Undoubtedly, Bo Nickal is the fighter competing at UFC 300 who can afford to lose the least.

Despite being just 2-0 in his octagon career and 5-0 overall, the middleweight prospect’s career is just getting started. Nevertheless, ‘The Allen Assassin’ has garnered an extraordinary amount of hype, with few prospects in UFC history receiving similar attention. His exceptional wrestling background has positioned him as a potential star ever since he joined the promotion.

As a result, Nickal has been presented with unique opportunities that may not be available to other fighters in the same stage of their career. For instance, he has been selected as the opening fighter for the main card at the highly anticipated 2024 event, ahead of former champions such as Jiri Prochazka and Aljamain Sterling.

In addition, Nickal has been paired with Cody Brundage, a fighter who is not highly ranked and has a record of 4-4 in the octagon, making him a favorable opponent.

As the biggest betting favorite on the card, ‘The Allen Assassin’ is expected to dominate in this fight. However, if he were to suffer a loss, while his career may still recover, he would likely face ridicule from many fans.

As a result, Nickal must secure a victory next weekend to sustain the momentum of the hype train. In other words, there are no alternative choices available.