5 questions that could be answered at UFC 300

As UFC 300 approaches, with just over a week left, MMA fans are eagerly anticipating the biggest event of 2024.

UFC 300 is set to feature numerous exciting fights, with the potential to provide answers to some major questions. As is common in the octagon, it is possible that the outcomes of these fights will only lead to further questions, but this is the nature of MMA.

At UFC 300, there are five questions that can be addressed.

#5. Will Weili Zhang and Yan Xiaonan rise above the competition?

Despite the excitement surrounding Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill and Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway, the strawweight title fight between Weili Zhang and Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 seems to be flying under the radar.

Nevertheless, the upcoming fight between two Chinese UFC fighters is expected to be an exhilarating showdown as it marks the first time they will compete against each other for a title.

At this point, Zhang is likely among the top female fighters in octagon history, with the exception of Rose Namajunas who has defeated her. In addition, she has dominated opponents such as Jessica Andrade, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Carla Esparza.

Despite holding victories over Andrade, Mackenzie Dern, and Claudia Gadelha, Xiaonan has not yet received a title shot. This may be due to the lack of star power that both she and her opponent possess, especially in the US, resulting in less attention from fans. Nevertheless, Xiaonan has definitely proven herself as a top contender.

The main concern is whether ‘Magnum’ and ‘Fury’ can deliver a fight that will not be overshadowed by the stacked card. Though it may be challenging, if the bout is anything like Zhang’s epic battle against Jedrzejczyk in 2020, it has the potential to steal the spotlight.

#4. Does Arman Tsarukyan have the skills to compete with the top lightweights in the world?

The main card of UFC 300 includes a bout that is being advertised as a lightweight title eliminator. While we are well aware of former champion Charles Oliveira’s qualifications for the title, the same cannot be said for his opponent, Arman Tsarukyan.

Undoubtedly, Tsarukyan has a phenomenal record. The Armenian-born fighter boasts an impressive 8-2 record in the octagon, with his only defeats being against current champion Islam Makhachev and highly-ranked contender Mateusz Gamrot.

Despite this, Tsarukyan’s victories have mostly been against lower level opponents, with his only notable win being against Beneil Dariush. While this was an impressive victory, it should be noted that Dariush has a history of struggling against powerful strikers and was also coming off a knockout loss, which happened to be against Oliveira.

Therefore, it is difficult to accurately assess Tsarukyan’s skill level. He undeniably possesses impressive abilities in both striking and grappling, but he has yet to face many top-tier opponents.

‘Do Bronx’ is considered an elite fighter, having defeated top contenders such as Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, and Michael Chandler. For an up-and-coming fighter like Tsarukyan, defeating him would be a significant accomplishment.

Regardless of whether the Armenian is capable of achieving this, the outcome is uncertain. In any case, we will have a definite answer next weekend as to whether Tsarukyan is truly a top-tier fighter in the 155 pound division or if he has taken on too much.

#3. Can former UFC champions Sterling and Prochazka make a comeback?

The preliminary card for UFC 300 will showcase two former titleholders who are seeking to recover from significant defeats.

Jiri Prochazka, a former light heavyweight champion, was most recently defeated by Alex Pereira. Similarly, Aljamain Sterling, a former bantamweight titleholder, was knocked out by Sean O’Malley in the previous summer.

Both men are under a significant amount of pressure. Sterling is moving up a weight class and is preparing to fight Calvin Kattar, who is ranked in the top-10. Meanwhile, Prochazka will be facing the returning Aleksandar Rakic.

Despite neither fighter being in a dire situation, a second consecutive loss may not be insurmountable for either of them. However, if the defeat was particularly brutal, it would inevitably raise some concerns.

If ‘The Funk Master’ and ‘BJP’ are able to recover, they may have another chance at winning gold in the future, especially for Prochazka.

It is consistently intriguing to witness the appearance of a champion after experiencing a significant loss. Thus, the inquiry of how Prochazka and Sterling will perform in their upcoming fights is one of the most pressing matters surrounding the upcoming event next weekend.

#2. What changes will Max Holloway make in his move up to the lightweight division?

Undoubtedly, one of the most captivating match-ups at UFC 300 is the highly anticipated BMF title fight between Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway.

While the BMF title may be seen as merely a marketing ploy, the five-round bout still showcases two of the top and most exhilarating fighters in the promotion facing off against each other.

Although Gaethje’s tendency for wild violence is well-known, there is still uncertainty surrounding what Holloway will bring to the table and it is a question that needs to be addressed.

‘Blessed’ is known as a hurricane of a striker, constantly applying relentless pressure on his opponents with his overwhelming pace and an endless barrage of combinations. Despite his dominance at 145 pounds, he has only competed at 155 pounds once in a fight against Dustin Poirier in 2019. Unfortunately, he did not perform as well in that particular match.

The main concern is whether the Hawaiian is truly prepared to compete as a lightweight, or if this is just a one-time opportunity like it was in the past.

Despite his impressive title as BMF, Gaethje remains one of the top lightweights in the world. If Holloway were to defeat him in their upcoming fight, it could be argued that he would become the top contender for a shot at the 155 pound champion, Islam Makhachev.

As a result, not only is this fight highly anticipated for its potential excitement, but it also holds significant importance for the division and for Holloway as a whole. This bout may finally provide answers to the lingering doubts surrounding ‘Blessed’ at 155 pounds.

#1. Can Alex Pereira cement his legacy as a UFC legend?

Despite typically being considered a legend of the octagon, it is more challenging to place Alex Pereira in the same category as other double champions like Henry Cejudo or Jon Jones, due to his accomplishment of capturing two UFC titles in different weight classes.

Despite his many achievements, it is difficult to overlook the fact that he has been given more opportunities than other fighters. In reality, ‘Poatan’ was granted a swift opportunity at middleweight gold because of his past feud with then-champion Israel Adesanya in their kickboxing days.

Despite weighing in at 205 pounds, he was still offered the opportunity to compete for the vacant title following a close victory against Jan Blachowicz. This was primarily due to the absence of Jamahal Hill. So, how can ‘Poatan’ achieve the revered status of a legend? A perfect first step would be to defeat Hill at UFC 300.

If he were able to accomplish this, he would have defeated three former light heavyweight champions. His credentials at 205 pounds would never be doubted again. He would also be considered a legend of the octagon, despite having a shorter tenure compared to others.

If he were to suffer a defeat, it would be easier to see ‘Poatan’ as a one-hit wonder who simply lucked out twice. The upcoming weekend will hopefully provide a definitive answer on the Brazilian’s true prowess.