5 rumors about UFC 300 that turned out to be wrong

UFC 300 is rapidly approaching, and excitement is building among fans for what is expected to be the most highly-anticipated MMA event of the year. Featuring a stacked card of 12 champions, both current and former, along with a lineup of action-packed fighters, fan favorites, and top contenders, the event has generated immense hype.

Despite the event being shrouded in mystery for a significant portion of the past few months, there was much speculation about which matchups would be included on the card. This ranged from guessing the potential headliners to other highly anticipated bouts. There was talk of legendary fighters making a comeback, as well as the possibility of title fights that ultimately did not materialize.

Despite fan interest being piqued, the event became the subject of rumors as people speculated about its contents. Regrettably, some of these rumors turned out to be untrue. In fact, many of the most widely circulated rumors about the card never materialized.

#5. Ronda Rousey will make a comeback at UFC 300

Despite his last fight in the UFC taking place in 2016 against Mark Hunt, which was later deemed a no-contest, Brock Lesnar’s name continues to be frequently mentioned in the promotion. This was evident when he was recently linked to UFC 300.

There were many rumors circling that the former UFC heavyweight champion may be added as a surprise to the event. This speculation was fueled by the fact that he had previously headlined UFC 100 and was intended to be a surprise at UFC 200 before Ariel Helwani leaked the news.

Despite previous fan persistence to the contrary, Dana White was quick to shut down rumors that Lesnar would be a part of the event. It has been confirmed that Lesnar will not, in fact, be included in the event, as the full match card has already been revealed.

#4. Ronda Rousey’s Possible Return to the UFC in 2021

Unfortunately, Brock Lesnar is not the sole former UFC champion to have been connected to UFC 300 through their involvement with WWE. Ronda Rousey, the former women’s bantamweight champion, was rumored to potentially make a surprise comeback for the event. These speculations were at their height during the end of her time with WWE.

Despite Dana White’s insistence that there would be no surprise return for Rousey, both she and Lesnar have not fought since 2016. Rousey suffered a TKO loss to Amanda Nunes and retired from MMA. As she has aged, she has prioritized taking better care of her body, likely due to her past concussions.

Despite the disclosure of every UFC 300 matchup and the absence of Rousey, it may be time for MMA fans to move on from that chapter of her professional career. Rousey herself has certainly done so.

#3. Leon Edwards set to defend his welterweight title against Belal Muhammad at UFC 300

Before the main event was announced, UFC 300 did not have a championship headliner, causing concern among fans that the promotion might have to settle for welterweight champion Leon Edwards defending his title against rising contender Belal Muhammad.

Despite widespread rumors and fans’ concerns over the perceived lack of entertainment, Dana White has stated that the title fight was never a consideration. Instead, he offered the opportunity to fight for the title to Islam Makhachev, Shavkat Rakhmonov, and Khamzat Chimaev.

Despite their religious commitments related to Ramadan, none of the three individuals were able to answer the call.

#2. Israel Adesanya to Defend Light Heavyweight Title Against Alex Pereira at UFC 300

Despite fans’ speculations, the headline bout for UFC 300 was still uncertain until it was officially announced. Despite Israel Adesanya taking a break from fighting after losing his middleweight title to Sean Strickland, rumors continued to circulate that he may be the main event for the event.

Despite rumors of a potential matchup with Alex Pereira for the 205-pound title, it was ultimately not meant to be. After hinting at an early return from his break, Adesanya was contacted to face Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title instead.

Furthermore, Adesanya’s lack of interest in a potential MMA trilogy fight against Pereira ultimately eliminated the possibility of a 205-pound showdown with ‘Poatan’. As a result, the current light heavyweight champion will now be facing Jamahal Hill in the highly anticipated main event.

#1. Conor McGregor’s UFC Return: What to Expect at UFC 300

The announcement of Conor McGregor’s return fight against Michael Chandler was initially made in February 2023. However, his comeback to the octagon was postponed due to a disagreement with USADA. With the drug agency’s separation from the promotion, there was speculation that McGregor’s return would happen sooner, possibly at UFC 300.

Speculation about a potential appearance at the highly-anticipated event increased following Dana White’s pledge of an unforgettable main event that would surpass all others.

It was rumored that the Irishman would face Nate Diaz in a trilogy fight to finally end their rivalry, instead of facing Chandler. However, it was later confirmed that McGregor was never even considered for the event and would not be participating.