Tag: UFC 300

Spinning Back Clique (REPLAY): 90-minute show with UFC 296 recap and early 2024 previews

Our “Spinning Back Clique” panel discusses UFC 296 and all its fallout, plus the first big UFC events of 2024.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week, panelists Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura have a special 90-minute show with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate:

  • [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] made relatively easy work of [autotag]Colby Covington[/autotag] to defend the welterweight title in the UFC 296 main event. What now for the champ? And is he on the way to becoming an all-time great, a la Georges St-Pierre – heights he aspires to reach?
  • Covington thought he was going to have a title put around his waist by an embattled former president. Instead, his third shot at a welterweight title came up short yet again. At 35, and with his track record of long periods of inactivity, was that his last shot? Plus, we’ll examine his fight-week and general antics and schtick.
  • [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] returned and outworked [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]. Ferguson didn’t get finished this time, but he’s now lost seven straight. The UFC almost certainly will cut him loose, particularly after [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] said he wants Ferguson to retire … right? But should he stick around longer? And what about Pimblett? Did he show us anything new?
  • UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Sean Strickland[/autotag] jumped over some cageside seats at UFC 296 to attack his January opponent, [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag], after Du Plessis apparently baited him a bit. Things were far from cordial between them earlier in fight week, too. The matchup has some serious heat on it now, but is either side going too far?
  • New UFC bantamweight champ [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] may have one downfall, and that’s a perceived lack of talent when it comes to selling himself and the fight at a press conference. Is that fair play?
  • There were a slew of big fight announcements for UFC 299 in Miami to accompany O’Malley’s title defense against Marlon Vera. The UFC seems to be stacking that card even though UFC 300 follows it.
  • We’ll take an early look at UFC 300, which we know will be in April. But where, and just how massive will it be?
  • … and much more.

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UFC 300 officially announced for Las Vegas

After much speculation and discussion, UFC 300 finally has an official date and location.

LAS VEGAS – After much speculation and discussion, UFC 300 finally has an official date and location.

UFC 300 will take place April 13 at T-Mobile Arena, the promotion announced on social media during its season news conference.

Historically, the promotion has stacked its hecto-numbered pay-per-view events with deep fight cards and title fights.

While no fights have been revealed for UFC 300, promotion CEO Dana White recently said the card is expected to be stacked from top to bottom. He also confirmed Jim Miller will compete at the event, which will make him the only fighter to compete at UFC 100, UFC 200, and UFC 300.

UFC 100 took place in July 2009 and featured two title fights: Georges St-Pierre vs. Thiago Alves, and Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir. It also included an all-time grudge match between Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping.

UFC 200 took place seven years later in July 2016. Initially expected to feature Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz, then Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier, disciplinary suspensions resulted in a fight card that included Amanda Nunes vs. Miesha Tate, Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt, Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar, and more.

Dana White says Jim Miller will fight at UFC 300 despite recent booking: ‘Consider that done’

Dana White assures everyone that Jim Miller, who fought at UFC 100 and UFC 200, will also compete at UFC 300.

[autotag]Dana White[/autotag] has confirmed longtime veteran [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] for UFC 300.

Miller (36-17 MMA, 25-16 UFC) has been eager to be part of the UFC’s historic 300th pay-per-view event in April, but many people have been worried about his inclusion after he was booked for a Jan. 14 bout against Gabriel Benitez at UFC Fight Night 234.

Miller has been part of UFC 100 in 2009, defeating Mac Danzig. He was also part of UFC 200 where he finished Takanori Gomi by first-round TKO in 2016. The 40-year-old, who has won four of his past five bouts, will get his wish, according to White.

“That is a great story,” White told TNT Sports on Miller. “I’ll get that done for you. I’ll get Jim Miller on the card for you. Consider that done… Text Mick (Maynard) and Sean (Shelby) and tell them we need Jim Miller on UFC 300 so I don’t forget.”

White has big plans for UFC 300. He promises a stacked card from top to bottom.

“The difference between a 300 is – listen, if you look at the card this weekend, this card is awesome,” White said. “You want to build these amazing cards that make people lose their minds, but there’s also so much more to it with a 300. There’s this whole what is the feel of the show going to be. We put on a live event and a television show, too, and what are we going to build around the event?

“What’s going to make 300 more special than this Saturday night, the last pay-per-view of the year. So, there’s a lot more that goes into it than just the card, but what you can expect is the first prelim of the night for you to be going like, ‘Holy sh*t, this is the first prelim of the night? This is insane. This isn’t even right. These two shouldn’t be on the first prelim of the night.’ That’s how good 300 is going to be.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Jim Miller books 43rd promotional appearance – but not for UFC 300 (yet)

UFC 300 has long been a dream for Jim Miller, but he’s taking a fight in the meantime.

[autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag] has made it clear he wants on UFC 300, but he’s taking one more before then.

Wednesday, the UFC announced Miller’s next bout (his 43rd) will be Jan. 13 against [autotag]Gabriel Benitez[/autotag]. The UFC Fight Night event is slated for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The two were originally expected to fight in February, but the bout was canceled.

Barring an unexpected Brock Lesnar comeback, Miller (36-17 MMA, 25-16 UFC) has the opportunity to be the only fighter to compete at each of UFC 100, UFC 200, and UFC 300, should he be ready to compete at the promotion’s tricentennial April pay-per-view. First, he’ll have to get through the Benitez (23-10 MMA, 7-6 UFC) unscathed enough to make a three-month turnaround.

Miller, 40, is the UFC’s all-time fight leader (42). He debuted in the promotion at UFC 89 in October 2008. Despite his longevity in the sport, Miller has racked up wins in recent years. He’s 4-1 in his most recent five including a 23-second knockout of Jesse Butler in June.

Benitez, 35, has been with the UFC since 2014 after a stint on “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 1.” He enters the bout 2-2 in his most recent four outings. Benitez most recently competed in August 2022 when he pounded out Charlie Ontiveros.

With the addition, the UFC Fight Night lineup for Jan. 13 includes:

  • Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker
  • Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
  • Norma Dumont vs. Yana Santos
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Ketlen Vieira
  • Mario Bautista vs. Ricky Simon
  • Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau
  • Gaston Bolanos vs. Marcus McGhee
  • Bassil Hafez vs. Preston Parsons
  • Brunno Ferreira vs. Phil Hawes
  • Denys Bondar vs. Felipe Bunes
  • Faris Basharat vs. Taylor Lapilus

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for the UFC Fight Night event Jan. 13.

Max Holloway: ‘BMF’ title fight vs. Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 ‘would be ideal’

As he awaits the featherweight division to play out, Max Holloway sees Justin Gaethje as a good option.

As he awaits the featherweight division to play out, [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] sees [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] as a good option for his next fight.

Holloway (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC) issued “BMF” champion Gaethje a callout in what he thinks would be a fan-friendly matchup. Former featherweight titleholder Holloway certainly fits the bill of a “BMF” title fight having fought the who’s who in MMA.

With lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev potentially rematching Charles Oliveira next, Holloway suggest a matchup with Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in the meantime.

“I was shooting my shot for that ‘BMF’ with ‘The Highlight’ (Gaethje),” Holloway told ESPN. “I think we both would make a fun one for the fans, there’s that ‘BMF’ belt. I know they’re short on guys for UFC 300, so that would be ideal. One for the fans because he’s going to be waiting. If Islam doesn’t fight between Ramadan, he is going to have to wait all the way until October, and his last fight, that will be over a year and a half.

“I don’t think he should be sitting around that long. So, in the meantime, why not have a fun one, both make a lot of money, and we’ll put on a show and make a lot of fans happy? That was the idea.”

Gaethje respectfully turned down Holloway’s callout and prefers to wait his turn for a title shot after back-to-back wins over Rafael Fiziev and Dustin Poirier. Holloway completely understands his decision, but hopes he changed his mind.

“I wouldn’t want talent like that to be sitting out for a year for a title shot,” Holloway said. “I understand where he’s coming from. I understand why he wants to because he deserves the next shot.”

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Amanda Ribas calls for top-ranked fight at UFC 300: ‘I know it will be fire’

Amanda Ribas hopes her highlight finish at UFC Fight Night 232 set up a chance to fight a top strawweight at UFC 300.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Amanda Ribas[/autotag] plans on making strawweight her consistent home after returning to the division with an exciting finish of Luana Pinheiro at UFC Fight Night 232, and hopes for a big fight next.

Ribas (12-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has bounced between 115 pounds and the women’s flyweight division in recent years. However, after getting mixed results in the higher weight class, she opted to move back down for Saturday’s matchup with Pinheiro (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC), which she won by third-round knockout after a spinning back kick to her opponent’s face.

With a 5-1 octagon record at strawweight, Ribas hopes this is the time she can make a run, and would like to prove it on the historic UFC 300 card, which is expected to take place in April.

“I want to fight at UFC 300, because I know it will be fire,” Ribas told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC Fight Night 232 post-fight news conference. “I want to fight there and I’m hoping at 115, because I’m feeling good. And I’m hoping after this win I can be in the ranking because I beat a lot of girls who is good in the ranking, too. Maybe I can fight a girl in the top five or top six.”

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Ribas, 30, didn’t get off to a great start against Pinheiro, who was a former housemate during their teenage years in Brazil. She lost the first round, but then rallied to win the second, then finish the fight in the third.

According to Ribas, the early struggles were a product of fighting too emotion and not following the game plan, but once she got herself together mentally, the momentum changed.

“My dad (who is my coach) was saying to me, because we’ve been training a lot this strategy, I think the first round I was trying to just put my aggression,” Ribas said. “The second round I put my intelligence and it was to fight on the left side, to put my distance and put my game first in front of her. In the first round I didn’t do that, in the second round I put my strategy and my game first.”

The finish came when Ribas timed Pinheiro’s exit from the pocket and turned into the spinning kick, which landed clean. She swarmed her rocked opponent then got the stoppage. Afterward, she credited the entire sequence to the coaching of her father in the corner.

“It was beautiful because I’ve been training a lot, and we can’t win a fight without our team, our coaches, because they can see the fight from another angle,” Ribas said. “I listened to them and it made me to do it. You know when you play a video game? I was doing this. My dad was saying, ‘X, R1’ – and I did it.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 232.

Dustin Poirier open to Justin Gaethje trilogy at UFC 300: ‘I would take that, for sure’

Dustin Poirier would be up for a trilogy bout against Justin Gaethje at the UFC’s upcoming milestone pay-per-view.

A trilogy with [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] would definitely excite [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag].

Poirier’s most recent appearance was a knockout loss to Gaethje in a “BMF” title fight at UFC 291. Outside of a short-notice call to step in against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, which didn’t materialize, “The Diamond” currently has nothing in the works – but he’s staying ready.

Ideally, Poirier (29-8 MMA, 21-7 UFC) wants to return in the promotion’s historic UFC 300 card in April.

“I’m keeping my weight low in case something happens,” Poirier told MMA Junkie. “I’m super low right now. I’ve been like that for the last month. I don’t have any plans. If they call me with a name that’s exciting or makes sense, like the Gaethje thing, then that was one of those. I was kind of waiting for something fun. When they called me with that one, I was nervous.

“What happened I thought could happen, so that made me excited. We’ll see. When they call with that name then I’ll do it. I made my debut at UFC 125, Jan. 1, 2011. I’m not going to be here at UFC 400. I’m 34 years old. So, to make it on that UFC 300 card would be cool if I get the right opponent, an exciting fight. I could fight before then. Who knows?”

Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) is expecting to fight for the lightweight title in his next fight, but with the UFC potentially looking to rebook the Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira fight, he could be sidelined for a while.

With their series tied 1-1 after a Poirier knockout win in 2018 and a Gaethje knockout win this past July, Poirier would love a rubber match next.

“I would take that, for sure,” Poirier said. “For sure, I would take that fight. (UFC) 300 would be a great card to do it on, but we will see. If I was in Justin’s shoes, if he’s guaranteed a title shot, you might not want to risk it. But, hey, this is fighting. People get antsy. We’ll see what happens, but I’m definitely open to that.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Daniel Cormier questions if Conor McGregor should headline UFC 300; Michael Chandler responds

Yes, Conor McGregor is the UFC’s biggest draw, but Daniel Cormier isn’t sure that he deserves to headline a milestone event.

[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] isn’t sure if [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] should headline UFC 300.

With McGregor “submitting the paperwork” to re-enter the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing pool, his six-month period of mandatory testing could make him eligible to compete in April – right around the time of the UFC’s milestone 300th show.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is undoubtedly the promotion’s biggest star and highest-selling draw. Cormier finds it hard to believe that McGregor’s expected fight with [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] wouldn’t headline UFC 300, but would it headline over championship fights?

“People in the general public are so excited about Conor McGregor coming back, and I got to be honest with you: I feel like a lot of the hardcore fans are a little fed up with it,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “They just want to see him back. They’re tired of he’s back, he’s gone, he’s back. They want Conor McGregor back, and they want him back in a manner in which he’s consistent and he’s fighting frequently. But I don’t know if that’s going to be the case with Conor anymore. I believe at this point he’s a marquee attraction that, when he’s there, he warrants the biggest fights in the world, meaning UFC 300 does fit the bill. But that also lends you to ask this question: Does Conor McGregor at UFC 300 main event? Because generally when you do a UFC 300, 100, or 200, there are a number of title fights on that card.

“Does Conor McGregor top all those title fights and headline? And if he doesn’t, how do you have a conversation with Conor about him not being in the headlining seat when most of the people who will tune in will be watching Conor? But when you watch Conor’s fights, he has been on a bit of a downturn. He has not won many fights, but I think that speaks to the star power that he possesses. That even though he is on that type of a run, he’s still maybe the guy that, when you look at the biggest fight in the history of the sport and the history of the company, they go, ‘You know what? Title fights or not, you are still going to be the headlining act.’ Is Conor McGregor the headlining act at UFC 300, or does he go before people that are holding championship belts?”

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 18-5 UFC) is unsure if he and McGregor headline UFC 300 but thinks their fight is worthy of it.

“Do I think we’re deserving of that? I think ‘deserve’ is a tough word that anybody should use these days because a lot of people think they deserve a lot more than they actually do,” Chandler said. “However, I do think Conor and I are main event material. Do I think it’s going to be UFC 300, I don’t know. Do I think we’re worthy of that? I don’t know. Do I know what’s going to happen tomorrow let alone six months from now? No, I don’t. Either way, it’s a big fight.

“Every single time Conor has tweeted, every single time Conor has teased that he’s coming back, every single time they’ve watched ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ every time they see me out here training, keeping my nose to the grindstone knowing that Conor is up against one of the toughest tests he’s had in his entire career, if not the toughest test, especially coming off of a two-year layoff, this fight has all the makings of fireworks. This fight has the makings of main event milestone material, so we’ll see.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Conor McGregor hints at return to USADA testing pool: ‘Submitted my stuff to Novitzky’

Conor McGregor claims he’s submitted his paperwork to re-enter the USADA testing pool, which would be a huge step toward a UFC return.

It appears [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] could be one step closer to a UFC return.

After coaching Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to return against Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 18-5 UFC). The delay of their fight booking is due to McGregor, however, who has yet to officially re-enter the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool.

In a recent Instagram post, though, McGregor indicated he has begun the process of opening himself up to USADA testing.

“Find my targets. Hit them. F*ck the consequences. You’re going down. This is fighting. Sparring day with slick @grozdevnikolay. Always a banger of a spar with the slick fella. Submitted my stuff to Novitzky. Ball rolling ⚽️ See you soon you little light work b*tch.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyAIrEtotBT

According to USADA, McGregor must provide at least two negative samples over the course of six months before he’ll be eligible to compete. It is unknown if he will be provided an exemption, which the UFC can grant if it wants, but officially entering the pool would definitely a a significant step in the right direction for his return.

McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

In a recent interview on The MMA Hour, Chandler said he expects to fight McGregor at UFC 300, which is projected for April. If McGregor has indeed re-entered the USADA testing pool, that timeline would pan out perfectly for an April return, and Chandler is ready for whichever date.

“Best I can say, UFC 300 could possibly be what everyone is probably looking at,” Chandler said. “So, right around that six-month mark from there would make a lot of sense, but I haven’t set a date. I’m just a foot soldier ready for that phone call, and when that phone call comes in, I go to work.”

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Alexander Volkanovski wants Islam Makhachev rematch at UFC 300: ‘That’s one of the bigger fights you can make’

Alexander Volkanovski thinks an Islam Makhachev rematch would be perfect for the UFC’s milestone event early next year.

SYDNEY – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] thinks an [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] rematch would be perfect for UFC 300.

Featherweight champion Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) has mapped out a two-fight plan, which starts with a title defense against unbeaten contender [autotag]Ilia Topuria[/autotag], followed by a rematch with lightweight champion Makhachev.

Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) defends his belt when he runs things back with Charles Oliveira in the UFC 294 main event on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi.

“You got the Ilia fight that’s always going to be there,” Volkanovski said backstage during UFC 293. “You got that rematch that I want (vs. Makhachev). I want to be active. Obviously, Islam and Charles (Oliveira) are going at it soon, so I don’t want to be waiting around.

“So, I’ll do early next year, I think. I wanted this year, but I think the schedule is just not going to be able to fit me in. I think there’s a few champions that need to be fighting, which is fair, but I would’ve been happy to get one in this year.”

Volkanovski pushed Makhachev to the brink in their title fight at UFC 284 in February but ultimately lost by decision. If both Volkanovski and Makhachev can successfully defend their titles, “The Great” thinks it will perfectly set the scene up for a rematch on the biggest stage at UFC 300.

“I think that makes a lot of sense,” Volkanovski said. “Yeah, for sure. I think that would be great, especially with me getting my hand raised on that one for UFC 300 would be perfect, but again, we will see what we can do. But I think that’s one of the bigger fights that you can make. I truly do believe that. A lot of people want to see that again. It was very, very competitive, and I guarantee you I get it done next time.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.