UFC 300 picks: Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill the main event

Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against Jamahal Hill in the main event, whilst Chinese duo Zhang Weili and Yan Xiaonan face off for the women’s strawweight title. 

The landmark event has been labelled as the best fight card ever assembled by the UFC and will feature 12 current or former champions. 

Here, Planet Sport’s Edward Moss provides some tips from the 13 bouts across April 13-14. 

Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira vs Jamahal ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill  

It has been almost nine months since Hill was forced to relinquish the light heavyweight title, after he was sidelined by a ruptured Achilles tendon. 

The 32-year-old won the championship via unanimous decision against Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. 

Sweet Dreams is a fighter with deadly accuracy, landing an impressive 7.31 significant strikes per minute.  

With the chance to regain the belt he never lost inside the octagon, Hill will be hungry to mark his comeback with a win. 

In comparison, Pereira won the vacant light heavyweight title in his last fight against Jiri Prochazka.  

The Brazilian powerhouse won that bout via KO/TKO in the second round with a flurry of explosive elbows.  

Pereira is known as a big finisher, winning 88% of his UFC fights by KO/TKO. 

This contest is the main event for a reason, however with this being Hill’s first fight since his long-term injury, the reigning champion is favoured.  

Tip: Alex Pereira to win 

Zhang ‘Magnum’ Weili vs Yan ‘Nine’ Xiaonan  

History will be made in the co-main event, as Zhang and Yan are set to face off in the first ever all-Chinese championship fight in the UFC. 

Zhang, the belt holder, is a powerful well-rounded fighter who is comfortable both on her feet and on the canvas. 

The 34-year-old is a two-time strawweight champion and regained the title in November 2022 against Carla Esparza at UFC 281. 

On the other hand, Yan has also impressed in the UFC since debuting in 2017. 

With a record of 8-2-0 (W-L-D) in the UFC, she currently has two straight wins, beating Jessica Andrade with a superb right hook in her last fight. 

Nine has won 47% of her UFC victories by KO/TKO and will be hoping to get her hands on her first UFC belt.  

On paper both fighters are evenly matched, with the two sharing the same weight and reach, and just an inch height difference between them.  

This will be an exciting contest, however Zhang’s big fight experience is expected to make the difference. 

Tip: Zhang Weili to win 

Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje vs Max ‘Blessed’ Holloway 

Gaethje is set to defend the UFC BMF title for the first time since taking it off Dustin Poirier in his last fight at UFC 291. 

The Highlight finished Poirier in the second round with a powerful leg kick to the head.  

Whilst it is not a traditional UFC title, the BMF belt, which was introduced at UFC 244, is a badge of honour, and highly coveted within the organisation.  

Known as the ‘Baddest M***** F*****’ title, the belt symbolises the epitome of toughness, skill, style and entertainment value. 

Holloway presents an experienced opponent, and one that may prove difficult for Gaethje to overcome.  

On average the 32-year-old lands 7.17 significant strikes per minute, and whilst that is bettered by Gaethje, who averages 7.35, it is still a hugely impressive stat. 

Holloway comes into the contest off the back of an imposing third-round victory via KO/TKO against Chan Sung Jung, the Korean Zombie. 

This fight is arguably the most exciting on the entire card, and whilst both fighters have the potential to win, Gaethje is the favourite. 

Tip: Justin Gaethje to win 

Bo Nickal vs Cody Brundage   

Nickal enjoyed an excellent start to his UFC career, putting up a record of 2-0 in his rookie year.  

The 28-year-old beat both Jamie Pickett and Val Woodburn with first-round stoppages. 

Nickal was a three-time national champion wrestler at Pennsylvania State University and is deadly on the canvas. 

He has insane averages on the ground, registering 11.04 takedowns and 13.8 submissions per 15 minutes. 

His opponent, Brundage, is currently on a two-fight winning streak, having beat Zack Reese in the first round in his last contest. 

The 29-year-old has an inconsistent record in the UFC so far, though, competing in eight contests, winning four and losing four. 

Nickal is the strong favourite for this bout and is expected to pick up his third UFC victory. 

Tip: Bo Nickal to win 

Charles ‘do Bronx’ Oliveira vs Arman ‘Ahalkalakets’ Tsarukyan 

Whilst this fight is not for a belt, it will decide the next title challenger in the lightweight division. 

Oliveira will be eager to win this contest, having lost the lightweight belt to Islam Makhachev via arm triangle choke at UFC 280.  

The pair had a rematch set, however that was cancelled after Oliveira was forced to withdraw when he suffered a cut during training.  

The Brazilian did win his last fight, though, beating Beneil Dariush inside the first round at UFC 289. 

Known as somewhat of a submission specialist, Oliveira has won 62% of his victories via submission.  

Fighting out of Russian gym Khabarovsk MMA, Tsarukyan is one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC.  

In 2019, Tsarukyan was also beaten by the current reigning champion, and will be just as motivated to earn a second chance to fight Makhachev.  

That fight was only the 27-year-old’s second loss in his UFC career.  

Tsarukyan come into this contest off two straight victories, having defeated Joaquim Silva and Dariush. 

On average the Armenian lands 3.85 significant strikes per minutes, so he certainly has the potential produce a big finish at UFC 300 

This is a tight bout to call, however Tsarukyan is favoured to win over Oliveira. 

Tip: Arman Tsarukyan 

READ MORE: UFC 300: Full card, start time and where to watch the greatest card in MMA history