In the run-up to UF 300 in Vegas, a total of 12 current or former champions knew it would take something extraordinary to stand out! As the glitzy affair kicked off, that’s exactly what fans were treated to over the weekend. The Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill fight was slated the main event, but it was the BMF title fight between Max Holloway vs Justin Gaethje that stole the night.
The former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway defeated fan favourite Justin Gaethje, winning the promotion’s ceremonial “BMF” belt in the wildest fashion possible. Seconds from a clear unanimous decision win, Holloway pointed to the centre of the Octagon and goaded Gaethje to go full throttle to the buzzer. The result was not just the clear Knockout of the Year, but perhaps the wildest knockout in the 31-year history of the UFC.
Some even referred to it as the knockout of the Century! Gaethje was left unconscious, face down on the mat, as Holloway walked away with a primal scream. Holloway used the occasion to call for not just a title fight against current featherweight King Ilia Topuria, but lightweight champ Islam Makhachev as well.
“I’m him, guys! I’m him!” Holloway said. “El Matador, he is running away from the bull and running for his life. Time to sign the contract. Spain, Hawaii, whatever. Even Islam. Islam is famous for defending against 45ers, right? I’m him. I’m right here.” “Any weight, I’m a gladiator. I don’t care. Whoever’s next, sign on the dotted line, let’s get it.”
Holloway also called to receive a $600,000 bonus for the effort. UFC president Dana White obliged, and it wasn’t hard to understand why. The windfall ups Holloway’s career bonus money earned to $1.15 million, per Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter. After the fight, Gaethje took to Twitter to reassure his fans of his health and congratulate Hollway who is now the reigning BMF champion.
“I’m in great spirits with my family,” Gaethje wrote on Twitter. “Thanks for all the love. What a sport. @BlessedMMA you’re a dog. Congrats. Well deserved double bonus.” The main event of the evening didn’t live up to its expectations – Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill. There is no disputing Brazilian Alex Pereira is the UFC light heavyweight champion after a first-round thumping of ex-champ Jamahal Hill in the main event.
Pereira calmly waved off a cup kick stop from ref Herb Dean in the first round, then unleashed his trademark left hook to knock Hill to the canvas. After a few hammerfists, Hill was unconscious at 3:14 of the opening frame. Coming up, the UFC 301 taking place at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro on May 4th 2024. The main card lineup for UFC 301 was confirmed during the UFC 300 broadcast, with Alexandre Pantoja defending his flyweight title in his home country of Brazil against Australia’s Steve Erceg.
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