LAS VEGAS — Alex Pereira left no doubt that he was the true light heavyweight champion in the main event, KOing Jamahal Hill in the first round Saturday night in 3 minutes and 14 seconds.
But the lasting image of UFC 300, and one that will likely stay with us for years to come, was Max Holloway’s last-second KO of Justin Gaethje to win the ceremonial BMF title belt. there were.
Holloway vs. Gaethje was perhaps the most anticipated fight on the loaded card, and it not only lived up to expectations, but delivered it in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,067 who erupted in the final seconds and its surprising ending. I surpassed it.
“Tonight’s fight cost everyone their lives,” said UFC President Dana White. “People ask what I do. I sell sacred moments. It was the ultimate sacred moment. Let’s just talk about his fight for the rest of the press conference.”
The UFC had the third-highest gate at $16.5 million, but gave Holloway a $600,000 bonus for his performance.
Even though Holloway (26-7) was on track for a decision victory (two judges had a 39-37 lead), the former featherweight champion could run out of time. there were.
Instead, he pointed to the floor in the final seconds and traded blows with Gaethje (25-5).
There was an incredible combination of punches from both fighters before the punch that knocked the former BMF champion to the mat with one second left in the five-round fight.
“This is the moment,” Holloway said of going for the KO. “This is what BMF is known for. If that’s not a BMF moment, I don’t know what is. If Justin had been awake, he would have given me that 10 seconds. .”
“That’s why we love Max Holloway,” White said. “He won a fight against one of the most dangerous fighters in the business. It’s like a movie. It’s the fight of the year. If anything could top that as the fight of the year, That’s a great thing”
Holloway bloodied Gaethje’s nose with a roundhouse kick at the end of the first round, but was in control throughout most of the fight.
“I think that’s why he broke his nose. …Nobody less than that can do what Justin Gaethje did,” Holloway said.
In the final bout of the night, Pereira dropped Hill to the canvas with a straight left hand and pounded him. Referee Herb Dean intervened and stopped the fight, giving the Brazilian the victory.
Pereira, 36, was a minus-132 favorite to win, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
“I consider myself a champion. I didn’t want to put the belt on my head,” Pereira said through an interpreter. “I had to step in and win the championship.”
Hill, 32, was the previous titleholder but was forced to vacate the title last July due to a ruptured Achilles tendon. This put the belt in Pereira’s hands and ultimately set up this match and his fourth pay-per-view event in 16 months.
As expected from the milestone card number, this was a strong lineup that included 12 current or former champions and 11 who headlined UFC pay-per-view events.
Zhang Weili (25-3) retained her women’s strawweight title by defeating world No. 1 challenger Yang Xiaonan (18-4) by unanimous decision in the co-main event.
Each judge scored the bout 49-45.
Zhang ended the first round by nearly choking Yang. However, Yan found a way to win the fight within five rounds.
“She recovered quickly,” Zhang said through an interpreter.
No. 4 lightweight challenger Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) defeated top-ranked challenger and former champion Charles Oliveira (34-10) by split decision. Each scorecard was 29-28 for him, with two in favor of Tsarukyan.
“I thought all the judges would sentence me,” Tsarukyan said.
Three-time NCAA wrestling champion Bo Niccal (6-0) scored Cody Brundage (10-6) with a rear-naked chokehold at 3:38 of the second round, leading to a five-match mainstay. led the card.
“I was a little embarrassed by that performance because I was expecting to go in there and completely dominate,” Nickal said.
One of the most notable matchups on the undercard was between two-time U.S. Olympic judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison and International Boxing Hall of Famer Holly Holm.
Harrison (17-1), making his UFC debut, dominated Holm (15-7). She won by submission via rear-naked choke at 1:47 of the second round in her bantamweight bout.
Retired champion Amanda Nunes posted a video on social media of herself listening to Harrison’s voice inside the cage and wondering why he didn’t mention his name.
“I didn’t call Amanda by name because she’s not a UFC champion,” Harrison said. “I thought she retired happily. I want to win a UFC title and if Amanda wants her back, I’ll welcome her with open arms.”
White said he is looking forward to Nunez’s return.
“I think she retired too soon,” White said.
Also on the undercard card, No. 2 challenger Jiri Prochaska (30 wins, 4 losses) defeated No. 5 Aleksandar Rakic (14 wins, 4 losses) by technical knockout at 3:17 of the second round, defeating him as a light heavyweight. He was on track to regain the weight class title. Prochaska lost the belt in November to Pereira by second-round TKO.
“Whoever wins in the main event tonight, I want to fight (him),” Prochaska said.
conor mcgregor is back
White said Conor McGregor will fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas. Islam Makhachev will also face Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 on June 1st in Newark, New Jersey.
