UFC 300, results, highlights: Alex Pereira & Zhang Weili retain, Max Holloway wins BMF Title in historic night for MMA

Daniel Yanofsky

UFC 300, results, highlights: Alex Pereira & Zhang Weili retain, Max Holloway wins BMF Title in historic night for MMA image

When the UFC started in 1993, nobody expected the promotion to be a true leader in combat sports. Today, it is a powerhouse. In celebration, UFC 300 honored the past and present with a massive fight card that exceeded expectations. 

From bringing Mark Coleman out to a huge ovation, announcing a fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will enter the UFC Hall of Fame, to showing current fighters and legends around the octagon, it was a night the 20,067 in attendance and those at home will never forget. The event ended with three major title fights that delivered, and then some. 

In the main event, Alex Pereira defended the UFC light heavyweight title against former champion Jamahal Hill. It only took one round to end the fight, as Pereira used his power to drop Hill. In an unbelievable series of events, Hill landed a shot below the belt, Pereira waved off referee Herb Dean, and he landed an uppercut that put Hill to the floor. “Poatan” then hit ground and pound shots until Dean saw enough. 

Pereira then discussed the idea of moving to heavyweight, potentially against interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. His ideal fight date would be UFC 301 in Brazil, in just a few weeks.

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"I'm injury free. I want to fight in Brazil. I know it's a short time, but let's see what happens... I know there needs to be promotion for a title fight, so I don't care, let me do a fight at heavyweight," Pereira said.

In the co-main event, Zhang Weili beat Yan Xiaonan to retain the UFC strawweight title. It started with a weird first, as Yan was out cold following a choke in round one. However, the referee didn’t call it and the fight continued. Yan did give it her all after. They went back and forth, but Zhang was too much. 

Zhang has now won four straight and has two successful defenses in her second reign as champion. Yan’s loss ended a two-fight win streak. 

Max Holloway landed the Knockout of the Year against Justin Gaethje for the BMF Title. The former UFC featherweight champion used his boxing ability to out-hit Gaethje. “Blessed” was ahead on the scorecards but still wanted to prove something. In the fifth, he requested Gaethje join him in the middle of the octagon. The two traded blows until Holloway landed a shot that dropped Gaethje down with just a second left in the fight. 

Holloway earned a $600K bonus and called out current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria to a fight after. How can he be denied a shot following that performance? 

We have a new lightweight title contender in Arman Tsarukyan following a war against Charles Oliveira in an eliminator fight that could have been five rounds. Tsarukyan forced Oliveira to bleed and secured a solid ground game against the former champion. The Armenian is expected to fight champion Islam Makhachev next. 

MORE: Erceg details UFC 301 title shot, getting an apology from Tom Hardy

Opening the main card, wrestler Bo Nickal proved why he should be on the main card. The Penn State alum beat Cody Brundage via submission. Going past the first round, Nickal was challenged by another wrestler, who trolled Nickal at points. Nickal was disappointed in his performance, but it was a step in the right direction. 

The rest of the card was stacked from start to finish.

Jiri Prochazka survived an attack to his leg to dismantle Aleksandar Rakic, while Aljamain Sterling proved to be a threat at featherweight against Calvin Kattar. In her UFC debut, Kayla Harrison dominated against former champion Holly Holm. The former PFL champion used her wrestling and elbows to win. Harrison is ready to fight for the 135 title. 

The Sporting News provided full results and highlights from UFC 300!

UFC 300 results, highlights

Alex Pereira dismisses shot below the belt, knocks out Jamahal Hill

Round one: Hill led to start the fight. Both traded kicks. Body kick by Pereira and a right by Hill. High kick by Hill followed by a body kick. Cup shot but Pereira turned away the ref, and then he landed an uppercut that dropped Hill to the floor. Ground and pound shots poured until Herb Dean saw enough. Wow. Pereira retains. 

Main event time, Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill. Pereira can enhance his legacy in his short time in the octagon, while Hill looks to regain the title he never lost.

Zhang Weili grinds out win against game Yan Xiaonan, retains strawweight title

Round five: High kick from Zhang, who recovered well. Takedown for Zhang, Yan got back up. Zhang with another takedown. The champion had full control on the floor for the rest of the fight. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Zhang (49-45 Zhang)

Round four: A right hand by Yan, and then one by Zhang. Another shot dropped Zhang. By the fence, Zhang held onto Yan. She took control and bullied Yan on the floor.  

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Zhang (39-35 Zhang)

Round three: Yan dropped Zhang. Wow! Zhang tried to kick Yan away. But Yan was countering. Both landed but Zhang got rocked. She got put down to the floor. Yan bullied her with a sweep. Zhang was getting tagged with shots. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Yan (29-26 Zhang)

Round two: Yan was actually out, but the fight is still on. Her corner said something about waking her up. That would not be great/legal if true. Commentary later said it was not anything illegal. Zhang took advantage and jumped right on her back. Zhang punched the face of a downed Yan. Punishing Yan, Zhang was relentless. Jason Herzog did not stop the fight. Zhang had a choke in but Yan countered. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-8 Zhang (20-16 Zhang) 

Round one: Kicks from Zhang to start. Yan shoved Zhang towards the cage and later starting swinging for the fences. Straight shots by both fighters and Yan put Zhang down. Left hook took Zhang down again and Yan is bullying her. Spinning backfist from Zhang. Throw by Zhang put Yan to the floor. Ground and pound and now on Yan's back. Rear-naked choke but Yan barely survived... 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-8 Zhang 

Following that incredible performance, we have Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan for the UFC strawweight title

Walk-off: Max Holloway wins BMF Title after knocking Justin Gaethje out cold

Round five: High body kick from Holloway. He also landed uppercuts on the inside. Spinning kick by Holloway connected. Body and head shot by Holloway and then a shot that buckled Gaethje. By the cage, Gaethje was covering up. Holloway was teeing off. Spinning kick, and another. Right hand. Gaethje with a desperation right. Knee by Holloway. And another. Gaethje tried a soccer kick. Holloway with a walk-off knockout to end the fight after telling Gaethje to fight in the center. WOW! 

Round four: Both traded kicks as Gaethje's breathing was becoming worrisome. Body shot by Holloway. They traded head shots. Combinations from the inside from Holloway. Right hand from Gaethje, and a jab. Uppercuts from Holloway land. Now a jab. Holloway's boxing is a thing of beauty. Combinations from Gaethje connect. Right hand connected and an inside elbow and knee. A knockdown from Gaethje followed by a straight right. Don't think Holloway has been knocked down before. A right by Gaethje. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Gaethje (39-37 Holloway)

Round three: Gaethje continued to go after Holloway's legs. Kick to the back by Holloway. High kick by Gaethje, and a kick to the gut by Holloway. Hard right by Gaethje, followed by a Holloway left hook, and Gaethje landed one of his own. Combinations landed and a spinning kick from Holloway. More combinations put Gaethje to a knee. Gaethje stumbled back, but answered with leg kicks. More leg kicks, but Holloway went for volume. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Holloway (30-27 Holloway)

Round two: Gaethje's nose appeared to be broken from that kick. He landed a solid shot to the face of Holloway, who landed kicks. Elbow by Holloway, which appeared to be an eye poke. They traded kicks following a small halt to the contest. Body shot by Holloway. Right hand and then another eye poke to Gaethje. This time in the other eye, and Holloway got a warning. A leg kick buckled Holloway, who responded with a straight right. Knee by Holloway.  

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Holloway (20-18 Holloway) 

Round one: Body kick from Holloway to start, while Gaethje tried to land a hard right. Low leg kick from Gaethje, and another. Jab by Holloway, and a kick by Gaethje put Holloway on the floor. Left hand by Holloway, and combinations from Gaethje. Inside uppercut from Holloway and a left hook. Gaethje continued landing leg kicks. Holloway with an uppercut and a right. Spinning kick by Holloway just as the bell sounded.  

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Holloway

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway is next for the BMF Title. Can either be a classic or one-sided beatdown. 

The next inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen from UFC 117 in 2010. 

Arman Tsarukyan becomes new lightweight contender with win against Charles Oliveira

11:11 p.m. ET: Oliveira tried a flying knee to open round three. He needs a big finish. Tsarukyan focused on the cut. They traded elbows. Tsarukyan was getting the better of the exchanges, landing a high kick. Oliveira had him in the guillotine. On top now, Tsarukyan got to Oliveira's back. Oliveira took control and tried for another submission but Tsarukyan hung on. 

11:03 p.m. ET: No longer in a timeout and with no points taken away, Tsarukyan had control. Round two saw Oliveira land a right. Tsarukyan with a few jabs and a high axe kick. Oliveira with a scramble and blocking any wrestling from Tsarukyan. Tsarukyan did take him down and tried to use ground and pound. Oliveira tried to counter with shots to the face but is now bleeding from vicious slicing shots.

10:54 p.m. ET: Oliveira landed leg kicks to start. Tsarukyan followed with his own. Oliveira landed one that dropped Tsarukyan, and then locked him in a choke on the ground. Standing then on the floor guillotine. Tsarukyan got out of it. Wow. On top mount, Oliveira landed an elbow. And another. Tsarukyan turned him over, and landed elbows to Oliveira. Kick from the floor by Oliveira, which is considered illegal. 

10:45 p.m. ET: Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan in a lightweight title eliminator fight is up next. 

The UFC honored Mark Coleman, who survived a house fire recently. 

Bo Nickal proves doubters wrong, gets main card submission win

10:35 p.m. ET: Body kick by Nickal to open round two. Brundage blocked a takedown. Nickal landed a second attempt. He is on top mount, though it hasn't led to anything. On his back, Nickal tried the rear-naked choke, but Brundage fought out of it. Locking it back in, Nickal got the submission win. 

10:28 p.m. ET: Brundage tried to showboat right away, landing some big shots. They wrestle on the floor until Nickal put him by the cage. He then landed a double underhook and shoved Brundage again to the cage, smothering him. Seems he is right at home. Elbows to the head of Brundage. Brundage trolled him by saying Nickal isn't doing anything to him. 

10:22 p.m. ET: The young Bo Nickal opens the UFC 300 main card, though many fight fans disagree with that decision. The Penn State alum faces Cody Brundage. 

10 p.m. ET: The main card has started. 

9:50 p.m. ET: Prochazka got rocked with a right to open round two. High kick from Prochazka, but he got pushed back by Rakic. Right hand by Rakic, and another following a Prochazka kick. Both miss key shots while pressing forward. High leg kick by Prochazka. Both land combinations. Big right and Rakic is running away. Big knee by Prochazka. Ground and pound and Rakic went down. Holding Rakic's arm, Prochazka continued to land hard shots. Prochazka won the fight. What a performance! 

9:44 p.m. ET: Prochazka and Rakic started with leg kicks. Rakic tried to land a brutal hook. He landed combinations. Prochazka's left leg was affected by the kicks Rakic was landing. One kick hurt Prochazka bad. Prochazka landed jabs but he's on one leg and bleeding by the eye. In the clinch, Rakic landed an elbow. Knee and punch landed by Prochazka. Flying knee. Uppercut by Rakic. 

9:37 p.m. ET: Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic is up next, the last prelim of the night. It is a fight that can bring all the violence. 

9:25 p.m. ET: Another takedown from Sterling in round three. For the majority of the round, Sterling held Kattar down. Kattar offered nothing of substance. Sterling won via unanimous decision. He did not get a post-fight speech. Odd. 

9:20 p.m. ET: Sterling came in hot right away. He tried going for high kicks and landed a right hand to the face. Switching stances, Sterling tried t push Kattar back with combinations. Sterling tried to take Kattar down, and got him. Back up, Sterling brought him back down, and the cycle continued a second later. Aljo with spinning backfists and another takedown. Kattar landed a clean shot in round two, but Sterling put him in the corner. Holding him there, Sterling neutered Kattar's offense. 

9:07 p.m. ET: Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling faces Calvin Kattar next. 

8:47 p.m. ET: Round two saw Holm keep her distance, like she should have done in round one. Head kick by Holm but Harrison locked her in a guillotine. Headlock and a takedown. Holm tapped, and Harrison got the most impressive win of her career. She is ready for a title shot. Who is saying no to her?

8:45 p.m. ET: Harrison started with a few jabs to start. Clash of styles here. Holm put her on the clinch, but Harrison reversed, but then so did Holm. Back up and by the cage, Harrison got her down and is on top. Elbows landed, and now Harrison was giving Holm no chance to breathe. She finally is allowed to use elbows, as the PFL never allowed it. Round two saw Holm keep her distance, like she should have done in round one. 

8:30 p.m. ET: Former PFL champion Kayla Harrison makes her UFC and bantamweight debut against former UFC champ and boxer Holly Holm. It is a big test for Harrison, who has been heralded as a great in MMA. 

8:17 p.m. ET: Lopes with leg kicks to start the fight. Combinations landed and Yuseff went down hard. An uppercut landed and Yuseff went down again. After several shots, Lopes won! He definitely wanted the $300K bonus. 

8 p.m. ET: The prelims start now! at 8:15 p.m. ET, Sodiq Yuseff faces Diego Lopes.   

7:56 p.m. ET: Turner landed a shot to the chin in round two. He landed volume shots. Takedown from Moicano. Moicano used ground and pound to land vicious shots, ending the fight as the first underdog to win tonight. 

7:52 p.m. ET: Ending the Early Prelims will be Jalin Turner vs. Renato Moicano. Turner landed a straight jab that already pushed Moicano back. Moicano was desperate for the clinch, and eventually brought Turner down. Not giving Turner a chance to breathe, Moicano smothered him. Back on the feet, Turner didn't provide much damage. Turner dropped him before the end of the round, but didn't take advantage, as he expected a walk-off. 

7:40 p.m. ET: Andrade swarmed Rodriguez to end round two. Rodriguez tried another flurry, refusing to use her legs. Andrade hit Rodriguez on her way up from the floor. Guillotine from Rodriguez, and she landed combinations. The leg of Rodriguez gave out before the end of the fight. Andrade won via split decision. 

7:30 p.m. ET: Former strawweight champion Jessica Andrade fights Marina Rodriguez next. Both traded shots, while Rodriguez targeted Andrade's legs. Andrade took her down, and secured top pressure on the side. She tried to land a flying punch, but controlled the ground through the round. Andrade with more leg attacks in round two. She landed crisp blows to the head, with Rodriguez firing some back. Combinations from Rodriguez and she became the one landing for volume. 

7:10 p.m. ET: Round two saw an uppercut from Miller, while Green laded some shots of his own. Both men want the big bonus Dana White announced ($300,000). Right hand from Green as Miller is bleeding by the right eye. Combinations from Green land. Miller said he couldn't see by his right side heading into round three. Green teed off on Miller. Any shot Miller landed he never took advantage. Down goes Miller, and Green tried to get the finish. He got a takedown on Miller before the end of the fight. Green got the unanimous decision win.

6:55 p.m. ET: Bruce Buffer didn't curse when saying Miller's name. Green with a right and already started talking trash. Right by Miller and down went Green. Another right. High kick from Miller, who is patient with his shots. Combinations from Green connect, and he let Miller know. Left hand from Miller. Right hand from Miller. Both swung away. Knee from Green. 

6:40 p.m. ET: Jim Miller fights next. He's the only fighter to compete at UFC 100, UFC 200, and UFC 300. Bobby Green is the opponent. 

6:30 p.m. ET: Figueiredo held the hold for several minutes, while Garbrandt tried to fight out of it. Out of the hold, Figueiredo went to top position. He then got on Garbrandt's back. Locking in a rear-naked choke, and Garbrandt tapped. Figgy at 135 could be a very dangerous thing.

6:26 p.m. ET: Both fighters started dancing in the ring in round one, using their unique defense to set the tone. Garbrandt landed sharp shots to the face Figueiredo, who used calf kicks. Figueiredo with a high kick that took Garbrandt off his feet, possibly a counter. Garbrandt used speed to land quick combinations. Left hand by Figueiredo. Round two saw Figueiredo put "No Love" down to the floor. Arm Triangle from Figueiredo as he has Garbrandt gasping for air. 

6:16 p.m. ET: Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt is the first contest of the night.

6:13 p.m. ET: The T-Mobile Arena is packed, and the first fight hasn't even started yet. 

Hello everyone, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of UFC 300! 

UFC 300 results

Main Card

  • Alex Pereira (c) def. Jamahal Hill via KO for the UFC light heavyweight title (3:14 into round one)
  • Zhang Weili (c) def. Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision for the UFC strawweight title (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)
  • Max Holloway def. Justin Gaethje (c) via KO for the BMF title (4:59 into round five)
  • Arman Tsarukyan def. Charles Oliveira via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bo Nickal def. Cody Brundage via rear-naked choke (3:38 into round two)

Prelims

  • Jiri Prochazka def. Aleksandar Rakic via TKO (3:17 into round two) 
  • Aljamain Sterling def. Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 
  • Kayla Harrison def. Holly Holm via rear-naked choke (1:47 into round two)
  • Diego Lopes def. Sodiq Yusuff via TKO (1:29 into round one)

Early Prelims

  • Renato Moicano def. Jalin Turner via TKO (4:11 into round two) 
  • Jessica Andrade def. Marina Rodriguez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Bobby Green def. Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25, 29-26) 
  • Deiveson Figueiredo def. Cody Garbrandt via rear-naked choke (4:02 into round two)

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Daniel Yanofsky