UFC 300 LIVE: Alex Pereira KNOCKS OUT Jamahal Hill with brutal first-round finish after Max Holloways stunning last-second finish to win BMF title

The gesture to Hill over and over again was savage. I think Hill’s pre-fight chat and confidence that he’s knock Pereira out ruffled a coupl of feathers in the champ.

Aspinall in the background there, staring down the man he could face next, if he’s mad enough to take a short notice fight against Poatan in enemy territory. Aspinall is the bigger man and his grappling is far superior but Pereira wants a title in a third division and the UFC might just be tempted to give him a chance.

Those enormous hands can do some damage. Pereira made waves by smashing Francis Ngannou’s old record on the PowerKube and every time you see him fight, you can see how. Hill’s eyes rolled back in his head and it wasn’t even that pure a left hand that floored him.

With the eyes of the world on him tonight he delivered again. Pereira has become a UFC legend in just two-and-a-half years and wants to feature on the card in Rio next month at heavyweight. What do you say, Tom Aspinall?

‘He’s a strong guy and I knew I couldn’t go away from my strategy, it went perfect’, Pereira says. The way he gestured to Hill’s unconscious body on the mat was cold and his deadpan expression adds to the fearsome aura he’s built.

Alex Pereira is just an absolute killer. He knocks out Jamahal Hill in the very first round. Herb Dean thinks Pereira suffers a low blow but the Brazilian simply gestures the ref away, carries on, lands a left hook to send Hill scattering to the canvas before pouring on a couple more shots for added punishment. Dean intervenes correctly this time.

Bruce Buffer’s voice is going to be non existant in the morning. He belts out his usual intros for the final time tonight and the final time in this triple century of UFC PPV cards.

We’re moments away from this light-heavyweight showdown in Las Vegas.

Pereira does this ploddy, hands up, intimidating walk to the cage and Hill is watching every second. There’s a fair bit of gamesmanship going on and this has such a big fight feel. Both men can be hit and both have KO power in the gloves so it would be a huge surprise if it goes the distance.

Back in action for the first time since winning the belt in January last year, Hill has looked confident all week, did in the dressing room beforehand and does right now as he struts to the cage to the pointed tune ‘the champ is here’.

Pereira is a massive man and that was more of a factor down at middleweight but Jamahal Hill is roughly the same size. He’s filled back out after the weight cut on Friday, as seen here, but both men tonight have the fight-ending one-shot power to end it.

Next up, we have the main event of the evening. Some fans were underwhelmed when it was unveiled as the headliner for UFC 300, hoping perhaps for a surprise McGregor announcement but it should be a worthy barnbarner with both men fearsome strikers. Speaking of which, Mike Tyson is in the crowd tonight and looks like he’s having a marvellous time.

Weili takes it by a wide margin in the end, though Xiaonan earns plenty of credit for a display of remarkable resolve. Her skills could do with some brushing up on the ground in particular but she’ll be better for this experience. ‘I thought she was out cold, but she bounced back quickly,’ says Weili.

It was a 25 minute Chinese civil war. The craziest moment of the fight was right at the end of the first when it looked as though Xiaonan was out cold from a choke and wobbled back to her feet to carry on. In the final five minutes, Weili dominates the wrestling exchanges again and ends up on top. The challenger wriggled out of the more dangerous positions but was always on the defensive.

20 minutes gone and Weili has had the better of at least three quarters of them. Xiaonan is tough as old boots and survives another beating in the first of the championship rounds. Weili ends up on top and even flattens her countrywoman out briefly, landing endless shots to the head but nothing seismic enough for Herzog to consider ending it.

Weili’s heart must be a bit broken, or at least bruised that she is still working tonight. Most mortals would have been long gone but her opponent is not only hanging around, she’s begininng to step it up. Xiaonan is not even breathing particularly heavily and landed the shot of that round to wobble the champ before ending up on top.

Weili has Xiaonan flattened out in what looks like the second fight-ending position of the contest. Jason Herzog has a real look at it as the champ lands ground and pound but the challenger just shifts position enough to continue and eventually, somehow sneaks out of a head and arm choke. She even reverses position at the end. What a show of grit but she’s two rounds down.

How is this fight still going! Right at the end of the round, Xiaonan is in a deep choke and then as the bell goes, it seems as though she’s unconscious. Weili could well have submitted her but there was no tap and the referee allows her back to her corner to regain her senses and carry on. What a crazy turn of events.

Zhang Weili defends her strawweight title against her fellow Chinese woman Yan Xiaonan. Weili is a monster, packs a huge punch and has a great engine on her. Xiaonan from Beijing has beaten Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade to earn this shot and it should be a cracker.

Holloway has delivered THE moment UFC 300 was crying out for as such a historic card. It is one of the most insane endings to a fight you’ll ever see and embodied everything mad and great about MMA. How do you follow that!?

Joe Rogan has called it the best knock out of all time. UFC 300, one second to go, BMF belt on the line, risking everything to throw down. Remarkable.

Holloway: ‘Give it up for Gaethje, a real BMF. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose. I am him guys. El Matador is running away from the bull at 145. Even Islam. I’m here, I’m right here! Any weight, I am a gladiator, let’s get it! I want 600k, that was Fight of the Night and finish of the night.’

Holloway is a joke and that is one of the wildest moments in UFC history. Having dominated the round and most of the fight, Holloway points to the centre of the octagon and Gaethje obliges as both men swing wildly at each other. Holloway lands a right hand and sleeps Gaethje, putting him out cold. It is a highlight on the highlight. The ultimate BMF, the ultimate BMF finish. What a fighter, what a warrior.

Holloway is dropped for the first time in his career! A massive shot puts him on his backside briefly and his eyes widen in surprise as Gaethje marches forwards. A right hand on the back of the temple did the trick. Is momentum shifting? Holloway still has his wits about him and there’s five minutes to go in this enthralling bout.

Holloway stuns Gaethje with a beautiful shot and dominates the boxing exchanges that round. Blessed definitely took that one, even though the leg kicks are still there for his opponent. Into the championship rounds we go and Holloway looks slightly the fresher, partly due to Gaethje breathing through his mouth after breaking his nose.

Holloway accidentally pokes Gaethje in both eyes over the course of the round. Of course Gaethje takes a couple of seconds and jumps right back into the action when other fighters would see a way out. How compromised he is remains to be seen but he landed more nasty leg kicks and they’re really adding up now. It is finely poised, this.

Gaethje has success with his famed leg kicks, landing a couple of horrible ones. But Holloway has the better of the exchanges in general and his boxing is elite, wobbling him with a great left hook before a spinning kick to the face at the final second of the round breaks the nose of Gaethje, which could be huge over five rounds.

When UFC 300 was announced and the fights were added along the way, this is the one that generated the most interest. Holloway is a legend and moving up from featherweight is no easy task. Though as he puts it, I don’t remember Gladiators looking at the scales. Gaethje is a fearsome prospect for anyone and smashed up Dustin Poirier with a head kick KO in his last outing. The Highlight is always entertaining and given that nickname for a reason. This one should be superb and Mark Coleman will wrap the BMF title around the winner.

Sonnen never became a champion but his position as one of the most influential and entertaining fighters in MMA is assured and he’s now a superb analyst.

This fight was incredible and Sonnen is cageside for a VT of talking heads hailing his brilliant performance but heartbreaking late defeat by the legendary Brazilian, who was beaten up for four-and-a-half rounds before sneaking in a triangle to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

A razor think margin of victory and Tsarukyan moves a step closer to a title shot. ‘Thank you so much to Oliveira and the UFC for giving me this opportunity. I don’t know why one judge gave it to him, I won and I want to fight for the title and be youngest 155lbs champion. I thought it would be unanimous but it is what it is. Charles is so tough, I have to work on my skills and come back much stronger and better. Five years ago I gave Makhachev the toughest fight on short notice.

Oliveira has a d’arce choke locked up as the third expires but Tsarukyan survives it having controlled most of the round on top again. It really depends on how the judges value the fight-ending potential of submissions over the control time. It was a brilliant three rounds and leaves you wanting more, if only there were five… Both men come out with some credit but I reckon Tsarukyan will come away with the win now.

Tsarukyan nicks an early takedown and although Oliveira’s guard is dangerous and he defends well from his back, the Armenia ends the round with a barrage of elbows that cuts the former champ and rubberstamps his control of proceedings. It could come down to the third.

Lesser men would’ve folded. Oliveira chops Tsarukyan down with a leg kick, pounces on him and locks in a guillotine, but the Armenian just about manages to squeeze out before reversing position. Oliveira lands an illegal up kick from the ground but a point isn’t deducted and he scrambles to his feet with 10 seconds left before landing a heavy knee and elbow.

Oliveira is a fan favourite and the man with the most finishes in UFC history. He is hunting another title shot having been well beaten by Islam Makhachev to lose his title in the first place. The lightweight division is an unforgiving place and after beating Beneil Dariush, he’s been served up a killer in Tsarukyan, who is seemingly on course for the very top. If he can beat the No 1 contender tonight, gold might not be far away.

Nickal: I expected to dominate and shut this guy out completely. I was able to have the experience of going more than one round. I think he was more confident and came out to fight, it is a good learning experience, I guess I could have been more tactical.

I am grateful for everyone who supports me and to those who don’t all of you will love me, I guarantee it.

I want to fight a better guy every fight. I’m 6-0 now and most guys I fight have 16-20 fights. Anthony Hernandez is a guy I could fight, if you get the call to fight me, just be grateful and sign the contract.

Brundage dug in theree well but there was never really any doubt about the outcome of this one. Nickal level changed to a double leg and secureed a takedown with ease, managing to then secure a body triangle and find the rear-naked choke.

Nickal takes Brundage’s back and few would think he’d last out the opener from there but he did. Nickal turns him to mount and lands some ground and pound before the underdog isolates a wrist and makes it impossible for the man on top to progress, a smart move but he needs to stay on his feet in the second five minutes.

Bo Nickal has been the subject of some controversy through no fault of his own. Many fans are questioning why former champions and legends have been bumped behind him in the fight order with a relative newcomer opening the main card.

Nickal has been sensational since signing for the UFC and clearly they see him as a big future star. He’s a massive favourite against Cody Brundage tonight. Nickal’s wrestling pedigree is about is as good as it gets but it’s his striking that’s surprised people. His stock could rise even more in a few minutes.

The stats can tell us what kind of fight we’re expecting in the headliner later and all signs are pointing to a classic.

Prochazka: I have to say, he talks about me like I’m not a Samurai, it’s true but I’m just a man and we all need to be inspired by an idea or something. Him saying that pushed me more to prove I am living with these rules and I believe in myself, in my dreams and want to prove to everybody I can make the best performance of the night. I said it would be the perfect storm, it was not perfect but it was a storm!

This guy is so fun to watch. An animal. Rakic dominates round one and smashes the lead leg to pieces. It doesn’t deter Prochazka, who marches forwards and continues to put himself in harm’s way. In the second, it pays off as he rallies to connect with heavy shots and send Rakic tumbling to the canvas. It was the beginning of the end for the Austrian, who then absorbed some ungodly punishment. Fun fight.

Does Moicano know he’s funny? Regardless, his time on the mic is always as entertaining as the action in the cage and he didn’t waste the self-promotion time tonight.

A couple of light-heavyweight bangers now in the featured pre-lim of the night. Prochazka is coming off the defeat by Pereira in a fight for the vacant title, while Rakic last fought way back in 2022, losing against Jan Blachowicz on that occasion. It’s an all-European affair between Czech Republic and Austria and they’ll both think they’re not far off a title shot with an impressive victory.

It was such a nothing performance for Kattar, who has been out of action a long time, but will be desperately disappointed at how little he was able to show on the big stage.

Sterling dominates Kattar from the first bell to last. He out-grappled his man with absolute ease but the fans inside T-Mobile Arena weren’t happy with the lack of progression or action once Funkmaster had secure top position. There’s no danger of a bonus in this one but the judges have an easy decision to make and Sterling makes a successful launch of his featherweight era. 30-27 all round.

Jared Leto and Mark Zuckerberg are watching on tonight, both huge fans of the UFC and often seen at events. Is that Musk vs Zuckerberg fight ever going to happen? No. Obviously not.

This one will be fascinating. Sterling is making the step up to featherweight having lost his bantamweight title to Sean O’Malley last year and allowed team-mate Dvalishvili a run at the belt. He looks in great condition for 145 and Kattar is a great first match up for him. Kattar’s boxing is superb but he’s never quite broken the ceiling in the division, famously battered by Holloway. Let’s see how he deals with the new contender in town.

I’ve been waiting a long time to talk to you, Joe! I was surprised she clinched me and reversed me, Holly is a legend of our sport, God bless you and your family, it was an honour to share the octagon with you. I want my title next, that’s what I came over here for. At the end of the year I will be UFC champion.

Incredible debut for Harrison. Her judo throws were a different level and Holm barely landed a shot. Harrison dominated the first round and Holm just about survived ground and pound but once she’s had her back taken in the second it was hardly any time at all before the choke was locked in and she was tapping. Really impressive performance from the newcomer who looks massive at the weight and definitely championship quality.

But will they stop eye pokes? That’s the big question on everyone’s lips but a glove redesign announced on Friday is an interesting change from the UFC and the gold ones are a nice touch.

‘The greatest judoka in US history’ steps into the octagon for the first time tonight. The former Olympic gold medal winner and PFL champ signed with the big show and can test herself against a woman who has been there and done it in Holly Holm.

Harrison says she wants to put in such a performance that it forces her new bosses to give her a title shot. Holm won’t fear anyone and the former champ would love to deflate the Harrison hype balloon. It should be a cracker.

Lopes will waltz into the top 10 after that obliteration of Yusuff and it could be hard to persuade some of those above him to take the fight, such is his momentum at the moment.

Lopes is incredible! What a performance from this special young fighter. He landed a few low kicks to start and then cracked Yusuff with an upper cut in close before swarming him and flattening him out before forcing the ref to step in in the very first round, what a way to start the pre-lims!

Well those early pre-lims certainly whetted the appetite and we move swiftly on to the second section of the evening for the next couple of hours with fights of a calibre usually seen on a main card. First up we have Sodiq Yusuff taking on Diego Lopes at featherweight. Yusuff is a powerhouse from Nigeria and Lopes, the taller man, bounced back from a defeat by Movsar Evloev with two wins in his last two.

Moicano is always amazing on the mic and delivers again: ‘Today I want the bonus but I know they won’t give it to me – I love America, the first amendment, the constitution! I’m going to start a podcast called Show Me the Money, Joe Rogan you will be my first guest on Monday! My name is Money Moicano and I’m the best in the world, I can’t afford to lose, I have a family to feed and I’m not stopping until I have that belt!’

Turner stole the first round having been taken down for most of it before knocking the Brazilian down late and walking off as if it was over… it wasn’t. Moicano secured another takedown in the second and eventually found mount, landed thunderous ground and pound before the referee stepped in. Bravo Moicano.

Hill never lost the belt, relinquishing it due to injury and he feels it belongs to him, but Pereira has taken the UFC by storm with his freakish power and striking, the odds have him as narrow favourite but most fellow fighters are tipping the underdog…

Turner is a giant at lightweight and a real puzzle to solve. Moicano has won four of his last five and started to create a real buzz around him with hilarious post-fight speeches. Making waves is what this game is all about so with the eyes of the world on them tonight, one of these two can make a major leap forward at 155lbs.

Andrade is a monster and while Rodriguez may have been more technically sound, it is the blood and thunder of the victor with her huge power output that eventually wins the day. She’s a nightmare to face and takes a split decision after it goes to the judges.

Dana White will be coughing up 300k bonuses tonight so that’s a pretty wild incentive for big performances, an early contender in Miller’s bloodbath against Green for sure.

These two want to stake a claim for the No 1 spot in the strawweight division and put themselves in line to challenge the winner of tonight’s co-main event. Both won their last fight and Andrade is out to reclaim the prize she used to hold. This is one of three women’s fights at UFC 300 and a great showcase with the crowd already swelling in T-Mobile Arena.

Bobby Green was always favourite for this one and there’s no fairytale for Miller here. Green dances in and out for three rounds, using his speed and youth advantage to piece his American compatriot apart and almost finish him in the third, only for Miller, covered in blood and cut to shreds, to dig in and see the end.

This is a story to warm the heart of even the most weathered fight fan. Jim Miller fought at UFC 100, UFC 200 and all these years later is still doing his thing at the big show for the tricentenary.

Miller faces Bobby Green tonight in what should be a banger.

He holds the record for the most fights in UFC history (44), the second most finishes (18) and could well be in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done.

Brazil stand up! We have a major new player in the bantamweight division as Figgy gets the job done in style in the second round.

The first round was a tight one with Gabrandt trying to detonate a big fight-ending shot. Figueiredo found a brief late takedown, which would prove to be the blueprint for success, securing one in the second before moving to mount, turning his man and locking in a rear-naked choke.

Figueiredo, the former flyweight champion moves up to bantamweight to take on the lightening fast hands of Gabrandt, who is known for his electric pace and fragile chin.

He’s regained some of the confidence he lost in being KO’d TJ Dillashaw twice, Pedro Munhoz and Kai Kara France.

In Figgy, he has a world class match-up tonight and real test of his skills. It will be fascinating to see how he fares up a weight class. We’re about to find out.

Let’s just have a delve into the running order then, shall we?

EARLY PRE-LIMS:

Deiveson Figueiredo vs Cody Garbrandt

Bobby Green vs Jim Miller

Jessica Andrade vs Marina Rodriguez

Jalin Turner vs Renato Moicano

Sodiq Yousuff vs Diego Lopes

Holly Holm vs Kayla Harrison

Calvin Kattar vs Aljamain Sterling

Jiri Prochazka vs Aleksandar Rakic

MAIN CARD:

Bo Nickal vs Cody Brundage

Charles Oliveira vs Arman Tsarukyan

Justin Gaethje vs Max Holloway

Zhang Weili vs Yan Xiaonan

Alex Pereira vs Jamahal Hill

UFC 300 – We’re finally here. The tricentenary of the world’s biggest MMA promotion has been circled in the calendar ever since it was announced and is so stacked even the early prelims are being televised and being kicked off with Deiveson Figueiredo vs Cody Garbrandt, that’s the insane measure of how strong it is. We’ll bring you all the action on an historic night in Las Vegas, strap in!