The Art Of WAR: UFC300 Picks, Predictions, and Personal Opinions! By: Chaw Head

The greatest card in UFC history is upon us this Saturday, April 13th. With 26 fighters

throughout 13 fights, the matchmakers have gifted the fans an undercard to rival many

pay-per-view main cards, and the roster’s fan favorites littered throughout the evening.The most

ranked fighters on a card ever. WAR. The most Pound-For-Pound fighters on a card ever. WAR.

Twelve current or former champions. WAR. Not one, not two, but three belts on the line. WAR.

There was much skepticism behind how stacked this card should be. Some say guys like

McGregor HAD to be on this card, some calling for quick turnarounds for their favorite fighters.

With the card already locked I am going to step back, take a look at the 13 beautifully violent

matchups that will awe viewers. There is nothing like watching two grown adults slug it out at

the highest levels of martial arts. One of the best aspects of mixed martial arts are the different

styles clashing, not to prove the best fighting style overall, but the best warrior locked in a cage

with another warrior.

Early Prelims:

1. Deiveson “Deus Da Guerra” Figueiredo -325 vs. Cody “No Love” Garbrandt +260

Number 8 ranked Figgy takes on Cody Garbrandt to open the night in the what? The early

prelims? This fight being the first of the night should alone indicate how many great fights we

are about to see. Cody Garbrandt had the Bantamweight belt nearly 6 years ago, where he lost

against TJ Dillashaw in their rematch, and while his track record before then was astounding,

the prime of his career appears to be behind him. Figgy, a former champion in the Flyweight

Division, just over a year ago, has also moved up to the deep Bantamweight Division. Both

fighters are coming off a win, looking to kick start the night off, and have a great matchup.

Figgy’s submission capabilities may come out here, but never count Cody Garbrandt’s KO

power out. With Figgy being the defined favorite in this fight is it clear why. He is the more well

rounded fighter, but nobody will be shocked if Cody Garbrandt catches Figgy’s chin mid second

round/early third round. The odds should not be this far apart in this fight.

Pick: Figgy -310

Prediction: 2nd Rd KO

2. “King” Bobby Green -180 vs. Jim “Fuckin” Miller +150

Number 14 ranked, fan favorite, Bobby Green takes on another fan favorite, and the only fighter

in UFC history to fight on all three centennial fight cards, Jim Miller. Two guys with no quit, a 37

year old and a 40 year old still chuckin’ knucks, sure to make a spectacle out of this event.

While Jim Miller is coming off a win in January, Bobby Green was KO’ed by another fighter later

in this card, with a clear late stoppage. You gotta wonder how quick he can bounce back after

6-7 late shots after he was already out in his last fight. This fight is a statement fight for both

fighters.

Pick: Jim Miller +154

Prediction: 2nd Rd Sub

3. Jessica Andrade -135 vs. Marina Rodriguez +114

No 4 Andrade takes on No 6 Rodriquez in the first WMMA fight of this card. This is one of the

only fights I have no strong opinion on. Even with both coming off of wins in their last fights, I

just don’t see an interesting fight. I hope I'm wrong, but if there's a fight to grab more food in the

kitchen and use the bathroom it's this one. Andrade’s last win over a lately-suspect Mackenzie

Dern, in dominating fashion, is not enough for me to go against Rodriguez who is bigger, has

longer reach, and one of the better strikers in her weight class.

Pick: Marina Rodriguez +114

Prediction: Unanimous Decision

4. Jalin “The Tarantula” Turner -230 vs. Renato “Money” Moicano +190

No 10 ranked Turner taking on No 14 ranked Moicano in what is one of my favorite fights on this

card. Both coming off a win, Turner obliterated aforementioned Bobby Green last December in a

late stoppage, while Moicano went to WAR for 15 minutes against Drew Dober just three

months ago. While both fights had matchups in their last fights that are not necessarily their

“showcase” fights, their past performances indicate this fight is going to be a banger. Moicano

has fought with alot of big names, getting wins in his fair share of them. But Jalin Turner’s two

recent split decisions against Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot proves he can scrap with top

tier talent. His fight against Dan Hooker last summer honestly was a top 4 fight of the year,

landing a head kick that stunned everyone in the world except Dan Hooker somehow. I don’t like

either of these fighters' stamina and see someone getting gassed mid fight and getting caught.

Moicano will need to take the fight down to the mat, and Turner will be able to starch Moicano if

he can keep distance and keep it on the feet.

Pick: Jalin Turner -238

Prediction: 1st Rd KO

Prelims:

5. “Super” Sodiq Yusuff +120 vs. Diego Lopes -142

How can you not love this fight, another potential favorite fight of the night in my opinion;No 13

Yusuff takes on up-and-comer Diego Lopes. Yusuff is looking to avenge his last loss against

legend Edson Barboza, while coming off of back to back round one finishes in his last two fights

including a brutal KO of Sabatini. Due to Yusuff’s history of getting hurt in fights may happen

again, i think the real question is if Diego Lopes is going to keep his finishing streak alive with a

KO or submission.

Pick: Diego Lopes

Prediction: 3rd Rd Sub

6. Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm +350 vs. Kayla Harrison -445

No 5 ranked Holly Holm taking on stout judo expert Kayla Harrison in her first fight in the UFC. I

know, I know, I know, we're all sick of Holly Holm who beat Rousey nearly a decade ago, but

has only won one back to back set of fights in the last 12 bouts since her stellar performance

against the first great women’s UFC fighter. Now I’m not the only one that thinks women's MMA

is lackluster, forced and repetitive, and probably doesn't need to be on main cards or even in the

prelims of the biggest UFC card in history... but, I can say with confidence that I am excited to

see Kayla Harrison in the UFC. I mean we're not just talking about your run of the mill Judo

fighter. We're talking about a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in Judo, a two time PFL world

champ in MMA, and the only MMA fight she lost was in the 2022 PFL championship. Making the

move to the UFC is the most challenging league for a fighter, and I can say without a shadow of

a doubt that she will be a Bantamweight champ in the UFC. Her only weakness is having to

make weight.. But she managed to make weight this week for the fights so it may appear that

her hardest fight of the week is complete.

Pick: Kayla Harrison

Prediction: However she wants

7. Calvin Kattar +140 vs. Aljamain “Funk Master” Sterling -166

No 8 ranked Featherweight Kattar takes on No 2 ranked Bantamweight/unranked Featherweight

Aljo, who happens to be one of my favorite fighters. I remember watching Aljo “officially” claim

the throne against Petr Yan in their rematch after the first fight ended in a DQ due to an illegal

knee. While he faced criticism for claiming the belt after a DQ, the rematch was spectacular.

And yes, while he did win by split decision some hated the result, and some felt it was fair, you

get that most times there is a split decision. Watching Aljo win his rematch was where I truly

started enjoying and paying more attention to UFC. Seeing a guy as well rounded as Aljo, but

excels in the grappling/submission aspect of the sport, is fun to watch. Now Kattar has the

height, reach, and power advantage in this fight, and has a great take down defense record. If

Kattar can keep the fight on the feet this will go to decision. If Aljo can steal a round by getting a

takedown and control Kattar through the five minutes. This is going to be a very entertaining

fight and if I had to make a wager on this one my money would go on the 2.5 round over.

Pick: Aljo

Prediction: Split Decision

8. Jiri Prochazka +102 vs Aleksandar Rakic -118

No 2 ranked Jiri takes on No 5 ranked Rakic in what is the closest we have to a pickem in this

card. Both fighters coming off losses and looking to get back in the ring with their arm raised at

the end of the night, this bout is going to capitalize how strong of a card this is, ending the early

prelims with two top 5 ranked fighters. While Jiri is coming off a KO loss in a title defense

against the current title holder defending his title in the main event later this evening, Rakic is

coming off a loss where he got hurt. The lackluster fight style of Rakic is the only thing that

scares me about being able to enjoy this fight. Jiri will be looking to make his return for the belt

with a win here and all my gut is telling me is that this fight is going to end with Jiri finishing

Rakic. The self proclaimed Czech Samurai’s unorthodox fight style, similar to DuPlessis’,

confuses the hell out of top level fighters and i feel this is one of those circumstances where him

getting punches in at angles Rakic is not expecting is going to catch him and if not KO him, it

will stumble him enough for Jiri to take the back and get a sub.

Pick: Jiri Prochazka

Prediction: 2nd Rd KO/TKO

Main Card:

9. Bo Nickal -1450 vs. Cody Brundage +850

Someone please remind me again why this fight is on the main card? Two unranked fighters

starting the main card is honestly more disappointing than the combined three women’s fights

on the heavily stacked card. Bo Nickal, a very accomplished wrestler, enters his 5th UFC fight

against Brundage.While Brundage has 3 times more fights than Nickal in the UFC, he simply

has not strung together enough wins consecutively to get a fight against a ranked fighter. The

streaky Brundage just might get that chance if he stuns fans by beating Nickal Saturday night,

but the oddsmakers call it a long shot. Being honest it would leave many puzzled if Brundage

finds a way to get a win here against an elite wrestler with submission expertise. In my eyes the

only way Brundage can win this fight is if he can somehow... someway... keep the fight on the

feet and prevent takedowns using distance until the later portion of each round where he can

risk closing the distance to catch Nickal’s chin. This fight is going to be very boring until Nickal

starts swinging where i see Brundage panicking and surrendering a takedown, which will

inevitably lead to a submission.

Pick: Bo Nickal

Prediction: 1st Rd Sub

10. Charles “Do Bronx” Oliveira +180 vs. Arman Tsarukyan -218

“The Champion has a name” “and his name is Charles Oliveira”. No 1 ranked Charles Oliveira

takes on youngblood, come at your throat No 4 Arman Tsarukyan in what is my favorite fight on

this outrageous card. Oliveria, the former champion, who lost his belt due being the only fighter

in UFC history to forfeit his belt due to not making weight in a championship bout, and lost via

submission in his chance to reclaim the belt, is back with vengeance. The Brazilian fan favorite

has the most finishes in UFC history. How the odds are set where they are at is stunning.

Oliveira is 12-1 in his last 13 fights, just how can Arman be the favorite? The answer is simple,

he is the biggest threat to the Reigning, Defending, Undisputed Lightweight Champ Islam

Makhachev. Their fight 5 years ago is the closest a true Lightweight has come to competing with

the No 1 Pound-for-Pound fighter in the world, and Arman came in on short notice. This

matchup should be WAR. We're talking violence at a level that will leave you on the edge of

your seat flinching at every leg kick, jab, and submission attempt. I see this fight happening

similar to recent Oliveira fights, he will get hurt early, but the days of him giving up are over.

Watching Do Bronx fight gives you the sense that he wants nothing more in the world right now

than to get his belt back. And when he gets hurt the crowd will get behind him and he will find a

way to stay in the fight, win some rounds back, and get a finish. Now there is an obvious chance

Arman can knock Oliveira out cold and that could be the end of it. I love a live bet on charles

after he may get hurt/knocked down in this fight though.

Pick: Charles Oliveira

Prediction: 2nd Rd KO/TKO

11. Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje -155 vs. Max “Blessed” Holloway +130

Our first title fight of the night with the BMF belt on the line, and possibly a fight of the year.. The

“BMF” title currently held by No. 2 ranked Lightweight Gaethje, he takes on No 2 ranked

Featherweight Holloway. Max jumping up a weight class for this fight is not a shock, and he

certainly can hang with the big boys. This fight is certainly going to be fun to watch. Both fighters

have a clear path to a title fight in their respective division with a win here and won't be

surprised if you hear Justin call out Islam if he wins, or Max call out Ilia if he wins. This fight is

going to be another war, pure violence, stand up and bang till the bells rang. I see this fight

going either way. I like Justins power, but I like Max’s chin. I like Max’s ability to draw out a fight,

but I like Justin’s ability to brawl it out to get finishes. Nobody’s caught Max’s chin before, is this

the fight we see? Justin Gaetje appears to be in his prime, he looks better now than he did as

the champ vs. Khabib. I want this fight to go the distance because I want to see 25 minutes of

gruesome violence, i don't want to see either of these fights get knocked out cold or have to

submit, i want to see both these fan favorite fighters standing at the end of the night with one

arm raised and respect to the other. Either fighter has a puncher’s chance but I gotta go with

your favorite fighter’s favorite fighter in this one.

Pick: Justin Gaethje

Prediction: 4th Rd KO or UD

12. Zhang Weili -500 vs Yan Xiaonan +380

Champion Weili is looking to defend her Strawweight title against No 1 ranked Yan, i don't know

how anybody can dislike Weili as a fighter and person. As humble as it gets, Weili might be the

hardest working WMMA fighter on the roster. I don't see much in this fight as Yan does not

come close to sniffing Weili as a fighter. This fight should be a Weili successfully defending her

title if and when she gets Yan down to the ground, who lacks takedown defense and has poor

grappling. I see this fight getting finished before the halfway mark.

Pick: Zhang Weili

Prediction: 2nd Rd TKO

13. Alex “Poatan” Pereria -135 vs. Jamahal Hill +114

Arguably the most popular UFC fighter in the world with the likes of Islam and Ilia, Pereria, the

reigning Light Heavyweight Champion takes on No 1 and former LHW champ Jamahal Hill it

what truly is the best fight the matchmakers could throw together with the available fighters they

had at the time. Pereria’s burst into the UFC scene after his two division champion run in Glory

vs the likes of Israel Adesanya, and winning championships in two different UFC divisions in just

7 fights is one of the most impressive short run in UFC history, and certainly the most

impressive two division run in the history of the sport. Hill, a former champion in the LHW

division, who respectively relinquished his belt after an injury, is looking to reclaim the throne as

Light Heavyweight champ. Both of these fighters have unmistaken power with KO abilities that

can come at any point in a fight. Pereria’s key to this fight is to capitalize on his brutal leg kicks

and land some of his signature left hooks. Hill’s needs to focus on checking the leg kicks, and

using his unforgiving power to crumple Pereria, who does get caught and hurt in fights and has

been knocked out a time or two. One of my favorite bets of this card is the over 1.5 round total.

With this being a title fight between two fighters, and if you look at it correctly both are

technically defending the belt, due to Hill's relinquishment of the belt and this being his first fight

in over a year. With that being said both fighters know this is a 5 round fight, and both can knock

eachother out, which is why i think the first round will be a feeler round and the rest is going to

be streaks of either fighter finding comfort in the range and successfully closing the distance. I

do see this fight primarily staying on the feet which is why i don't see this fight going the

distance and somebody getting KO’d or TKO’d.

Pick: Alex Pereria

Prediction: 2nd Rd KO

I look forward to watching this monumental card for 7-8 hours of violence, WAR, and respect

between all the fighters. I know some of my favorite fighters may lose tonight, I know some

people’s favorite fighters might even retire tonight, but we are in for a spectacle. So get

comfortable, get some popcorn, and enjoy the show tonight and may the best fighters win.