UFC 300 is only a matter of days away and with the light heavyweight world title on the line in the main event, Charles Oliveira is predicting a major knockout.
One of the greatest PPVs in MMA history goes down this weekend in Las Vegas: UFC 300 features 12 current or former world champions with three title fights topping the bill.
Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill headline UFC 300 in Las Vegas
Headlining UFC 300 will be Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira defending his light heavyweight world championship against former king Jamahal ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill.
After losing his middleweight belt to Israel Adesanya, Pereira moved up to 205lbs to earn a split decision win over Jan Blachowicz, followed by a second-round KO of Jiri Prochazka to claim the title in November 2023.
Jamahal Hill won the light heavyweight belt after defeating Pereira’s friend and coach Glover Teixeira but was forced to vacate through injury only a few months later – UFC 300 will be his first fight since January 2023.
Charles Oliveira predicts Alex Pereira will earn ‘revenge’ at UFC 300
Speaking to Guilherme Cruz via the MMAFighting YouTube channel, Charles Oliveira praised the American title challenger for his grit and determination ahead of his toughest test to date at UFC 300, but admitted that staying on the feet with Pereira remains a dangerous game for anyone:
“Man, Jamahal [Hill] deserves all the respect in the world, he’s super tough and hits hard, but everyone that comes in to trade with ‘Poatan’ on the feet will get folded.”
The former lightweight champion also teased that Pereira will be looking for a statement KO victory as ‘revenge’ for friend and teammate Glover Teixeira, who lost the 205lb title to Hill back in January 2023:
“Poatan is tough and hits hard, he definitely is hungry for revenge too, and wants to avenge Glover [Teixeira’s] loss. You have to be careful with that, but I’m sure ‘Poatan’ will knock him out.”
In the lead-up to UFC 300, Hill has repeatedly said that he’s also looking for a stand-up war and a shock KO of the Brazilian kickboxer, despite arguably his most likely path to victory being on the ground.
Unsurprisingly, ‘do Bronx’ says that Hill is attempting to deceive the MMA world with this talk:
“He’s bluffing for sure, Jamahal has the takedowns and the means to make it happen, that’s the strategy, to take him down. [Because] if he trades on the feet, he’s getting knocked out.”
Charles Oliveira admits that the BMF title fight is 50/50
Whilst the MMA community is counting down the hours to both Charles Oliveira and Alex Pereira’s fights at UFC 300, the ‘people’s main event’ is undoubtedly the BMF title bout between Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje.
Whilst Gaethje is a moderate favorite over the former featherweight champion, Oliveira says that the contest is far closer than the bookies are giving credit for: “I think it’s 50/50” who wins, said Oliveira.
“They are both super tough, of course, Justin Gaethje hits hard, and he really is a lightweight. If he goes for it and connects the strikes, it’s going to be hard for Max Holloway.”
“But Max Holloway is super tough, he’s talented, he connects and leaves, in and out. He always delivers great fights and that’s why he’s on the UFC 300 card – it’s a great fight.”
UFC 300 goes down on Saturday, April 13 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.