‘Greatest of all time’: Buzzerbeater KO, ‘absolute savage’ stun epic UFC 300 card
A champ’s absolutely savage act has capped off an insane UFC 300 fight card that also witnessed the “greatest knockout of all time”.
UFC 300 well and truly lived up to the hype.
One of the most stacked cards in recent history produced a slew of insane knockouts at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Alex Pereira showed why his left hand is arguably the most dangerous weapon in UFC, knocking out Jamahal Hill in just over a minute to win their light heavyweight showdown.
UFC 300: PEREIRA V HILL | SUN 14 APR | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports. Main Event on Kayo Sports and Foxtel is the new exclusive home of UFC Pay-Per-View.
Earlier, Max Holloway knocked out Justin Gaethje in the very last second of their fight in a victory that’s been called the “greatest knockout of all time”.
3.30pm - Pereira is a ‘killer’
Alex Pereira has done it again, defeating Jamahal Hill a minute into their light heavyweight title fight in the main event.
Referee Herb Jones stepped in after Hill kicked Pereira with a low blow but the Brazilian waved him off.
Pereira knocked Hill out cold with a brutal left hand and finished the job with some ground and pound.
Joe Rogan said of Pereira: “What a killer.”
MMA journalist Amy Kaplan wrote: “THAT WAS THE COLDEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN.”
News Corp’s Brendan Bradford wrote: “Cold from Poatan. Wow.”
Ariel Helwani wrote: “Alex Pereira KOs Hill in the first round. Never in doubt for Pereira. And still light heavyweight champion.”
Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox wrote: “Holy shit. Alex Pereira waves off Herb Dean trying to stop the action after a low blow, and puts Jamahal Hill down with the next shot he threw. Insane ending to an ALL TIME card.”
Former UFC fighter Kenny Florian: “Waves off cup kick, proceeds to use murderous left-hand. Alex Pereira ladies and gentlemen. Absolute savage.”
3.20pm - Champ’s reaction says it all
Israel Adesanya and Ilia Topuria couldn’t believe their eyes watching Max Holloway’s knockout ringside at Las Vegas.
Adesanya looked genuinely in awe, while Topuria’s facial expression after realising he would have to fight Holloway next was priceless.
Topuria knocked out Australia’s Alex Volkanovski to claim the UFC featherweight belt earlier this year.
3.10pm - Bizarre moment after mid-fight ‘nap’
Zhang Weili has defended her strawweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Yan Xiaonan in the co-main event.
Weili had Xiaonan in trouble with a tight chokehold late in the first round and Xiaonan appeared to be unconscious at the end of the round.
But she somehow woke up and her corner roused her with ice and smelling salts to keep her in the contest.
“In the corner the cut man said I can wake her up and he gave her some smelling salts,” Daniel Cormier said.
“Are you allowed to do that? I don’t think you’re allowed to do that,” Joe Rogan asked.
2.10pm - Holloway produces insane knockout win
Max Holloway has proved he’s still got it, defeating Justin Gaethje via knockout in one of the most impressive victories ever seen in UFC.
Holloway had the better of the early rounds, breaking Gaethje’s nose just before the end of the first before accidentally poking his opponent in the eye twice in the middle rounds.
Gaethje bravely fought on and managed to knock down Holloway — the first time he’s ever been sent to the canvas in his career.
Holloway dominated the fight in a vintage performance and could have cruised to a win via decision — but he called for Gaethje to trade blows him late in the fifth and final round.
And with just one second left on the clock, Holloway unleashed a blistering barrage of combinations and knocked Gaethje out cold with a right hand.
Watch Max Holloway’s last second KO in the video above
It’s undoubtedly one of the greatest walk-off knockouts in UFC history and sets up Holloway for a clash with Dustin Poirier.
“An absolute stunner at UFC 300,” Jon Anik said in commentary.
“Oh my god, oh my god,” Joe Rogan exclaimed.
“Holy shit. Oh my god,” Daniel Cormier said.
Rogan added: “He called for it. He called for him to stand and trade. That’s a real warrior. In fight he’s winning. He could have been up four rounds. Oh my god.”
Not only did Holloway win the lightweight blockbuster, he will took the UFC’s BMF belt for the “baddest motherf***er” off Gaethje.
Viewers couldn’t believe what they witnessed from the 32-year-old Holloway.
News Corp’s Brendan Bradford wrote: “Give Max Holloway all the 300k bonuses. That was unbelievable.”
Bartstool Sports’ Robbie Fox wrote: “One of the greatest finishes I’ve ever seen. Max Holloway is a BAD MOTHERF***ER!!!”
Ariel Helwani wrote: “HOLY SHIT. That’s one of the greatest finishes ever. The legend of Max Blessed grows. WOW.”
Joe Rogan called it “the greatest knockout of all time.”
1.10pm - Oliveira blockbuster rocked by ‘illegal’ act
The blockbuster bout between Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan was stopped midway through the first round when Oliveira committed an “illegal” kick.
With Tsarukyan in the dominant position straddling Oliveira, the former lightweight champion lashed out with an upwards kick that collected Tsarukyan in the head.
Joe Rogan said in commentary: “That’s illegal. That up kick is illegal. Absolutely an illegal strike.”
Daniel Cormer said: “Luckily it hit his shoulder first because if that went straight to the face of Tsarukyan he might have went down.”
The referee told Oliveira: “He was grounded. Do not do that again.”
Oliveira wasn’t penalised a point on the scoreboards but after the doctor checked on Tsarukyan, he was allowed to resume his position on top of Oliveira.
The Brazilian nearly pulled off a great escape with some submission attempts late in rounds, but Tsarukyan showed off his grappling skills throughout to claim an upset victory in the lightweight title eliminator via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x 2).
12.20pm — Jiri Prochazka calls out main event winner
Jiri Prochazka wants to face the winner of the main event between Pereira and Hill after defeating Aleksandr Rakic via a clinical TKO.
Prochazka was stopped by Pereira in the second round of their bout for the then vacant UFC light heavyweight title in November last year.
12pm — Miller cut up in bloodbath
Jim Miller has been left bloodied by Bobby Green in their lightweight fight that turned into a three-round war on the undercard.
Green dominated the bout, winning via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25 and 29-26) and nearly got the finish in the third round.
But Miller wouldn’t give in — the 40-year-old was left bloodied with a nasty deep gash opening up under his right eye.
Bravo, Jim Miller! 100,200,300! Incredible feat! As real as it gets! @ufc
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 13, 2024
Respect Jim Miller.. you Legend #UFC300
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) April 13, 2024
11.50pm — Embarrassing blunder costs Turner
Jalin Turner has lost to Renato Moicano via a second-round TKO after an embarrassing blunder.
Turner knocked Moicano to the canvas with a strong left hand and he thought the fight was over there and then.
The American arguably should have finished the fight with some ground and pound, but Moicano got straight back to his feet.
Turner thought he’d secured a walk-off knockout, but Moicano fought back to win with some savage ground and pound.
One UFC fan wrote on X: “Jalin Turner just delivered one of the lowest IQ moments I’ve seen in a long time. Jesus f***ing christ.”
JALIN TURNER KNOCKS DOWM MOICANO AND THINKS THAT ITS OVER??? #UFC300pic.twitter.com/9lqwownUTE
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) April 13, 2024
“He thought he had him and he was walking off, which is very interesting that he did that,” Joe Rogan said in commentary.
“That’s a problem. You try to create moments when in reality he should have tried to finish it,” added Daniel Cormier.
“Nobody can hurt me,” Moicano said.“I’m ‘Money f******* Moicano. I’m not going to stop until I have the belt. UFC, you need to respect me, I am the best in the business.”
11.45am — Power bomb stuns UFC
Aljamain Sterling was getting booed before he produced one of the craziest throws the fight promotion has seen in recent years.
Sterling’s tactics of taking the fight to the ground were not appreciated by the crowd, but fans changed their tune instantly when he picked up Calvin Kattar and buried him into the floor in the third round.
Sterling’s tackle was described as a “powerbomb” by ESPN commentators.
“Oh my,” Joe Rogan said in commentary as the stadium erupted.
All three judges scored the contest the same, awarding the former bantamweight champion a decision win courtesy of 30-27 scorecards.
Dominant performance in his featherweight debut 🙌@FunkMasterMMA | #UFC300pic.twitter.com/sMMLOPVKQs
— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024
10am — Deiveson Figueiredo chokes out Cody Garbrandt
Deiveson Figueiredo has proved he is a legitimate threat in the bantamweight division with a vicious TKO stoppage of Cody Garbrandt.
Figueiredo submitted Garbrandt with a rear-naked choke in the third round.
He is now 2-0 since moving up to the 145lb division and a title shot may not be far away.
8.30am - UFC champ’s absurd weight gain
Alex Pereira has shared details of his second insane body transformation in as many days for his octagon return.
The Brazilian bruiser had no issue making the 205lbs title fight limit, although he was one of the final fighters to tip the scales during Saturday’s official weigh-ins.
But he showed in Instagram on Saturday night he’s piled back on 27lbs — just hours before the Sin City extravaganza.
Former middleweight champion Pereira revealed he was weighing 232lbs after his rehydration protocol to his three million Instagram followers on Saturday, The Sun reports.
MMA fans were left stunned by his dramatic body transformation, with one saying: “Damn.”
Another said: “How TF did he make 185lbs?”
And another said: “He’s not losing.”
One remarked: “Can’t believe he was making 185lbs.”
8am - Dana White causes chaos with $1.8m offer
Already being billed as the greatest card in UFC history, the stakes of Sunday’s stacked Las Vegas blockbuster were raised again after Dana White agreed to have $US300,000 ($A460,000) performance bonuses.
The huge monetary increase – which in Australian currency equates to almost $2 million – was one of several big moments at a press conference stacked with talent, foxsports.com.au reported.
While White usually hands out four $50K performance bonuses at events, he was asked early in proceedings by a journalist about a fight week suggestion from BMF champ Justin Gaethje that it be upped to $300,000.
“Done,” White said simply, while also agreeing to have fight legend Mark Coleman wrap the BMF title around whoever wins between Gaejthe and Max Holloway.
UFC 300 results
Main card
Alex Pereira def Jamahal Hill via KO (3:14, R1)
Zhang Weili def Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (49-45 x 5)
Max Holloway def Justin Gaethje via KO (4min59sec R5)
Arman Tsarukyan def Charles Oliveira via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x 2)
Bo Nickal def Cody Brundage via submission
Preliminary card from 10am AEST
Aljamain Sterling def Calvin Kattar via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Jiri Prochazka def Aleksandar Rakic via TKO
Kayla Harrison def Holly Holm via TKO (Round 2)
Early preliminary card
Diego Lopes def Sodiq Yusuff via TKO (Round 1)
Jessica Andrade def Marina Rodriguez via split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)
More Coverage
Bobby Green def Jim Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-25 and 29-26)
Renato Moicano d Jalin Turner via TKO (Round 2)
Deiveson Figueiredo def Cody Garbrandt via TKO (Round 2)
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