UFC 300 Early Prelims Preview and Predictions
The event that all UFC fans have been waiting for has arrived in UFC 300. This historic card in Las Vegas has nothing short of 13 spectacular fights from the first early prelim until the main event. That is why we are not just previewing and giving our predictions for the UFC 300 main card but instead doing three separate posts for the early prelims, prelims, and the main card. So lock in for an abundance of great fights.
Join Vendetta Sports Media as we preview and predict the early prelims of this historic UFC 300 card. You can find our 2024 prediction records below.
James: 35-27
Garrett: 36-26
Anthony: 31-31
Jerry: 27-29
No. 8 Deiveson Figueiredo vs Cody Garbrandt – Bantamweight Bout
Nothing shows how insane the UFC 300 card is by having two former champions open up the night. Former two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo will be making his second walk to the octagon since moving up to the bantamweight division. In his 135 lb debut, he took on current No. 9 bantamweight Rob Font. He dispatched Font with relative ease earning himself a unanimous decision victory.
The big question for Figueiredo ahead of his move up was would his power translate. It sure did. The Brazilian went toe to toe on the feet with a very dangerous boxer in Font. He even rocked Font in the third round of that fight and looked close to getting a finish. The Brazilian looked much better in the last round than in previous fights at flyweight and that could be a benefit of not having to cut as much weight.
Standing across from Figueiredo will be the former UFC Bantamweight champion, Cody Garbrandt. “No Love” has had a rough journey since holding UFC gold. Following his win over Dominick Cruz at UFC 207 in 2016, Garbrandt went on to lose five of his next six. His last loss was a fight against Kai Kara-France in the flyweight division. The Ohio native took over a year off after that loss and the time to recoup appears beneficial as he has rallied off two straight.
First, it was a decision victory over Trevin Jones then a first-round knockout of Brian Kelleher at UFC 296 this past December. While unranked, Garbrandt still has the name and some of the speed to make a statement in the division he once reigned. An advantage for Garbrandt against a better grappler is that he has an 80% takedown defense.
This is one of the fights I am looking forward to the most on the entire UFC 300 card. On paper, it looks like a typical grappler vs striker matchup, but Figueiredo has proven he has the power to knock out opponents. That aspect along with his dangerous ground game is why I see him getting the job done to open UFC 300. I am taking Figueiredo by knockout.
James: Figueiredo via submission
Anthony: Figueiredo via KO/TKO
Garrett: Garbrandt via decision
No. 14 Bobby Green vs Jim Miller – Lightweight Bout
This fight may have the least importance in terms of rankings and future plans of the 13 fights on the UFC 300 card, but it is going to likely be a brawl. Bobby Green has risen to notoriety for being willing to throw down with anyone anywhere. Not many fighters would be willing to step in on two weeks’ notice to take on Islam Makhachev. Despite losing that, Green has continued to put on a show every time he steps into the octagon. His last six fights have ended in a finish one way or another. This includes a 33-second knockout of Grant Dawson for his latest win.
At 37 years of age, Green has fought in an amazing 48 fights and has been on the UFC roster since 2013. The Californian holds two records in the lightweight division with the most significant strikes (1659) and total strikes (1885) in the division’s history. Both of his records are more than 200 strikes ahead of the men second on those lists.
While Bobby “King” Green has some impressive records, the man standing across from him is already a shoo-in to the UFC Hall of Fame. Jim Miller holds three UFC records and is in the top five of four more statistics. The 40-year-old has the most UFC fights (43), wins (26), and submission attempts (48).
Despite having been in 55 professional MMA fights, there is still some motivation in the legendary Miller. The only fighter on the UFC 300 card to have fought at both UFC 100 and UFC 200 has stated that he has no plans on retiring just yet. If anything he has been on a hot streak having won five of his last six fights all coming by finish. This also includes a lightning-quick knockout of Jesse Butler that took just 23 seconds.
Expect this fight to be full speed ahead right from the opening bell. After all, this is the fourth time this fight has been set up. Green last fought in December and suffered a brutal knockout that maybe should have been stopped before a few more shots were landed. At 37, I wonder if there are some cobwebs up there, seems unlikely for a guy with Green’s resume. However, Miller won at UFC 100 and 200 and I am picking him to make it three for three at UFC 300. I am picking Miller to win by submission
James: Green via decision
Anthony: Green via decision
Garrett: Miller via knockout (for wins at UFC 100, 200, and 300)
No. 4 Jéssica Andrade vs No. 6 Marina Rodriguez – Women’s Strawweight Bout
With the women’s strawweight title being on the line in the UFC 300 co-main event, this fight between two top-ranked strawweights is of the utmost importance. A win for either fighter could see them potentially earn a title shot next time out.
Jéssica Andrade has been a statement fighter in the division since her UFC debut in 2013 which came before the strawweight division was even a part of the UFC. Over her 11-year UFC career, she has fought the best of the best and even held strawweight gold after knocking out Rose Namajunas at UFC 237 in 2019. She too holds numerous division records including the most finishes (6) and the most knockouts (4).
Andrade went into a bit of a slump as of late having lost three straight fights across strawweight and flyweight. She bounced back in a big way in November by getting the technical knockout of Mackenzie Dern in the second round. Andrade’s power was on full display and almost had Dern done for in the final seconds of the first round.
Marina Rodriguez has also had some tough times as of late. She started her career on fire losing just one of her first 19 fights. That loss came against the former two-time women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza. However, the Brazilian lost two straight fights against Amanda Lemos and Virna Jandiroba before getting back into the win column with a dominant win over Michelle Waterson-Gomez.
At 36 years old this may be the last chance for Rodriguez to make a run towards the strawweight title. That makes her a very dangerous opponent. However, the lady standing across from her is just as dangerous. I am picking Andrade to win at UFC 300 by knockout.
James: Rodriguez via decision
Anthony: Andrade via decision
Garrett: Rodriguez via decision
No. 10 Jalin Turner vs No. 13 Renato Moicano – Lightweight Bout
Jalin Turner vs Renato Moicano is the definition of a striker vs grappler bout. Turner has 10 professional MMA knockouts, including two of his last three wins. Meanwhile, Moicano has five submission wins in his last six wins.
Turner is coming off a brutal knockout of Bobby Green in a fight that he took on short notice. However, that came after the longest losing streak of his career with two straight losses. He lost to Mateusz Gamrot and Dan Hooker, so not bad losses by any means. He has been an absolute killer since coming into the UFC in 2018. In 11 fights he has gone to a decision just three times and all of those were losses.
Moicano has become a fan favorite after his “Moicano wants money” comments following a recent fight. The Brazilian comes in having won four of his last five fights. Last time out he dominated Drew Dober to a unanimous decision victory.
This fight has a chance to be a fight of the night candidate with two guys that love a finish. All fights start on the feet and that is where I see this fight going in quick fashion. I am picking Turner by knockout.
James: Turner via knockout
Anthony: Turner via KO/TKO
Garrett: Turner via TKO
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