LAS VEGAS -- UFC CEO Dana White has called UFC 300, which will be held Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, the greatest card he's ever put together. Whether the fights live up to that kind of billing remains to be seen, but the UFC has never had a fight card as deep as this one.
There are 12 fighters who either are now or were at one point in their careers champions in the UFC. Reigning champions who are fighting on Saturday are light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Justin Gaethje will also defend the BMF title, though it is not a weight-class championship.
The card is loaded with champs, former champs and No. 1 contenders.
Pereira is the reigning light heavyweight champion and also held the middleweight title. He's also a former Glory kickboxing champion.
Zhang is in her second stint as UFC strawweight champion.
Gaethje is a former interim lightweight champion. His opponent, Max Holloway, is a former featherweight champion.
Charles Oliveira, who fights Arman Tsarukyan in a No. 1 contender's fight at lightweight, is a former lightweight champ.
Jiri Prochazka, who fights Aleksandar Rakic on the featured preliminary bout, is an ex-light heavyweight champion. Aljamain Sterling, who makes his featherweight debut against Calvin Kattar, is a former bantamweight champion.
Holly Holm, who welcomes two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison to the UFC, is a former UFC women's bantamweight champion. Holm is also a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Jessica Andrade is a former strawweight champion. Deiveson Figueiredo meets Cody Garbrandt in the card's opener in a battle of ex-champs. Figueiredo was a flyweight champion and Garbrandt held the bantamweight title.
Below, find my breakdown of the card. I have picked a winner in each of the 13 fights, and I've also recommended a few bets when taking the line into consideration. I've also rated each fight from one to five stars on their significance and their potential for excitement.
I have also dropped several interviews with the fighters I have done into this story.
I go through each fight, beginning with the main event and working my way back to the opener.
Bout 13, main event
Alex Pereira versus Jamahal Hill
Weight class: Light heavyweight.
Fight length: Five rounds.
Title at stake: UFC light heavyweight championship.
Records: Pereira is 9-2 overall, 6-1 in UFC. Hill is 12-1 with a no-contest overall, 6-1 with a no-contest in UFC.
DraftKings line: Pereira -130. Hill +110. Over-under is 1.5 rounds. Over is -160. Under is +124.
BetMGM line: Pereira -140. Hill +120. Over-under is 1.5 rounds. Over is -160. Under is +120. A second over-under is 2.5 rounds. Over is +120 and under is -160.
William Hill line: Pereira -135. Hill +115.
Recent performance: Pereira has won two in a row and nine of his last 10. Hill has won four in a row and five of his last six.
Rankings: Pereira is UFC light heavyweight champion. Hill 1 at light heavyweight.
A look at the fight: This match has the potential to be a wild slugfest and end with a violent knockout. Pereia has in just eight fights in the UFC won titles in two weight classes and become one of the pound-for-pound best in the world. He's got incredible knockout power, as shown in wins over Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland, and he carries his power with him into the later stages of a fight. Hill is a terrific striker with great power, as well, though he doesn't hit as hard as Pereira. However, Hill has the advantage in the ground game.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Hill.
Kevin's pick against the spread: I'll take Hill to win at +120 at the BetMGM.
Jessica Alcheh/USA Today Sports
Strawweight champion Zhang Weili celebrates.
Bout 12, co-main event
Zhang Weili versus Yan Xiaonan
Weight class: Women's strawweight.
Fight length: Five rounds.
Title at stake: UFC strawweight championship.
Records: Zhang is 24-3 overall overall and 8-2 in the UFC. Xiaonan is 17-3 with a no-contest overall and 8-2 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Zhang is -500. Xiaonan is +380. Over-under is 3.5 rounds. Over is -150. Under is +120.
BetMGM line: Zhang is -450. Xiaonan is +340.
William Hill line: Zhang is -480. Xiaonan is +360.
Recent performance: Zhang has won three in a row and is 3-2 in last five. Xiaonan has won two in a row and is 2-2 in last four.
Rankings: Zhang is UFC strawweight champion. Xiaonan 1 at strawweight.
A look at the fight: Zhang is arguably the most well-rounded female MMA fighter in the world. She's elite in all positions and is unusually physically strong. She pushes a hard pace and breaks opponents down who can't go at that level. There is considerable pressure on her against Xiaonan, her countrywoman, in this fight, and that is the one area where she might be vulnerable. Xiaonan is generally difficult to get off of her feet, though that may not help her much against Zhang. Xiaonan likes to land from distance, but she'll be under pressure from Zhang.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Zhang
Kevin's pick against the spread: I will lay the -450 at BetMGM and bet Zhang to win.
USA Today Sports file photo.
Justin Gaethje will defend his BMF title against former featherweight champion Max Holloway Saturday at UFC 300.
Bout 11
Justin Gaethje versus Max Holloway
Weight class: Lightweight.
Title at stake: Gaethje's BMF title
Fight length: Five rounds.
Records: Gaethje 25-4 overall, 8-4 UFC. Holloway 25-7 overall, 21-7 UFC
DraftKings line: Gaethje -180, Holloway +150. Over-under is 3.5 rounds. Over is -166. Under is +130.
BetMGM line: Gaethje -185, Holloway +150.
William Hill line: Gaethje -175, Holloway +150.
Recent performance: Gaethje has won two in a row and seven of his last nine. Holloway has won two in a row and four of his last five.
Rankings: Gaethje 2 at lightweight. Holloway 2 at featherweight.
A look at the fight: This is my pick to be Fight of the Night and has to be a contender for Fight of the Year given the styles they fight. Both land strikes at an extraordinarily high rated. Gaethje lands 7.35 strikes per minute, while Holloway connects on 7.17 strikes per minute. Holloway statistically has better takedown defense (84 percent to 75 percent) and has better takedown accuracy (53 percent to 25 percent). The result may come down to attrition. Both have great chins, but these are two of the finest offensive fighters in the sport.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Gaethje.
Kevin's pick against the spread: No bet on this fight.
Sergei Belski/USA Today Sports
Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira reacts after a win over Beneil Dariush at UFC 289.
Bout 10
Charles Oliveira versus Arman Tsarukyan
Weight class: Lightweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Oliveira is 34-9 with a no-contest overall and 22-9 with a no-contest in the UFC. Tsarukyan is 21-3 overall and 8-2 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Tsarukyan is -218. Oliveira is +180. Over-under is 1.5 rounds. Over is -130. Under is +100.
BetMGM line: Tsarukyan is -225. Oliveira is +175.
William Hill line: Tsarukyan is -225. Oliveira is +185.
Recent performance: Oliveira is 12-1 in his last 13. Tsarukyan has won three in a row and eight of nine.
Rankings: Oliveira 1 at lightweight. Tsarukyan 4 at lightweight.
A look at the fight: This bout is for the No. 1 contender's position at lightweight. Oliveira is a former UFC lightweight champion. He's been on an incredible roll, with his only loss coming to reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Tsarukyan uses his wrestling to set up his striking. He has nine knockouts in his 17 MMA wins.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Oliveira.
Kevin's pick against the spread: I will take the +185 at William Hill and bet Oliveira to win.
Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY SPORTS
Bo Nickal won three NCAA Division I wrestling championships at Penn State before turning to MMA.
Bout 9
Bo Nickal versus Cody Brundage
Weight class: Middleweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Nickal 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the UFC. Brundage is 10-5 overall and 4-4 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Nickal -2400, Brundage +1200. Over-under is 1.5 rounds. Over is +200. Under is -270.
BetMGM line: Nickal -2000, Brundage +950.
William Hill line: No line.
Recent performance: Nickal is 5-0 in his career. Brundage won his last two and is 2-3 in his last five.
Rankings: Both men are unranked.
A look at the fight: Nickal is a prodigy the likes of which the UFC hasn't seen in years. He's an elite wrestler who won three NCAA Division I wrestling championship at Penn State, and placed second as a freshman. His longest fight lasted two minutes, 54 seconds when he submitted Jamie Pickett with an arm triangle. Brundage, whose wife, Amanda, fought in the UFC, has been up-and-down in the UFC. He's coming off of a Performance of the Night-winning effort in a first-round KO of Zach Reese.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Nickal
Kevin's pick against the spread: I will lay the -270 at DraftKings and bet under 1.5 rounds.
Paul Miller/USA Today Sports
Jiri Prochazka is 1-1 in UFC light heavyweight title fights.
Bout 8
Jiri Prochazka versus Aleksandar Rakic
Weight class: Light heavyweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Prochazka is 29-4-1 overall and 3-1 in the UFC. Rakic is 14-3 overall and is 6-2 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Rakic -130, Prochazka +110.
BetMGM line: Rakic -125, Prochazka +105.
William Hill line: Rakic -125, Prochazka +105
Recent performance: Prochazka is coming off of a loss to Pereira and is 12-1 in his last 13. Rakic hasn't fought since he was injured in a loss to Jan Blachowicz on May 14, 2022.
Rankings: Prochazka 2 at light heavyweight. Rakic 5 at light heavyweight.
A look at the fight: This should be a memorable striking battle, as these two are among the elite strikers in all of MMA. Prochazka is a former UFC championship who was stopped by Pereira in his last outing in a bout for the vacant light heavyweight title. Rakic has won nine of his 14 pro fights by Ko.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Prochazka
Kevin's pick against the spread: I will lay two units on Prochazka to win at DraftKings at +110.
USA Today Sports file photo.
Calvin Kattar is ranked sixth at featherweight.
Bout 7
Calvin Kattar versus Aljamain Sterling
Weight class: Featherweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Kattar is 23-7 overall and 7-5 in the UFC. Sterling is 23-4 overall and 15-4 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Sterling -155, Kattar +130.
BetMGM line: Sterling -165, Kattar +140.
William Hill line: Sterling -165, Kattar +140.
Recent performance: Kattar has lost two in a row and is 1-3 in his last four. Sterling lost his bantamweight title to Sean O'Malley in his last outing and is 9-1 in his last 10.
Rankings: Kattar 6 at featherweight. Sterling 2 at bantamweight.
A look at the fight: A former bantamweight champion, Sterling is making his featherweight debut. He's struggled to fit his large body into 135 pounds and it's expected he'll perform better now that he doesn't have to kill himself to make weight. He'll look to use a wrestle-heavy style against Kattar. Kattar has lost three of his last four, but three of those fights were Fight of the Night.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Sterling.
Kevin's pick against the spread: No bet in this fight.
File photo.
Kayla Harrison won gold medals in the Olympics at 172 pounds. She's fighting Holly Holm Saturday at a maximum of 136 pounds.
Bout 6
Holly Holm versus Kayla Harrison
Weight class: Women's bantamweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Harrison is 16-1 overall and is making her UFC debut. Holm is 15-6 with one no-contest overall and is 8-6 with a no-contest in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Harrison -470, Holm +360.
BetMGM line: Harrison -450, Holm +340.
William Hill line: Harrison -480, Holm +360.
Recent performance: Holm is coming off a no-contest that was initially a loss. She's 3-1 with a no-contest in her last five. Harrison is 1-1 in her last two and 16-1 overall.
Rankings: Holm 5 at bantamweight. Harrison is unranked.
A look at the fight: The big question surrounding the fight is if Harrison can make the non-title 136-pound bantamweight limit, and if she'll be able to compete successfully if she does. She won back-to-back Olympic gold medals at 172 pounds and fought most of her PFL career at 155 pounds. Holm is a former UFC champion whose most notable victory came over another Olympic medal-winning judoka, Ronda Rousey.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Harrison.
Kevin's pick against the spread: No bet on this fight.
Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports
Sodiq Yusuff faces Diego Lopes on the preliminary card of UFC 300 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Bout 5
Sodiq Yusuff versus Diego Lopes
Weight class: Featherweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Yusuff is 13-3 overall and 6-2 in the UFC. Lopes is 23-6 overall and is 2-1 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Lopes is -142, Yusuff +120.
BetMGM line: Lopes -135, Yusuff +110.
William Hill line: Lopes -135, Yusuff +115.
Recent performance: Yusuff is coming off a loss to Edson Barboza and is 2-2 in his last four. Lopes won his last two and is 4-1 in his last five.
Rankings: Yusuff 13 at featherweight. Lopes is unranked.
A look at the fight: Lopes has fought three times in the UFC and has won a Fight of the Night bonus and two Performance of the Night bonuses. He's coming off back-to-back first round knockouts in which he won in 1:38 over Gavin Tucker and 1:30 over Pat Sabatini. Yusuff is coming off a sensational Fight of the Night battle with Barboza in which he got off to a great start and let Barboza rally for the win late.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Kevin's pick to win: Lopes.
Kevin's pick against the spread: No bet on this fight.
Bout 4
Jalin Turner versus Renato Moicano
Weight class: Lightweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Turner is 14-7 overall and 7-4 in the UFC. Moicano is 18-5-1 overall and is 10-5 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Turner -245, Moicano +200.
BetMGM line: Turner -225, Moicano +185.
William Hill line: Turner -250, Moicano +205.
Recent performance: Turner won his last bout and is 6-2 in his last eight. Moicano has won two in a four and four his last five.
Rankings: Turner 10 at lightweight. Moicano 13 at lightweight.
A look at the fight: Moicano has been on a roll recently, going 4-1 in his last five after a stretch where he was losing more than he was winning. He's 5-2 in the UFC since moving up to lightweight from featherweight. Turner, who earned a contract in the UFC on Dana White's Contender Series, has to keep the fight standing. But his takedown defense is 75 percent.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Turner.
Kevin's pick against the spread: No bet on this fight.
Chris Unger/Zuffa
Marina Rodriguez has good hands and has scored seven knockouts among her 17 pro MMA victories.
Bout 3
Jessica Andrade versus Marina Rodriguez
Weight class: Strawweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Andrade 25-12 overall, 16-10 in the UFC. Rodriguez is 17-3-2 overall and 7-3-2 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Andrade -135, Rodriguez +114.
BetMGM line: Andrade -120, Rodriguez +100.
William Hill line: Andrade -130, Rodriguez +110.
Recent performance: Andrade won her last fight and is 2-3 in her last five. Rodriguez won her last fight and is 5-2 in her last seven.
Rankings: Andrade 4 at strawweight. Rodriguez 6 at strawweight.
A look at the fight: Andrade has fought at bantamweight, flyweight and strawweight in her long UFC career and held the strawweight championship after defeating Rose Namajunas. A well-rounded fighter, she is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is noted for her enormous physical strength, which she uses well to her advantage. She's a good striker and knocked Mackenzie Dern down four times in their bout. Rodriguez is known for her Muay Thai skills and has recorded seven of her 17 victories by KO.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Andrade
Kevin's pick against the spread: I will lay -120 on Andrade at BetMGM to win.
Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports
Jim Miller is the UFC's all-time leader in wins, but he's an underdog in his UFC 300 bout with Bobby Green.
Bout 2
Bobby Green versus Jim Miller
Weight class: Lightweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Green is 31-15 overall and 12-10 in the UFC. Miller is 37-17 with one no-contest overall and 26-16 with one no-contest in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Green -180, Miller +150.
BetMGM line: Green -175, Miller +145.
William Hill line: Green -180, Miller +155.
Recent performance: Green is coming off a loss and is 2-3 with a no-contest in his last six. Miller has won two in a row and is 5-1 in his last six.
Rankings: Green 14 at lightweight. Miller is unranked.
A look at the fight: The bout pits veterans who have 101 professional MMA fights between them. It's a contrast in styles as Green is an explosive striker and Miller is a terrific jiu-jitsu player. Green, though, has won nine fights by submission, so he's not afraid of the grappling exchanges.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Green.
Kevin's pick against the spread: No bet on this fight.
Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA Today Sports
Cody Garbrandt acknowledges the crowd after a first-round stoppage of Brian Kelleher in December.
Bout 1
Deiveson Figueiredo versus Cody Garbrandt
Weight class: Bantamweight.
Fight length: Three rounds.
Records: Figueiredo is 22-3-1 overall and 11-3-1 in the UFC. Garbrandt is 14-5 overall and 9-5 in the UFC.
DraftKings line: Figueiredo -310, Garbrandt +250
BetMGM line: Figueiredo -300, Garbrandt +240
William Hill line: Figueiredo -330, Garbrandt +240
Recent performance: Figueiredo won his last fight, is 2-2-1 in his last five. Garbrandt has won his last two and is 3-2 in his last five.
Rankings: Figueiredo 8 at bantamweight. Garbrandt is unranked.
A look at the fight: Garbrandt is a former bantamweight champion, while Figueiredo is an ex-flyweight champion. Figueiredo deserves to be the favorite, though both fighters have been up-and-down. Figueiredo's losses were primarily as he struggled to make the weight. Garbrandt had been in a lengthy funk, in which he had serious injuries and lost his way, but he's gotten back on form in the last year. At his best, Garbrandt is the better striker. He's quicker, he's accurate and he's able to control a fight with his jab and his movement. Figueiredo is great on the ground as well as with his hands.
Kevin's match rating (1 to 5 stars): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kevin's pick to win: Garbrandt.
Kevin's pick against the spread: Garbrandt to win at +250 at DraftKings.