The UFC looks ahead to a June that some already classify as the best month in its history. The return of the greatest of all time, the pound-for-pound number one defending his throne and Chimaev are the main attractions of this carousel of emotions that is coming to us in a short time.
The top MMA company is already coming from a time of prosperity. Last April we experienced a historic UFC 300 that did not disappoint anyone, with special prominence for Holloway and Alex Pereira. Promises witho Ilia TopuriaSean O’Malley o Arman Tsarukyan They continue to trade upwards and attract new generations of fans. An unbeatable prelude to next June.
UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirer
June will start loaded, nothing more and nothing less than with Islam Makhachev (25-10), number one in the ranking of the pound for pound of the UFC, defending his lightweight belt against a legend like Dustin Poirer (30-8-0), one of the fans’ favorites despite his ‘uncrowned king’ status. At 35 years old he could become world champion for the first time in his career. Opposite him he will have a Dagestani who returns to the cage after finishing off Volkanovski twice, the last time in October 2023. A full-blown clash of titans.
It will be the ‘gourmet’ event of a UFC 302 that will also feature a more than appetizing Sean Strickland – Paulo Costa in the co-star, corresponding to the middle weight. The American returns to action after losing his belt to Du Plessis at UFC 297, which he had previously taken from Israel Adesanya in one of the most famous ‘sorpassos’ of recent times. In front of him he will have one of the most prodigious physiques in Paulo Costa, who despite having lost three of his last four fights, continues to convince Dana White for the starting lineup of a Pay per View. The current number 7 in the ranking lost by unanimous decision to Whittaker in the UFC 298 minutes before Topuria sent ‘Volk’ to sleep.
‘Borz’ wants to make noise
Khamzat Chimaev (13-0-0) You don’t need a cover letter for MMA lovers. With one of the most unique and media personalities that have passed through the UFC in the past five years, the Chechen climbs back into the cage to face the former champion Robert Whittaker in the middleweight, a ‘veteran’ of the company who is looking for a victory that will once again elevate him to the front line.
Chimaev will seek to finish Whittaker / Agencies
Chimaev had a fleeting debut in the UFC with 3 fights in just over two months, but the inactivity in recent times has weighed down the ‘hype’ that he had with him, taking to the octagon twice since September 2022. Of course, He obtained a great victory against Kamaru Usman in his last appointment in October 2023. Despite being from the school of fighters from the Russian Caucasus, ‘Borz’ style combining fighting with fist strength makes him a very attractive figure for the viewer. The Whitakker-Chimaev champion is expected to be the next challenger for the 185-pound title.
UFC 303: The greatest of all time returns
After almost three years of inactivity outside the UFC, Conor McGregor, the biggest superstar this sport has had in its entire historya man who crossed borders and brought mixed martial arts to a global phenomenon, returns to the scene. The Irishman will face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 to be held at the T-Mobile in Las Vegas, Nevada, a night that is expected to break pay-per-view records. The fight against Chandler, a 38-year-old American with whom he had been involved since his time on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ in which both were coaches and rivals, will be fought at welterweight, that is, less than 170 pounds or 77.1 kg. It will be the third weight category in which McGregor appears throughout his career: he was featherweight champion in 2015 and lightweight champion at the end of 2016 at Madison Square Garden.
A few minutes before they will fight Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr in the light heavyweight. Let us remember that Hill will come fresh from the KO received by Alex Pereira in the first round of the UFC 300 main event.