MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in depth to interrupt down the most important fights within the UFC. Right now, he takes a more in-depth have a look at the UFC 300 BMF title combat between former interim light-weight champion Justin Gaethje and former featherweight champ Max Holloway, who’s shifting as much as 155 kilos for the second time in his profession.

Justin Gaethje UFC 300 preview

Staple data:

• Peak: 5’11” Age: 35 Weight: 155 lbs. Attain: 70″
• Document: 25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC
• Final combat: Knockout win over Dustin Poirier (July 29, 2023)
• Camp: ONX Labs (Denver)
• Stance/putting model: Orthodox/kickboxing
• Threat administration: Good

Supplemental data:
+ BMF belt holder
+ Former interim UFC light-weight champion
+ WSOF light-weight title
+ NCAA Division 1 All-American wrestler
+ 20 KO victories
+ 1 submission win
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Improved putting acumen
^ Shifting combos and counters
+ Correct left hook
+ Exhausting leg kicks
+ Robust contained in the clinch
^ Heavy hips and good soiled boxing
+ Strikes properly off the break
+ Good wrestling and scrambling capacity

Max Holloway UFC 300 preview

Staple data:

• Peak: 5’11” Age: 32 Weight: 155 lbs. Attain: 69″
• Document: 25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC
• Final combat: Knockout win over Chan Sung Jung (Aug. 296 2023)
• Camp: Gracie Technics/Legacy Muay Thai (Hawaii)
• Stance/putting model: Change-stance/kickboxing
• Threat administration: Good

Supplemental data:
+ Former UFC featherweight champion
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt
+ 11 KO victories
+ 2 submission wins
+ 3 first-round finishes
+ Constructing tempo and strain
+ Strong feints and footwork
+ Wonderful shot choice
^ Variates properly to the physique
+ Deceptively counters clinches
^ Strikes properly off of the breaks
+ Underrated floor recreation
^ Slick submissions in transition

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway focal point: The builder vs. the destroyer

Jul 2, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; (EditorÕs Word: Graphic Content material) Alexander Volkanovski (crimson gloves) and Max Holloway (blue gloves) combat in a bout throughout UFC 276 at T-Cellular Area. Necessary Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports activities

The featured title combat for UFC 300 can be a battle for the “BMF” belt between an unabashed destroyer of males and a constructing striker who isn’t afraid to mild the fuse.

Gaethje, for all intents and functions, is the damaging power at hand.
Initially stepping onto the scene as a relentless ahead mover, Justin Gaethje naturally embodied the phrase “a bull in a China store” together with his unabashed aggression and hard-wiring to inflict harm. Historically doing his finest work when initiating assaults, Gaethje will achieve his opponent’s respect with laborious hooks and crosses, seeking to punctuate his presence with crushing uppercuts and leg kicks when applicable.

Just like a Spartan behind his protect in a phalanx, Gaethje would lean closely upon his double-forearm guard, planting and seeking to counter with immediacy.

Though Gaethje not strictly depends on a shelling protection, the 35-year-old nonetheless appears to have an inherent starvation to change that may typically encourage his aggressiveness (which is arguably mirrored within the strikes absorbed division of his statistics).

That stated, Gaethje – beneath the tutelage of longtime coach Trevor Wittman – has proven enhancements in his feints, footwork and fundamentals since sustaining back-to-back losses to Eddie Alvarez and Poirier. In his combat in opposition to Tony Ferguson, Gaethje took issues to yet one more degree within the head motion and counter-striking division, placing collectively an clever course of that also incorporates the previous interim champion’s inherent energy and tenacity.

Whether or not Gaethje is countering off of an inside parry or seeking to roll beneath hooks to ship left arms of his personal, the hard-hitting American has steadily developed a style to counter.

Akin to different Wittman fighters like Rose Namajunas, Gaethje has additionally utilized extra lateral and shifting footwork to facilitate sneaky kicks and counters. Ought to Geathje resolve to put on the hat of a matador, then I’ll be curious to see if that brings out the bull in Max Holloway.

Displaying strong putting and footwork fundamentals since storming onto the UFC scene (as one of many promotion’s youngest signees, no much less), Holloway, who was already bettering from combat to combat, turned a giant nook in his profession after his encounter with Cub Swanson.

Since then, we’ve witnessed a technical evolution unfold from the Hawaiian, who embraces his creativity and vary with a various arsenal of assaults. Whether or not Holloway is shifting his stance mid-combination or adjusting his timing on the fly, the previous featherweight kingpin makes for a tough learn on the ft.

When feeling in stride, the 32-year-old seems to repay his earlier bodywork by punctuating his presence with the whole lot from spinning sidekicks to digging left hooks to the liver. Coupled together with his capacity to counter successfully from both stance, Holloway can hypothetically take a combat in many various instructions.

That every one stated, it’s the constructing nature of the champion’s recreation that makes him stand out from the remainder of the UFC secure.

Embodying a fighter archetype that I wish to confer with as “a builder,” Holloway is not going to solely construct on his output, however his understanding of the combat’s site visitors may also improve as he intelligently takes instruments from his opponent and incorporates them into his recreation.

Max making instant reads in opposition to TKZ pic.twitter.com/1qLhiHkcUO

— Feño 🏴 (@fenoxsky) April 10, 2024

Nonetheless, offensive quantity – regardless of how intelligent – comes with a value.

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway breakdown: Potential grappling threats

Apr 14, 2018; Glendale, AZ, USA; Dustin Poirier (proper) in opposition to Justin Gaethje throughout UFC Combat Night time at Gila River Area. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities

Contemplating the chaos that’s being forecasted on the ft, nobody needs to be shocked if Holloway elects to take issues to the ground.

As seen in his combat with Yair Rodriguez, Holloway will not be past mixing in takedown seems when pitted in opposition to harmful strikers. Nevertheless, attending to Gaethje’s hips is an endeavor that’s simpler stated than achieved.

Other than being an accoladed wrestler, Gaethje additionally affords up a nasty recreation in closed quarters that Poirier might want to respect.

An unforgiving clinch fighter, the previous Division I All-American wrestler has the hip triggers to cease deep takedown makes an attempt whereas nonetheless sustaining the aggressive wherewithal to throw uppercuts and leg kicks in small areas, persistently putting and making his opposition repay the breaks (from both stance).

Gaethje additionally does job at framing off his opponent’s hips in shut quarters, using strong head place to assist steer in his desired route.

Every time Gaethje’s opposition has been capable of get deep on a takedown try, he’s fast to make the most of an overhook as he seems to separate grips together with his spare hand, bellying down when mandatory. Nonetheless, nearly as good as Gaethje’s first layers of protection could also be, he’ll nonetheless want to indicate improved grappling if Holloway is ready to efficiently floor him.

Holloway, who earned his Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt lately, has applied extra grappling offense that ranges from slicing elbows in near opportunistic takedowns in opposition to the cage. If Holloway finally ends up on prime, the Hawaiian has nearly a swarming model to his grappling recreation, as he primarily focuses on floating positions and touchdown punishing strikes.

However with each males being troublesome to regulate, I believe that grappling entanglements can be brief and candy for so long as they final.

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway odds

The oddsmakers and the general public favor the BMF belt holder, itemizing Gaethje -178 and Holloway +138 by way of FanDuel.

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway prediction, choose

Between my fandom for these fighters to the matchup itself, that is most likely the toughest combat for me to choose on the cardboard. Though I don’t disagree with who’s favored, you may make the argument that every man affords stylistic kryptonite to the opposite in some form or kind.

That stated, Gaethje will not be past being taxed by way of counters for his aggressive leg kicks…

In reality, whatever the stance pairing, counter putting, bodywork and timing change-ups have been a standard perpetrator for Gaethje all through his profession. #TheSouthpawReport #UFC291 pic.twitter.com/l3Uma98U1G

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) July 27, 2023

Holloway, for instance, embodies the timing change-ups, counters and bodywork that has historically troubled Gaethje. That stated, Gaethje’s newfound love for conserving his ft beneath him and countering may show problematic to the constructing sensibilities of Holloway given how that dynamic performed out within the Hawaiian’s combat in opposition to Dustin Poirier.

Regardless of working out of the other stance of Gaethje, Poirier’s countering acumen was capable of disrupt the progress wanted for Holloway’s constructing archetype to achieve success – – so don’t be shocked to see Gaethje try to replicate his efficiency in opposition to Tony Ferguson this Saturday.

Holloway’s improved kicks, knees and southpaw counters may also be extremely full of life on this combat, particularly if he can get Gaethje dipping or reacting strongly to his actions.

Though Gaethje is clearly the safer choose, I believe that Holloway’s capacity to correctly put together for this combat at 155 kilos (each bodily and recreation plan-wise) may very well be an actual X-factor within the former champion’s favor. Each fighters can be dwell for finishes within the late rounds, however I’ll semi-reluctantly facet with Holloway to get his reads early and draw back down the stretch for a hard-fought win on the scorecards.

Prediction: Holloway by determination

Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway begin time, the place to look at

Gaethje and Holloway are anticipated to make their walks out to the octagon at roughly 11:15 p.m. ET (8:15 p.m. native time in Las Vegas). The combat streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 300.