The UFC is back in Rio de Janeiro for the 301st edition. (Photo: Instagram/@ufc)
This Wednesday morning (24), Ultimate announced its return to England for UFC 304. With this, the organization practically ends its calendar of numbered events until the end of 2024. SUPER FIGHTS brings what is already known about the pay-per-view cards and the title fights that should take place on each fight night.
UFC 301 – Alexandre Pantoja x Steve Erceg
In just over two weeks, on May 4th, Ultimate returns to Rio de Janeiro for the UFC 301, which will take place at Farmasi Arena. In the main fight, the flyweight champion (up to 56.7 kg) will put his belt on the line for the second time against the newcomer Steve Ercegan Australian who was signed in 2023 and has only three fights in the organization.
In the second most important duel of the night, the MMA legend José Aldo returns to the Octagon after 21 months of absence for what should be the last fight of his contract. The opponent of the ‘King of Rio’ will be the North American Jonathan Martinezfourteenth in the bantamweight ranking and has been riding on six consecutive victories.
UFC 302 – Islam Makhachev x Dustin Poirier
I. Makhachev and Dustin Poirier will be the protagonists of UFC 302 (Photo: SUPER FIGHTS Montage)
Scheduled for June 1st, UFC 302 features the second defense of the lightweight (up to 70.3kg) belt by Islam Makhachev. The pupil of Khabib Nurmagomedov will face the veteran Dustin Poirierwhich comes from a categorical victory over the French prospect Benoit Saint-Denis last March.
In the co-main event, former middleweight champion Sean Strickland returns to the Octagon after losing the belt and faces the Brazilian Paulo Borrachinhawhich comes from a defeat against Robert Whittaker in February.
UFC 303 – Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler
Conor McGregor It is michael chandler facing each other on TUF (Photo: Twitter/TheNotoriusMMA)
The second numbered event of the month of June, UFC 302, which takes place on June 29th, will be marked as the return card of Conor McGregor to MMA. After almost three years away due to a serious injury, the former double champion will face the former Bellator michael chandlerwith whom he starred in the thirty-first edition of the reality show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’, in 2023.
UFC 304 – Manchester, England
Made official this Wednesday morning (24), UFC 304 will mark the organization’s return to the city of Manchester, after just over eight years. Despite not having announced any clashes yet, the card should be headlined by a fight for the welterweight belt (up to 77.1kg) between Leon Edwards It is Belal Muhammad.
Interim heavyweight champion (up to 120.2kg), Tom Aspinall must also be confirmed on the card. Waiting for the confrontation between Jon Jones It is Stipe Miocicthe English fighter will have to defend his temporary title, probably against Curtis Blaydes or Ciryl Gane.
UFC 305 – Perth, Australia
On August 17th, the traditional numbered event will take place in the city of Perth, Australia, an agreement signed at the end of 2023 between Ultimate and the local government. The main fight on the card, which has not yet been made official, should be the first defense of the middleweight belt. Dricus Du Plessis against the former champion Israel Adesanya.
UFC 306 – Las Vegas, United States
Art made for UFC 306, which takes place in September (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter)
A success last year, the card in honor of Mexico’s Independence Day will be repeated by the organization, however, now on a much bigger stage. UFC 306 will be held on September 14th, at the “Esfera”, a new arena in Las Vegas (USA) that cost around US$2.3 billion and has already hosted major events since its opening at the end of 2023.
With no fight announced yet, the event should host the trilogy between Alexa Grasso It is Valentina Shevchenko, valid for the flyweight belt. Names like Diego Lopes, Yair Rodriguez It is Brandon Moreno should also be part of this great card.
UFC 306 – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Official art for the UFC 308 announcement (Photo: Twitter/@ufc)
October is tradition. In the tenth month of the year, the octagon arrives in the United Arab Emirates and this time the edition will be UFC 308. Among the highlights of the Abu Dhabi card should be the winner of Islam Makhachev x Dustin Poirierwho will face each other in June, and the middleweight star (up to 83.9kg) Khamzat Chimaev. As usual, the squad should be filled with Russian and Islamic athletes, as the event’s sponsors always request.
Other numbered cards
UFC 307 does not yet have a date or location announced by the organization. In the months of November and December, Ultimate usually sends its cards to Madison Square Garden, in New York and Las Vegas, respectively. However, the company has not yet officially commented on the events that will end the season.
