SUMMARY
- Aljamain Sterling and Jiri Prochazka were main event fighters in their last Octagon appearances.
- They have both been demoted to the preliminary card at UFC 300 to accommodate Bo Nickal in the main card.
UFC 300 is one of the most important Pay-Per-View events of the UFC in the past few years. The UFC 300 hype train has been running for months and it has gone through rocky roads. Fans were kept on the edge of their seats with fights being announced in bits and pieces.
There was enormous hype for the main event, initially. However, after it was announced, many fans were left disappointed with it. Although later, MMA social media argued that, overall, this was one of the best fight cards UFC has built up.
We 👏 Can’t 👏 Wait 👏#UFC300 is almost here 👀
Buy the PPV early: https://t.co/kOInf4xnPV pic.twitter.com/28gPiZopRA
— UFC (@ufc) March 24, 2024
What MMA social media has still not been able to digest is the fight line-up. Surprisingly, two former UFC champions have been left hanging in the preliminary card, meanwhile, UFC newbie Bo Nickal has been given a main card spot.
Four other main card fights include three title fights and a #1 contender fight. The Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage middleweight fight just does not fit the bill. Let’s check out the two former UFC champions who were denied a main card spot.
Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jiri Prochazka will take on Alexander Rakic at UFC 300
Jiri Prochazka is a veteran MMA fighter. He was the inaugural Rizin light heavyweight champion before making his UFC debut. In the UFC, he was given a title fight in his third fight after pulling off two Performance Of The Night bonuses. He fought Glover Teixeira and defeated him at UFC 275 before vacating his title due to injury.
The Czech fighter got his chance at redemption when he fought Alex Pereira for the title at UFC 295. However, Prochazka tasted defeat via TKO in the second round.
Prochazka‘s UFC 295 bout was his last fight. He was a headliner just four PPVs before UFC 300. By the looks of it, it is quite a downfall but he is not bothered.
The first fights for #UFC300 are OFFICIAL 🚨@Jiri_BJP vs @Rakic_UFC@NoBickal vs @CodyBrundage185 pic.twitter.com/lFMQDz4PFR
— UFC (@ufc) December 22, 2023
“I was not surprised. I really don’t care about that [being on the prelims],” Prochazka told Inside Fighting. “I just accept that. That’s my attitude. I accept that, and next time, from now till the next time, I will show that my fight will be on the main card or in the main event. That’s why I’m fighting. I want to show every time the beauties of the martial arts.”
Prochazka will take on Alexander Rakic in a light heavyweight bout. The Czech has also claimed that he will be ready to be the backup fighter for the main event light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill if needed.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling faces Calvin Kattar at UFC 300
Aljamain Sterling has been at the UFC for over a decade. He made his debut in the promotion at UFC 170 in 2014. In 2021, Sterling got his first bantamweight title shot against Petr Yan and he took full advantage of it. Funk Master won the title and defended it against the Russian before successfully defending it against T.J. Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo.
Stacking up nicely 🔥@FunkMasterMMA will make his featherweight debut against @CalvinKattar at #UFC300! pic.twitter.com/i3u1RNSXyR
— UFC (@ufc) December 22, 2023
Sterling, however, lost the title to current champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 292. This was his last fight before UFC 300. Similar to Prochazka, Sterling will go down from the main event to the preliminary card.
Funk Master has shown excitement for his fight and he has not expressed any disappointment over his fight placement. He will be making his featherweight debut at UFC 300 against Calvin Kattar. The UFC 300 event will take place on April 13, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.