DANA WHITE’s matchmaking for UFC 300 has been criticised by a legend who recently hinted at being contacted by the promotion about returning for the card.
The historic and eagerly-anticipated card takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13.
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UFC 300 will be headlined by a light-heavyweight title fight between champion Alex Pereira and former titleholder Jamahal Hill.
But perhaps the most-talked-about bout on the card is the BMF title fight between fan favourites Justin Gaethje and Max Holloway – a match-up that has stunned legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The former lightweight champion told MMA Junkie: “All respect for Max Holloway, but I don’t know, and I don’t understand why UFC make this fight.
“Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway: It makes no sense – my opinion.
“My opinion, Holloway is supposed to fight with [Ilia] Topuria next, maybe September.
“Justin Gaethje is supposed to fight with Islam [Makhachev] in May or June.
“[Arman] Tsarukyan vs [Charles] Oliveira, they fight in April. Whoever wins that [should be fighting] the winner of Islam vs. Justin Gaethje.”
Nurmagomedov can’t for the life of him “understand” why the UFC brass have essentially halted the progression of the feather and lightweight divisions with the booking of the bout.
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“Now, Topuria will fight with who?” he asked.
“Movsar [Evloev] is the best option. I don’t know if Dana White will give him [a title shot]. My opinion, he deserves this.
“I don’t understand. It makes no sense why they don’t give Islam Justin Gaethje, why they make him fight vs Holloway.
“I don’t understand what UFC have planned, but Islam ready to fight with anyone.”
Nurmagomedov, 35, retired from MMA in October 2020 following a stunning second-round submission win over Gaethje at UFC 254.
But he claims the UFC brass tried to lure him back to the cage for next month’s stacked 300 card through his manager Ali Abdelaziz.
The Russian said: “I know they connected with Ali.
“But I told Ali, last, maybe one year (ago), I said, ‘It doesn’t matter who calls you, but never call me about a fight.”
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