The first of three title fights tonight at UFC 300 featured the first ever title defense of the BMF championship. BMF title holder Justin Gaethje (25-4) was looking to defend his silver and black title against former featherweight champion Max Holloway (25-7).
Both men came into this fight with a lot of momentum. For Holloway, he won two big time main events last year. He defeated Arnold Allen over five rounds in April then he knocked out Chan Sung Jung last August. He could be setup for another featherweight title fight with Ilia Topuria holding the belt now, but the first stop was taking on Gaethje for the BMF belt.
Justin Gaethje was next in line for Islam Makhachev for the UFC title but when the promotion asked him to fight at 300 defending his BMF title, Gaethje agreed. Gaethje won the belt by knocking out Dustin Poirier with a head kick. Prior to that win, he defeated Rafael Fiziev in a hard fought three round decision. Both men were expecting a war tonight.
UFC 300 Recap
Round 1
The UFC 300 BMF title fight kicks off with a touch of the gloves and here we go. Gaethje takes the center and Holloway circles on the outside. Body kick from Holloway starts his striking. Gaethje comes in and loads up with a right that misses over the top. Powerful low kick from Gaethje lands and Holloway floats one in there as well.
Another good calf kick from Gaethje. Nice left straight lands for Holloway and Gaethje takes him off his feet with another calf kick. Another big calf kick from Gaethje and Holloway lands a really nice left hook. That got the attention of Gaethje. Gaethje comes in and eats another perfect counter from Holloway.
Beautiful combination from Max Holloway. Leg kick is checked by Holloway. Beautiful combination from Holloway that he finishes with an uppercut. The speed of Holloway is bothering Gaethje here. Right hand from Holloway and now Gaethje lands one of his own. However, Holloway is definitely leading the dance right now on the feet.
Gaethje slips and Holloway catches him on the way up. The first round comes to a close and it’s 1-0 Holloway after one here at UFC 300.
Round 2
Replays showed that Holloway broke the nose of Gaethje with a kick at the very end of the first round. Holloway is right on the gas to start the second round. Big shots from Gaethje but nothing lands clean. Jab from Holloway and that nose is really bothering Justin Gaethje. Holloway is starting to pull away in this one early in the second.
Holloway is controlling the distance and he’s just popping Gaethje with the jab. An eye poke pauses the action briefly and they are right back to it. Body kick from Gaethje and now a calf kick. Holloway is plotting forward and now he lands his own body kick. Long 1-2 lands from Holloway. Right over the top lands from Gaethje and now a low kick.
Gaethje needs to fight with more volume because he can’t win a volume battle with Holloway. Right over the top from Gaethje and the action stops for another eye poke. Back at it and Holloway lands a leg kick. Body shot now from Holloway.
Nice left and a right just misses from Gaethje. Nasty leg kick from Gaethje. Big left from Gaethje and a right from Holloway. Nasty leg kick again from Gaethje. Round ends with a big Holloway combination. 2-0 Holloway on my scorecard.
Round 3
Entering the third at UFC 300 and Holloway is out in front here but Gaethje had more success there. They touch gloves and here we go. Check left from Gaethje and now a calf kick. Front kick lands for Gaethje and Holloway lands one of his own. High kick just misses from Gaethje and he’s throwing with good pop here. Body kick from Holloway.
Huge right hand lands for Gaethje and Holloway lands a nice left counter. Another leg kick from Gaethje. Big left hook from Gaethje and a front kick from Holloway. Huge right straight from Holloway and Gaethje might be hurt. Holloway is really pouring it on here. Gaethje staying composed and fires a huge leg kick.
Gaethje circles away with two minutes left in the round. 1-2 from Holloway lands and a spinning back kick. Combination from Holloway. Another big kick from Gaethje but a counter from Holloway. Right over the top from Gaethje and a leg kick. Holloway upping the pressure and he lands a body shot. Right over the top from Holloway. The round ends and it’s 3-0 Holloway at UFC 300.
Round 4
Entering the fourth and Gaethje might need a miracle with the way that Max Holloway looks tonight. They touch gloves and here we go. Front kick lands for Gaethje and a calf kick. Body shot from Holloway and a crisp combination lands from Gaethje. Another nice 1-2 from Gaethje and he’s trying to turn it up here in the fourth.
Big left lands from Gaethje and now a huge 1-2 from Holloway. Huge combination now from Holloway and now it’s Holloway taking back the momentum. Right over the top from Gaethje and now a right from Holloway. Halfway through the fourth round and Gaethje lands a nice combination against the fence.
Calf kick from Gaethje. Right counter lands perfectly for Holloway. Knee to the body now from Holloway. Both men trade left hooks. Gaethje drops Holloway with a big shot and now Holloway is against the fence. Gaethje wings another huge right hand that just misses. Jab from Gaethje. Another jab from Gaethje. Left hook now from Gaethje. Right over the top from Gaethje and the round ends. I give that round to Gaethje with the drop. 3-1 Holloway at UFC 300.
Round 5
Entering the final round and I think Gaethje needs a finish here. They touch gloves and here we go. Sharp jab lands for Gaethje to start the striking. Front kick from Holloway and a left from Gaethje. Right hand from Holloway. Spinning back kick from Holloway and Gaethje lands a 1-2. Calf kick from Gaethje.
Right over the top from Holloway. Holloway lands a huge right hand and Gaethje is rocked bad. Holloway unloads a massive combination against the fence. Gaethje somehow survives and Holloway backs away to distance. Another huge right hand lands for Holloway and now there’s just two minutes left in the round.
Check left hook from Gaethje. Combination from Max Holloway. Combination from Holloway again. Justin Gaethje is getting beat up in the fifth round. Right over the top from Gaethje. Less than a minute left and Gaethje throws a wild right hand. Jab from Gaethje. Combination from Gaethje.
30 seconds left and a flying knee from Holloway. Final ten seconds and Max Holloway points to the ground and both men start throwing with everything they have. Huge right hand from Holloway and Gaethje is out cold! Oh my god Max Holloway!
Max Holloway def. Justin Gaethje by KO – Round 5