Holloway V Gaethje: Who Will Take Home Gold at UFC 300?

 

Justin Gaethje knocks out Dustin Poirier via headkick at UFC 291 (MMA Weekly)

April 13, 2024, marks one of the most important dates in UFC history, as the 30-year-old company will celebrate its 300th Live fight night since its creation in 1993. On that card sits what could be one of the most prolific fights of all time, as Max Holloway (25-7) will take on BMF champion Justin Gaethje (25-4) in a five round title fight at T-Mobile Arena. These two knockout artists have solidified their spots as two of the best boxers in the UFC, but one question is weighing on every fight fans mind: Who's going to walk away from this brawl in one piece?

Prediction: Holloway wins by KO in the fifth round

As fighters, Holloway and Gaetje are stylistically comparable. Both prefer to keep their fights on the feet, as both average less than one takedown per 15 minutes (the length of one full title fight). Both fighters average around 7 strikes per minute, making them two of most strike-heavy fighters in the company. Not to mention, each has 25 wins, making it near impossible to analyze who will walk away as the winner of this fight. However, a major attribute that makes Holloway the winner of this fight comes through his endurance and chin.

Here's a fun fact: Max Holloway has never been knocked out. Ever. Despite facing some of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen, (Jose Aldo, Dustin Poirier, and Chang Sung Jung to name a few), none have been able to complete the task of putting Holloway to sleep. Another fun fact: at just 33 years old, Holloway leads the UFC in total tricks landed with 3441 total strikes. The runner up? Georges St-Pierre, debatably the greatest MMA fighter in history, with just 2,591 strikes after 28 total fights. 

Justin Gaethje has proved to be one of the most dangerous strikers in combat sports. With a combination of flashy kicks, devastating punches, and vicious knees, Gaethje has become a fighter that most in the Lightweight division of the UFC wouldn't dare to call out in fear of ending up as another tally in His knockout total. However, Holloway has proved to have all the tools to outlast Gaethje's fists of stone in a five round bout.

Winner: Holloway by vicious overhand in the fifth.