UFC 300 is set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 13, featuring two UFC title fights and a BMF title bout on the ESPN+ pay-per-view portion of the event. One of the fights on the ESPN prelims will be between top-15 ranked Sodiq Yusuff and the fast-rising Diego Lopes in the featherweight division.
Sodiq Yusuff, with a 13-3 record, joined the UFC in 2018 and went unbeaten in his first four fights with the promotion. Despite a loss to Arnold Allen in 2020, he rebounded with wins over Alex Caceres and Don Shainis. In a 2023 main event, Yusuff faced Edson Barboza in a close battle that earned them both a Fight of the Night bonus, but Barboza ultimately won by unanimous decision. With a 6-2 UFC record, Yusuff has won fights by knockout, submission, and decision.
Diego Lopes, with a record of 19-3, had lost his fight on the Dana White Contender Series in 2021 but bounced back with back-to-back knockout wins in 2022. He faced Movsar Evloev on short notice in 2023, resulting in a decision loss, but rebounded with wins over Gavin Tucker and Pat Sabatini. Lopes, with a 2-1 record in the UFC, has a history of getting wins through knockout, submission, and decision.
In terms of betting odds for the Yusuff vs. Lopes fight at UFC 300, Lopes opened as the favorite but has since had odds movement, now sitting at -133. Yusuff started as the underdog but now sits at +104. Both fighters have strengths in different statistical categories, with Yusuff being more aggressive in striking and Lopes having a higher submission rate per 15 minutes.
The winner of the Yusuff vs. Lopes fight at UFC 300 is expected to have opportunities for bigger and better matchups in the future, while the loser could potentially fall in the featherweight rankings. The UFC CEO Dana White anticipates that UFC 300 will break records at the T-Mobile Arena, creating excitement for fans and fighters alike leading up to the historic event.
In addition to the Yusuff vs. Lopes fight, UFC 300 will also feature other exciting matchups, including Jalin Turner vs. Renato Moicano, Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez, and Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt. Dana White has announced the main event for UFC 300, increasing anticipation and buzz for the stacked fight card taking place in Las Vegas.
