UFC president Dana White made waves on social media Sunday night, unveiling two highly anticipated fights set to captivate fans. The first blockbuster match announced is the return of Dustin Poirier to the Octagon at UFC 299. Poirier is slated to engage in a five-round co-main event against Benoit Saint-Denis. Simultaneously, White dropped another bombshell, revealing that former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira will lock horns with Arman Tsarukyan in a No. 1 contender fight at UFC 300 in April. Fans worldwide can catch the action as UFC 299 and UFC 300 unfold live on TNT Sports.
The spotlight at UFC 299 will be on the clash between Poirier (29-8-0) and Saint-Denis (13-1-0), set to unfold on March 9, 2024, at the Kaseya Centre in Miami. Poirier, looking to rebound from a second-round knockout dealt by Justin Gaethje at UFC 291 in July 2023, faces a determined Saint-Denis, riding a five-fight winning streak. Saint-Denis last exhibited his prowess at UFC 295 in November, delivering a stunning first-round head kick knockout to Matt Frevola.
White took to social media to shed light on the magnitude of the upcoming battle, stating, “Saint-Denis is on a five-fight win streak with all five coming by finishes before the third round. He’s been saying that he believes that he’s the new BMF of the UFC, and he’ll have the opportunity to prove it against Dustin Poirier, who is an absolute savage and always goes to war.” Both fighters passionately agreed to a five-round bout, solidifying their commitment to delivering an epic showdown. The Poirier vs. Saint-Denis bout is set to share the co-main event stage with the bantamweight title clash between Sean O’Malley and Marlon Vera.
IM BAAAAAAACK!!!
Two more fight announcements 👊🏻👊🏻#UFC299 5-round co-main, Poirier vs Saint-Denis#UFC300 Number one contender fight, Oliveira vs Tsarukyan pic.twitter.com/aSPZtGEnAT
— danawhite (@danawhite) January 8, 2024
Beyond the marquee match-ups, the UFC 299 card boasts additional compelling encounters. British fighter Michael ‘Venom’ Page, at 36 years old, is poised to make his UFC debut against Kevin Holland. Song Yadong, fresh off a victory over Chris Gutierrez at UFC Vegas, is scheduled to face Petr Yan. In another exciting bout, Gilbert Burns is set to collide with the ascending star Jack della Maddalena, currently riding a six-fight win streak.
White’s announcements didn’t stop at UFC 299; he unveiled yet another blockbuster fight for UFC 300. Charles Oliveira, originally slated to face Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in October, will now go head-to-head with Arman Tsarukyan on April 13. The stakes are high, as White declared the winner of this lightweight bout would secure the coveted No. 1 contender spot for champion Islam Makhachev, expected to make a triumphant return in the summer after recovering from injury.
Oliveira had to withdraw from his UFC 294 bout due to a last-minute cut suffered in training. Makhachev, facing replacement Alexander Volkanovski, secured a first-round knockout victory, adding an extra layer of anticipation to Oliveira’s quest for redemption in the lightweight division.
White, known for his bold proclamations, has vowed to make UFC 300 the most stacked card in the promotion’s storied history. Recent additions include two former champions, Jiri Prochazka and Aljamain Sterling, ensuring fans are in for an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts action. Prochazka is set to take on Aleksandar Rakic in the light heavyweight category, while Sterling will make the leap from bantamweight to featherweight, squaring off against Calvin Kattar.
Adding to the excitement, rising middleweight star Bo Nickal is booked for a clash against Cody Brundage. As these thrilling match-ups take shape, White’s vision for UFC 300 as a historic event brimming with star power and compelling narratives seems well on track.
