MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom breaks down MMA’s top bouts. Today, we look at the main event for Bellator 300.
Bellator 300 takes place Saturday at Pechanga Arena in San Diego. The main card, which features three title fights, airs on Showtime following prelims on MMA Junkie.
Usman Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 6-0 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’11” Age: 25 Weight: 155 lbs. Reach: 72″
- Last fight: Submission win over Benson Henderson (March 10, 2023)
- Camp: American Kickboxing Academy (San Jose, Calif.)
- Stance/striking style: Switch-stance/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Bellator lightweight champion
+ Freestyle wrestling base
+ 8 knockout victories
+ 6 submission wins
+ 11 first-round finishes
+ Consistent pace and pressure
+ Solid footwork and range management
+ Accurate shot selection
^ Attacks all three levels
+ Dynamic kicking attacks
+ Strong inside the clinch
^ Dangerous knees off collar ties
+ Excellent wrestling ability
^ Defensively and offensively
+ Works well from topside
Brent Primus (12-3 MMA, 10-3 BMMA)
Staple info:
- Height: 5’10” Age: 38 Weight: 155 lbs. Reach: 73″
- Last fight: Decision win over Mansour Barnaoui (May 12, 2023)
- Camp: ATT PDX/Team Oyama (Portland, OR.)
- Stance/striking style: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Risk management: Good
Supplemental info:
+ Former Bellator lightweight champion
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 2 KO victories
+ 6 submission win
+ 8 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Steady pace and pressure
+ Shows improved striking
^ Coming forward or off the counter
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Serviceable takedown game
+ Underrated wrestling ability
+ Excellent transitional grappler
^ Works well from topside
+ Deceptively flexible from bottom
+ Good back control
Odds and opinions
The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the sitting champion, listing Usman Nurmagomedov -1667 and Brent Primus +700 as of this writing.
Considering the respect that undefeated fighters with the last name “Nurmagomedov” get from the pundits and the betting public alike, seeing such a widespread is sadly not a surprise.
In Primus’ defense, the former lightweight champ has come through as a big underdog before, cashing as a near 6-1 dog when he initially took the title off Michael Chandler back at Bellator NYC in 2017. Since then, Primus has been a bit back and forth with wins and losses but still seems to be making improvements at this point in his career.
Enlisting the help of Team Oyama (in conjunction with his home base of American Top Team Portland), Primus has been steadily rounding out his game in order to support his solid submission prowess.
Nevertheless, I’m not sure it will be enough to stop the oncoming storm that is Nurmagomedov.
Aside from Nurmagomedov having all the wrestling chops that you would associate with his clan’s brand of grappling, the 25-year-old phenom also comes equipped with some surprising muay Thai swagger from southpaw and orthodox.
Although there’s still a bit of a Sanda flare to some of Nurmagomedov’s kicks, the American Kickboxing Academy product does an excellent job of working the body and legs of his opposition. In fact, I suspect that Nurmagomedov’s bodywork will be particularly effective considering the squareness of Primus’ stance, both in the clinch and in the open.
Primus’ grappling skills will likely allow him to interrupt some of the champion’s offense early, but I ultimately believe that Nurmagomedov’s bodywork will produce a stoppage by strikes come the second round.
