As the end of the calendar year inches closer and closer, so does the UFC's annual December return to T-Mobile Arena. December cards are historically loaded with excellent fights, and there's no reason to think that UFC 310 will stray from the trend. Recent changes to title pictures in several divisions will have major ramifications for UFC 310, a card now in line to be one of the best in recent memory. Here's what it could look like.
Main Card
Main Event: (C) Dricus Du Plessis vs. (1) Sean Strickland
After an electric title defense from Du Plessis in Perth, Australia, this fight feels like a shoo-in to headline UFC 310. The champion didn't take serious damage against Israel Adesanya, and four months is a decent enough recovery period when an opportunity like this is at stake. Du Plessis has the chance to fight in three title bouts in a calendar year, something that would make him one of the most active, and by default popular, fighters in the promotion. On the other side, Strickland is the obvious choice of opponent. He narrowly dropped a decision to Du Plessis in late January, and the controversy surrounding the judges' scorecards has been the source of endless debate since then. Headlining in Las Vegas would also allow Strickland his first opportunity to compete for gold on American soil, a fact that certainly would not be lost on him.
Co-Main Event: (C) Alexandre Pantoja vs. (4) Kai Kara-France
Speaking of active champions, it's about time for the fans to see yet another Pantoja fight announcement. The flyweight king has been vocal about earning another defense in 2024 and after the Alex Pereira fight announcement for UFC 307, opportunities are running thin. The co-main event slot here is an ideal placement, both for Pantoja and the UFC. Pantoja filled the same role in 2023 when he co-mained for Leon Edwards and Colby Covington, and this way he won't have to wait until after the hiatus to get a fight in. The UFC doesn't like having flyweights headline PPV events, so Pantoja would likely have to be paired with another big title fight regardless of timing. In terms of opponent, Kai Kara-France took next to no damage against Steve Erceg in Perth, and the division is low enough on available contenders that a title shot is warranted. This one checks all the boxes for every party involved.
Main Card Bout: (1) Leon Edwards vs. (7) Ian Machado-Garry
Welterweight, unlike flyweight, has an abundance of excellent title contenders. Regardless of public opinion of him, Ian Machado-Garry is on that list. An 8-fight UFC win streak typically results in a title shot, but lackluster methods of victory have left Garry in need of one more fight. Edwards, coming off of an embarrassingly bad title performance that cost him his belt, should be happy to oblige. He's already called for another fight this year, and with much of the divisional top five booked or earmarked for specific matchups, Garry is an attractive option. The Irishman brings eyes to whoever he fights, an underrated factor that Edwards has never been particularly successful in. Stylistically, it's an excellent match for Edwards, who would likely be able to keep things standing and in kickboxing range. All of that is more than enough to compensate for the fact that Garry is only the seventh-ranked welterweight in the world.
Main Card Bout: (7) Beneil Dariush vs. (15) Paddy Pimblett
It's almost certain that Pimblett will get another spotlight on either UFC 309 or here. The opponent is up for debate, but Dariush stands out as an excellent choice for a couple of reasons. First is that out of all of the guys ranked inside the top ten, Dariush presents the least danger to the UFC's prized prospect. Second is that he's already come out and asked for a fight towards the end of 2024. The promotion obviously has a vested interest in continuing Pimblett's ascent, and this fight, while far from a lock in the Brit's favor, is pretty much as good as it gets in terms of stylistic matchup and exposure.
Main Card Bout: (15) Edson Barboza vs. Jean Silva
It's good business to open the main card with an absolute firefight, and this one fits the bill nicely. Barboza is on the tail end of an incredible career, recently making a career of fighting violent up-and-comers just like Silva. Silva, of the Fighting Nerds camp, is a perfect 3-0 in the UFC, showing off some of the most exciting striking in recent memory in every single one of his fights. There's a budding star in the featherweight division, and the UFC would be wise to bring all the eyes they can to his next matchup. Pitting him against Barboza on a massive card is an intelligent way to do it.
Prelims
Featured Prelim: Pedro Munhoz vs. Vinicius Oliveira
The changing of the guard illustrated in the first main card bout would begin with the featured prelim. Pedro Munhoz, a veteran of 21 UFC fights, finds himself outside of the bantamweight rankings for the first time in years. Two straight losses will force him to fight another fantastic prospect, of which the division has no shortage. Oliveira has an argument for a ranked opponent right away after beating Ricky Simon, but he's only 28 with plenty of room to grow. Instead of feeding him to wolves right away, allowing him another veteran challenge that will yield invaluable experience seems like a better move. Munhoz is always game, and Oliveira would likely jump at the opportunity to face a bantamweight staple. That means the fans get a war to watch, and both guys have plenty to fight for.
Prelim Bout: Rodolfo Bellato vs. Magomed Gadzhiyasulov
Two 2023 Contender Series alums with a win to their names are almost certain to collide at some point in their careers. Bellato and Gadzhiyasulov are two of the best light heavyweight prospects in the promotion, and while it's often best to wait to make matchups like this one, the shallow nature of the weight class makes it difficult. Having them put on a potential Fight of the Night on a massive card boosts both of their stocks regardless of the winner.
Prelim Bout: Roman Kopylov vs. Armen Petrosyan
Admittedly, this fight doesn't make much geographical sense. It would be much better off in the Middle East or even in Europe, but as of now, neither of these guys is booked to fight on any card. Instead of making them wait it out until 2025 or make the walk to an empty arena, let them put on a kickboxing masterclass in Las Vegas. Both men are accomplished strikers with the ability to deliver a highlight-reel finish in the blink of an eye, and both are a couple of wins away from being a ranked middleweight. A fun standup affair with huge career implications is always can't-miss TV, so a spot on one of the biggest cards of the year is more than warranted.
Prelim Bout: Cody Durden vs. Jafel Filho
This fight wouldn't have much name value, but anyone who tuned in would be in for one of the best MMA grappling matches of the year. Durden has been on the edge of the 125-pound rankings for a while now, fighting behind excellent freestyle wrestling and effective boxing. Filho is a jiu-jitsu specialist, adept at creating scrambles and positional opportunities on the ground against any opponent. It's a perfect matchup for grappling fans and an excellent way to promote two fighters who will soon be in the top 15.
Early Prelims
Early Prelim Bout: Billy Goff vs. Andreas Gustafsson
If the matchmakers want a guaranteed fun fight, all they need to do is book Billy Goff. The American is a consistent creator of all offense, no defense wars that help change the color of the canvas over 15 minutes. Gustafsson, a newly signed Contender Series winner, essentially fights in the same fashion. Putting these two up against each other would be the equivalent of watching two rams smash horns, just with a little more technique at play.
Early Prelim Bout: Robelis Despaigne vs. Junior Tafa
Upon arrival, Robelis Despaigne was immediately looked at as a potential problem for the heavyweight division. His second fight showed that he has a lot to learn before he fulfills that prophecy. Junior Tafa is an ideal candidate to help him learn, given his striking background and stylistic approach. Tafa is a former Glory kickboxer, lacking in almost any ground experience. Despaigne, a former taekwondo Olympian, will be grateful to have a near-guarantee of a striking match after being taken down repeatedly in his last contest. Match these two up and see who really has the staying power to stick around in the UFC.
Early Prelim Bout: Bernardo Sopai vs. Yanis Ghemmouri
It's difficult to find a more exciting matchup between two winless fighters. Sopai was made famous for suffering a brutal flying knee knockout at the hands of Vinicius Oliveira. It's often overlooked that he took the fight on less than a week's notice and gave Oliveira a run for his money before getting obliterated. The Albanian has a very bright future ahead of him in the UFC. Ghemmouri, another young prospect, has had a similarly rough go of things in the promotion. He's 0-2 with losses against William Gomis and Payton Talbott, two of the best young prospects at featherweight and bantamweight, respectively. Writing these two off would be a huge organizational mistake, especially at this stage in their careers. Both guys have endless potential, and a chance to show it against one another could end up being a life-changing opportunity.
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