Expert picks, best bets: Best value at UFC 300 and PFL? - ESPN

The UFC will put on its biggest pay-per-view event yet when the promotion hosts UFC 300 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight card, which is loaded with much of the UFC's top talent, will be headlined by a light heavyweight title fight as champion Alex Pereira puts his belt on the line against former champ Jamahal Hill (10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV, with prelims at 8 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+, and early prelims at 6 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN+).

Pereira (9-2), No. 3 in ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings, has lost only one fight in the UFC — a middleweight title defense against former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya last year. Hill (12-1) is making his return to the Octagon after an injury kept him out of action for nearly 15 months.

The UFC 300 co-main event is a title bout as well, with Zhang Weili defending her strawweight belt against Yan Xiaonan. And the BMF belt will be on the line when Justin Gaethje clashes with Max Holloway.

The PFL also will be in action this weekend when the promotion hosts 2024 PFL Regular Season: Light Heavyweights and Lightweights on Friday night at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas (9 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+, with prelims at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+).

In the main event, last season's light heavyweight champ, Impa Kasanganay, takes on Alex Polizzi. Also on the card, former Bellator lightweight champion Patricky «Pitbull» Freire makes his PFL debut against Clay Collard.

Brett Okamoto spoke to Xtreme Couture MMA coach Eric Nicksick to get his perspective on the UFC title fights. ESPN betting experts Reed Kuhn and Ian Parker add their insights and analysis on the top UFC bouts and other intriguing bets they like on the card. Parker also provides his best bets for Friday's PFL fight card.

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