Ariel Helwani reveals Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev is reportedly the UFC’s “top choice” to headline UFC 300

MMA reporter Ariel Helwani claims Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev is the UFC’s top choice for the main event of UFC 300.

UFC CEO Dana White has vowed to make UFC 300 a historic card, but with the event being just two months away, the main event for the fight card is still not set. With there not being much time left, the UFC will need to announce the main event soon and according to Helwani, a potential holdup is the UFC trying to get Chimaev into the States to fight.

Ariel Helwani: I think that the top choice is Leon vs. Khamzat. This could all fizzle out and I think we'll find out in the next few days. But I believe that is the top choice at the moment.

I also believe those other 3 fights are at play as well. Leon/Belal, Izzy/DDP and… pic.twitter.com/rikpr2Chze

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) February 12, 2024

“I think right now, I think if the UFC has their way, if they could snap their fingers and make the biggest fight in their mind happen, and the fight they have been working on happen and have their say as to what is the main event of UFC 300, I think they would make Leon Edwards vs. Khamzat Chimaev. I believe, based on my conversations when Dana White is talking about the hurdles and the issues and the different things at play in making this fight, the troublesome that has been,” Helwani said on The MMA Hour.

“I believe that has been securing Khamzat’s ability to fight in the United States. This has been rumored for quite some time, that he has for whatever reason, he has some issues coming over to the States. I believe that has been part of the holdup. If they can’t for whatever reason secure that matchup, I think they would look at a potential Khamzat vs. DDP. But, I think that the top choice is Leon vs. Khamzat. This could all fizzle out and I think we’ll find out in the next few days. But I believe that is the top choice at the moment,” Helwani continued.

Khamzat Chimaev vs. Leon Edwards for the welterweight title would be a bit of a surprise, due to the Swede having recently competed at middleweight. However, as Helwani says, there is a chance Chimaev can’t get into the United States the UFC would then pivot to Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad or Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya.

As of right now, the lineup for UFC 300 looks as follows:

• Justin Gaethje vs. Max Holloway
• Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan
• Charles Oliveira vs. Arman Tsarukyan
• Jiri Prochazka vs. Aleksandar Rakic
• Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Holly Holm vs. Kayla Harrison
• Bobby Green vs. Jim Miller
• Sodiq Yusuff vs. Diego Lopes
• Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage
• Jessica Andrade vs. Marina Rodriguez
• Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Cody Garbrandt