Decisions: Every day, people make thousands of them. Most of the time, the decision is made so routinely that you don’t even realize that you’ve just committed to a choice. A decision and its magnitude can potentially have immense ramifications once it’s made.
Such decisions could potentially have an impact on the entire world, depending upon the stakes of the situation. Thankfully, though, the decision that fans of combat sports will have to make this weekend, depending upon if fans have made it already, won’t be dire.
This decision is strictly predicated on one simple question: On Saturday, May 4, how are you going to spend your disposable income? If this were any other weekend, the choice would be a simple one: Pay the $79.99 (USD) fee (if you didn’t take advantage of the $10 discount by preordering before fight week) and watch UFC 301.
UFC 301’s main card begins at 10 pm ET/ 7 pm PT on ESPN+ pay-per-view. However, this isn’t any other weekend. Here’s the decision you’ll need to make this time.
Canelo/Munguia or UFC 301?
While MMA‘s top promotion sets up shop in Brazil, the UFC‘s de facto home venue of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas plays host to one of boxing‘s most-anticipated pay-per-view events of 2024. Saul Alvarez, also known as Canelo (60-2-2, 39 KOs), will risk his undisputed super-middleweight championship when he takes on challenger and WBC Silver Super-Middleweight Champion Jaime Munguia (43-0, 34 KOs) in the main event.
Canelo’s own promotional arm is putting on this card in association with TGB Promotions, taking place under the Premier Boxing Champions banner. Like UFC 301, this event will also be streamed on pay-per-view over three internet platforms, including DAZN, Amazon Prime Video and PPV.com beginning at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT.
#CaneloMunguia Fight Week is HERE! Don’t miss out on this historic Cinco de Mayo weekend showdown between @Canelo vs @jaimemunguia15 on May 4! 🇲🇽 vs 🇲🇽
Order NOW on PBC PPV on @PrimeVideo: pic.twitter.com/Y6c70J84UV
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) April 29, 2024
Ring walks for the headlining bout are expected to take place at around 11:15 pm ET/ 8:15 pm PT, though this could be adjusted depending upon how soon other fights end. As far as UFC 301’s main event ring walks for the UFC Flyweight Championship between titleholder Alexandre Pantoja (27-5 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and No. 10 contender Steve Erceg (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC), they’re scheduled for 12:15 am ET/ 9:15 pm PT.
Only one will walk away the champ 👀 #UFC301 pic.twitter.com/yNFiQGCi5C
— UFC (@ufc) May 1, 2024
To a neophyte, this looks like a tough call to make, but we’ve been down this road before. Just two years ago, right around this time, Canelo’s light heavyweight affair vs. Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) went up against UFC 274. Bivol bested Alvarez by way of unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Over the next few minutes, we’ll compare the two cards. Why wait any longer?
Shelling Out Some Cash
Let’s chat economics, shall we? Time is money, and these days, for some, the money is too tight. Unless you’re in a decent tax bracket, this will be a “one or the other” scenario.
As previously stated, if you preordered UFC 301 ahead of time, ESPN+ subscribers only needed to pay what was formerly the UFC standard of $69.99. This discount will be available for every UFC pay-per-view for preorders made before the Tuesday of fight week at 3 am ET/ midnight PT. Those who still have yet to purchase UFC 301, it costs $79.99.
Comparatively, Canelo vs. Munguia comes with a steeper cost. Those who subscribe to that event, regardless of service, will pay $89.99 (USD) for the action. Just from that alone, it looks like you have some thinking to do.
Two years ago, when Canelo fought Bivol, the price was $59.99.
PBC Offers up Four Championship Fights
Canelo’s tilt vs. Munguia isn’t the lone championship encounter on the evening this Saturday night. It’s the capper of four title bouts on the main card. Immediately before the super-middleweight contest is a bout matching Mario Barrios (28-2, 18 KOS) and Fabian Maidana (22-2, 16 KOs). At stake, the former’s WBC Interim Welterweight Championship.
Ahead of that, you’ll see the battle for the WBC Interim Featherweight Championship between incumbent titleholder Brandon Figueroa (24-1, 18 KOs) and challenger Jessie Magdaleno (29-2, 18 KOs). Your championship quadrupleheader begins with a WBA Welterweight Championship contest versing champion Eimantas Stanionis (14-0, 9 KOs) and Gabriel Maestre (6-0-1, 5 KOs).
All title fights on the night are an advertised maximum of 12 rounds at three minutes per round, making up the entirety of the main card. You don’t have to be a math major to know that that’s $22.50 (USD) per fight.
Three All-Ranked Fights on UFC 301
Given the fact that Saturday’s UFC show is the first flagship event from the promotion since the landmark UFC 300, the follow-up act looks pretty good. While there’s only a single championship fight at the top of the bill this weekend, there are a trio of all-ranked contests on the main card, the headliner included.
Aside from the featherweight title and the first appearance by Jose Aldo (31-8 MMA, 13-7 UFC) since coming out of retirement against No. 12 contender Jonathan Martinez (19-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in the co-main event, No. 10 contender Anthony Smith (37-19 MMA, 12-9 UFC) battles No. 15 contender Vitor Petrino (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a crucial battle at light heavyweight, The only other all-ranked fight takes place at the base of the main card.
Middleweights do battle when No. 13 contender Paul Craig (17-7-1 MMA, 9-7-1 UFC) takes on No. 14 contender Caio Borralho (15-1, 1 NC MMA, 5-0 UFC). Someone could be left out of the rankings on Monday morning
Betting Odds for Both Headliners
While the exact betting odds vary between sportsbooks for both main events, Alexandre Pantoja and Canelo Alvarez are each currently favored to win their respective championships. Pantoja is -200 to retain the belt at UFC 301, while Canelo is the pick in the boxing match at -600.
Historically, the odds have been with Canelo in marquee fights. Case in point: Three years ago, when Canelo fought Avni Yildirim in Miami, he rode-5000 betting odds to a third-round victory by TKO after Yildirim’s corner resigned from the fight.
As always, if you intend to bet on this or any other fight happening across the board this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what’s happening and at what time between boxing and MMA on Saturday night, you can adequately plan your evening. The choice of what to watch is yours.
If you miss one event for the other, you can always look up the highlights online later.