UFC 303: 30 tidbits, information and storylines for Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2

June 30, 2024

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After an entertaining UFC Saudi Arabia occasion wherein Robert Whittaker confirmed Ikram Aliskerov that there are “ranges” to combined martial arts (MMA), Final Preventing Championship (UFC) returns dwelling to Las Vegas, Nev., for its huge yearly Worldwide Struggle Week occasion, UFC 303.

Within the pay-per-view (PPV) fundamental occasion, Alex Pereira defends his gentle heavyweight championship towards Jiri Prochazka. Within the co-main occasion, two-time Featherweight title challenger, Brian Ortega, takes on surging Diego Lopes (in a 155-pound showdown).

UFC 303 has a number of enjoyable fights, and the ambiance needs to be unbelievable as a result of it’s a large card. So, earlier than all of it goes later this night (Sat., June 29, 2024) on PPV and ESPN/ESPN+, let’s checkout some random storylines, tidbits, and statistics forward of showtime.

Ache.

You all know by now that UFC 303 was imagined to be the highly-anticipated return of Conor McGregor. Nonetheless, a toe damage ruined every thing (significantly). Now, everybody has to attend longer for McGregor versus Michael Chandler, which hopefully will go down later this yr.

Rematch

Pereira vs. Prochazka are operating it again this weekend, and let’s be sincere, they’ll combat each two weeks and combat followers will likely be simply high-quality. The 2 gentle heavyweights first met inside the enduring area Madison Sq. Backyard at UFC 295 for the interim 205-pound championship. “Poatan” knocked out Prochazka within the second spherical.

Variety Of Brief Discover …

Sure, Pereira vs. Prochazka is a short-notice combat. They had been deliberate to collide in the primary occasion of UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, over Israel Adesnya vs. Dricus Du Plessis in August. So, they knew concerning the matchup and had been coaching for one another, though Pereira was in Australia when he signed the contract.

Win-Win

Pereira is within the final win-win state of affairs. Not solely is he much more of a legend for serving to UFC as soon as once more (extra on that quickly), however MMAmania.com has heard, per sources, that he’s granted an instantaneous rematch in New York Metropolis later this yr if he loses.

Phenomenal ‘Poatan’

Pereira’s Octagon run has been completely beautiful up to now. In eight UFC fights, Pereira grew to become a UFC champion in two divisions, headlined Madison Sq. Backyard (twice), defeated 4 former UFC champions, headlined (and saved) UFC 300, and now he saved “Worldwide Struggle Week.”

When you consider it, these accolades are genuinely unbelievable, particularly since most of his fight sports activities profession was in kickboxing.

Jeez, Jiri

Pereira’s UFC accomplishments are unreal, however so is Prochazka’s UFC resume. To this point, he’s the one fighter to knockout Aleksandar Rakic and Volkan Oezdemir, submit Glover Teixeira, and end former Bellator Gentle Heavyweight champion, Vadim Nemkov.

The man is particular.

Mexican Grapple-fest With Stakes

Ortega vs. Lopes is UFC 303’s new co-main occasion. The combat is without doubt one of the greatest matchups within the Featherweight division that could possibly be made as a result of each males are wonderful grapplers and intensely thrilling. On prime of that, it very nicely could possibly be for a No. 1 contender.

Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is the combat that needs to be made, but when that combat falls aside, the winner of Lopes vs. Ortega may step in. Or, they might wait round for the winner of Topuria vs. Holloway.

Weigh-In Day Change

Throughout UFC 303’s early morning weigh-ins, UFC introduced that Ortega vs. Lopes will now happen at Light-weight.

Ortega was planning on transferring to the 155-pound division, however due to the short-notice name, he had his plans (and weight) on maintain.

To The Moon

Since Lopes entered UFC, he has been shot out of a rocket … and deservingly so. And with a win at UFC 303, he’ll go from No. 14 to No. 3 within the rankings.

Speak about a springboard.

Whereas he misplaced his UFC debut to Movsar Evloev, he has completed everybody in since within the first spherical and is coming off a win at UFC 300 towards Sodiq Yusuff.

Identical Card Luck

Pereira and Lopes have been on the identical card twice (UFC 295 and UFC 300), and each have obtained technical knockout finishes.

Change-Up Mania

The featured bout between Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze seems to be fully totally different from what the preliminary bout was imagined to be.

Certainly, the unique combat was former Gentle Heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, taking up Khalil Rountree Jr. Nonetheless, Rountree Jr. failed a drug check, so the combat was modified to Hill versus Carlos Ulberg. Subsequent, Hill acquired injured, after which Smith stepped in, making it Smith vs. Ulberg. Properly, Ulberg suffered an damage, and now the ultimate matchup (knock on wooden) is Smith vs. Dolidze.

Transferring Up

Dolidze will likely be transferring again as much as Gentle Heavyweight to face Smith.

10 vs. 10

Each Smith and Dolidze are ranked No. 10 in there respective divisions (Middleweight and Gentle Heavyweight).

Polar Bear In The Desert

UFC 303’s new fundamental card (that’s being held along with duct tape) seems to be fairly superior; nonetheless, there may be one combat that stands proud like a sore thumb: Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Silva competed for a title in her final combat, but it surely was a horrible combat and efficiency.

No disrespect, however that girls’s Bantamweight combat just isn’t UFC 303 PPV fundamental card-worthy, particularly for “Worldwide Struggle Week.” Two apparent fights may take its place: Talbott vs. Ghemmouri or Swanson vs. Fili.

‘MVP’ Will get His Shot

Michael “Venom” Web page (MVP) will look to snag Ian Garry’s No. 7 Welterweight rating later this night to crack UFC’s Prime 10 rankings.

“MVP” made a giant splash within the promotion when he upset Kevin Holland in his UFC debut earlier this yr at UFC 299. He’s using a two-fight win streak.

Unappealing

Garry doesn’t care about his upcoming combat with “MVP.” At UFC 303 media day, he flat-out stated, “I’ve little interest in it.” It is smart as a result of he was gunning for former three-time title challenger, Colby Covington.

Garry is preventing down within the rankings and was solely taking the combat to remain lively and compete on the identical card as McGregor.

Welp.

Time Is A Assemble

Garry made his skilled mixd martial arts (MMA) debut on Feb. 16, 2019, the identical night time that Web page fought Paul Daley at Bellator 216. Garry fought James Sheehan at Cage Warriors 101.

They each received.

Rebound

Joe Pyfer seems to be to rebound from his first UFC fundamental occasion loss towards Jack Hermansson. It was additionally his first “L” within the promotion. Pyfer had a rocket ship placed on his again when he obtained a contract on Contender Sequence, and it nonetheless feels that method.

He’s given a reasonably picture-perfect matchup towards Marc-Andre Barriault, and he ought to get a highlight-reel knockout and put himself again into the UFC Middleweight image.

Triple Retirement?

Three UFC veterans may lay down their gloves within the Octagon on Saturday: Cub Swanson, Andrei Arlovski and/or Michelle Waterson.

Each Arlovski and Swanson are already 40 years outdated, and Waterson is 38. It simply is smart as a result of it’s “Worldwide Struggle Week,” and they’re preventing in entrance of a sold-out Las Vegas crowd. And Swanson has not fought in entrance of a crowd since earlier than the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic (an utter crime).

Arlovski is preventing Martin Buday, Waterson is preventing Gillian Anderson and Swanson is preventing Andre Fili, which needs to be a banger.

Time To Step Up, Child

Payton Talbott is preventing exterior the UFC Apex for the primary time this weekend and is primed to be the one everybody talks about from the “Prelims.”

Talbott had the entire MMA world speaking about him after he demolished Cameron Saaiman in his final outing earlier this yr, and due to that, he acquired positioned on UFC 303.

He holds an 88 p.c end price and is without doubt one of the flashiest fighters in UFC in the meanwhile.

Greatest Favourite Ever?

Whereas Talbott isn’t the largest betting favourite … but — that belongs to Bo Nickal (-2200). However, by combat night time, Talbott may surpass that if cash retains coming in on him. He’s at present a -1600 favourite, by far the largest favourite on UFC 303. He faces Yanis Ghemmouri.

Welcome To UFC!

Just one fighter makes his UFC debut this weekend, Rei Tsuruya (9-0). Tsuruya scored a UFC contract by successful the “Highway To UFC” Flyweight finals (he completed Jiniushiyue).

Tsuruya holds an 88 p.c end price with 4 knockouts and 4 submissions. He faces Carlos Hernandez.

Curtain Jerker

The primary combat of UFC 303 is a banger as former Prime 10 Bantamweight, Ricky Simon, takes on Vinicius Oliveira, who’s coming off a “Knockout of the 12 months” contender.

Whereas this combat positively deserves to be greater on the cardboard, the matchmakers know exactly what they’re doing: begin UFC 303 off with a bang.

UFC 303 Struggle Chief

The fighter with essentially the most profession fights competing at UFC 303 is Arlovski (57).

UFC 303 Struggle Rookie

The fighter with the least quantity of profession fights competing at UFC 303 is Talbott (eight).

UFC 303 Knockout King

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession knockouts competing at UFC 303 is Prochazka (26).

UFC 303 Submission Savant

The fighter with essentially the most quantity of profession submissions competing at UFC 303 is Smith (15).

Winners And Losers

13 fighters are coming off wins and 13 are coming off losses.

Multi-Divisions

Listed here are the divisions that will likely be on show this Saturday:

One Heavyweight combat
Two Gentle Heavyweight fights
One Middleweight combat
One Welterweight combat
Three Featherweight fights
Two Bantamweight fights
One Flyweight
One girls’s Strawweight
One girls’s Bantamweight

Beta Canine

Based on DraftKings, the “largest” underdog at UFC 303 is Ghemmouri at +900.

LIVE! Watch UFC 303 PPV On ESPN+ Right here!

’McGREGOR-FREE MAIN EVENT! Final Preventing Championship (UFC) returns to T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., June 29, 2024, with out its largest field workplace draw, Conor McGregor, after the Irish sports activities star delayed the “biggest comeback of all-time” as a result of he broke his pinky toe (significantly). Coming the rescue as soon as once more is Gentle Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, agreeing to rematch former division champion, Jiri Prochazka, within the pay-per-view (PPV) fundamental occasion. In UFC 303’s co-headliner, top-ranked Featherweight contender, Brian Ortega, will try and halt the rise of red-hot surging 145-pound prospect, Diego Lopes. UFC 303’s PPV fundamental card (see it right here) can even function Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze and Ian Garry vs. Michael “Venom” Web page and a lot extra. It’s must-watch motion! UFC 303 begin time scheduled for 6 p.m. ET (Prelims) and 10 p.m. ET (PPV).

Don’t miss a single second of EPIC face-punching motion!

To checkout the newest and biggest UFC 303 combat card and rumors click on right here.