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

After an entertaining UFC Saudi Arabia occasion through which Robert Whittaker confirmed Ikram Aliskerov that there are “levels” to blended martial arts (MMA), Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns residence to Las Vegas, Nev., for its large yearly International Fight Week occasion, UFC 303.

In the pay-per-view (PPV) fundamental occasion, Alex Pereira defends his mild heavyweight championship towards Jiri Prochazka. In 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 ought to be unimaginable as a result of it’s a big 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.

Pain.

You all know by now that UFC 303 was purported to be the highly-anticipated return of Conor McGregor. However, a toe harm ruined all the things (seriously). Now, everybody has to attend longer for McGregor versus Michael Chandler, which hopefully will go down later this yr.

Rematch

Pereira vs. Prochazka are working it again this weekend, and let’s be sincere, they’ll struggle each two weeks and struggle followers shall be simply high-quality. The two mild heavyweights first met inside the enduring area Madison Square Garden at UFC 295 for the interim 205-pound championship. “Poatan” knocked out Prochazka within the second spherical.

Kind Of Short Notice …

Yes, Pereira vs. Prochazka is a short-notice struggle. They have been deliberate to collide in the principle occasion of UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, over Israel Adesnya vs. Dricus Du Plessis in August. So, they knew concerning the matchup and have 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 a right away rematch in New York City later this yr if he loses.

Phenomenal ‘Poatan’

Pereira’s Octagon run has been completely beautiful to this point. In eight UFC fights, Pereira turned a UFC champion in two divisions, headlined Madison Square Garden (twice), defeated 4 former UFC champions, headlined (and saved) UFC 300, and now he saved “International Fight Week.”

When you concentrate on it, these accolades are genuinely unimaginable, 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. Thus far, he’s the one fighter to knockout Aleksandar Rakic and Volkan Oezdemir, submit Glover Teixeira, and end former Bellator Light 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 struggle is likely one of the greatest matchups within the Featherweight division that may very well be made as a result of each males are wonderful grapplers and intensely thrilling. On prime of that, it very properly may very well be for a No. 1 contender.

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

Weigh-In Day Change

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

Ortega was planning on shifting 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.

Talk a couple of springboard.

While 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.

Same Card Luck

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

Switch-Up Mania

The featured bout between Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze appears to be like utterly completely different from what the preliminary bout was purported to be.

Indeed, the unique struggle was former Light Heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, taking up Khalil Rountree Jr. However, Rountree Jr. failed a drug test, so the struggle was modified to Hill versus Carlos Ulberg. Next, Hill got injured, after which Smith stepped in, making it Smith vs. Ulberg. Well, Ulberg suffered an injury, and now the ultimate matchup (knock on wooden) is Smith vs. Dolidze.

Moving Up

Dolidze shall be shifting again as much as Light Heavyweight to face Smith.

10 vs. 10

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

Polar Bear In The Desert

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

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

‘MVP’ Gets His Shot

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

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

Unappealing

Garry doesn’t care about his upcoming struggle with “MVP.” At UFC 303 media day, he flat-out mentioned, “I’ve no real interest in it.” It is smart as a result of he was gunning for former three-time title challenger, Colby Covington.

Garry is combating down within the rankings and was solely taking the struggle to remain energetic and compete on the identical card as McGregor.

Welp.

Time Is A Construct

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

They each received.

Rebound

Joe Pyfer appears to be like 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 acquired a contract on Contender Series, and it nonetheless feels that means.

He is 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.

Both Arlovski and Swanson are already 40 years previous, and Waterson is 38. It simply is smart as a result of it’s “International Fight Week,” and they’re combating 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 combating Martin Buday, Waterson is combating Gillian Anderson and Swanson is combating Andre Fili, which ought to be a banger.

Time To Step Up, Kid

Payton Talbott is combating 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 bought positioned on UFC 303.

He holds an 88 p.c end fee and is likely one of the flashiest fighters in UFC in the intervening time.

Biggest Favorite Ever?

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

Welcome To UFC!

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

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

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC through Getty Images

Curtain Jerker

The first struggle of UFC 303 is a banger as former Top 10 Bantamweight, Ricky Simon, takes on Vinicius Oliveira, who’s coming off a “Knockout of the Year” contender.

While this struggle undoubtedly deserves to be increased on the cardboard, the matchmakers know exactly what they’re doing: begin UFC 303 off with a bang.

UFC 303 Fight Leader

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

UFC 303 Fight 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

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

Multi-Divisions

Here are the divisions that shall be on show this Saturday:

• One Heavyweight struggle
• Two Light Heavyweight fights
• One Middleweight struggle
• One Welterweight struggle
• Three Featherweight fights
• Two Bantamweight fights
• One Flyweight
• One ladies’s Strawweight
• One ladies’s Bantamweight

Beta Dog

According to DraftKings, the “largest” underdog at UFC 303 is Ghemmouri at +900.

LIVE! Watch UFC 303 PPV On ESPN+ Here!

’McGREGOR-FREE MAIN EVENT! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sat., June 29, 2024, without its biggest box office draw, Conor McGregor, after the Irish sports activities star delayed the “greatest comeback of all-time” as a result of he broke his pinky toe (seriously). Coming the rescue as soon as once more is Light 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 here) will even characteristic Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze and Ian Garry vs. Michael “Venom” 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 action!

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