Although the struggle card for UFC 303 was regularly shuffling till the final minute, the UFC nonetheless managed to provide a pay-per-view occasion that featured star energy and rising expertise.
In the principle occasion, gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira earned one other second-round knockout over former champ Jiří Procházka to retain the title. Pereira additionally beat Procházka by second-round knockout at UFC 295 in November. Pereira and Procházka took the struggle on brief discover after the unique major occasion between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler was canceled on account of McGregor’s damaged toe.
The co-main occasion between Diego Lopes and Dan Ige ended up being the story of the night time as Ige stepped in on the very final minute to switch Brian Ortega, who was compelled to withdraw Saturday afternoon on account of sickness. Lopes beat Ige by determination to proceed his ascension within the rankings.
With a lot turnover from this weekend’s pay-per-view, what ought to be subsequent for the large names of UFC 303 — even those that did not make the ultimate struggle card? Let’s have a look.
Alex Pereira, gentle heavyweight
Who ought to be subsequent: Magomed Ankalaev
It is exhausting to make a case for anybody else, fairly actually. Pereira’s crushed three of the highest 4 ranked contenders within the division. The No. 5 ranked contender, Aleksandar Rakic, is coming off a loss. Pereira has said he’ll take that struggle and likes the truth that it is a matchup followers imagine he has a superb probability of dropping. Pereira and the Glover Teixeira camp need to silence the naysayers by showcasing his improved grappling. The query turns into certainly one of Ankalaev’s availability. He has not fought since January and has solely fought twice up to now two years. Relying on that, he’s the clear alternative for subsequent.
Wild card: Khalil Rountree Jr.
Rountree was initially purported to face Jamahal Hill at UFC 303, however was pulled when he self-reported taking a complement that contained a banned substance and was suspended for 2 months. Any doping violation is not a superb improvement, after all, however by way of malicious intent, this one is on the lighter aspect. His fashion is a house run matchup for Pereira. He could be a giant underdog, however the division is gentle on contenders and Pereira prefers being an energetic champion. Whether or not he is subsequent or not, Rountree is not far faraway from a title shot. There can be alternatives at hand out at this weight class and he is in a superb place to obtain one.
Diego Lopes, featherweight
Who ought to be subsequent: Alexander Volkanovski
I would not counsel this struggle if it weren’t for Volkanovski’s need to struggle as a lot as attainable. Volkanovski is arguably the best featherweight of all time. He deserves to face Ilia Topuria in his subsequent look to reclaim his 145-pound belt. However this man doesn’t need to wait, ever. He needs a struggle sooner quite than later and has teased the concept of preventing at light-weight whereas he waits for his featherweight shot in opposition to both Topuria or Max Holloway. If he needs to struggle that badly, I would be in favor of him dealing with Lopes. It is a large soar for Lopes, however this sport is about hanging whereas the iron is sizzling, and Lopes is on hearth. Lopes had three first-round finishes in his previous three fights going into his one, then he accepted Ortega at 145, Ortega at 155 and Ige at 165. These are issues the UFC rewards. The game could be up for a struggle like this.
Wild card: Winner of Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze at UFC 304
Allen vs. Chikadze takes place on July 27 in Manchester, England. It is a large struggle for the division, to not point out a enjoyable one stylistically. No matter who wins, each will nonetheless have work to do to get to a title shot. They won’t need to face somebody decrease within the rankings at first, however given Lopes’ rising inventory, he represents a giant struggle. The winner of that struggle vs. Lopes may decide future title competition.
Dan Ige, Diego Lopes struggle to determination in short-notice co-main occasion
Dan Ige and Diego Lopes struggle all three rounds within the co-main occasion of UFC 303.
Ian Machado Garry, welterweight
Who ought to be subsequent: Colby Covington
Covington is not on this struggle and I get it, however in some unspecified time in the future he can have a tough time turning it down. Machado Garry was already ranked No. 7 coming into this one. He is undefeated and has now received eight in a row within the UFC. I do not know what different choices there are for Covington. He says he is a giant title and solely needs large fights and he isn’t fallacious, however he is additionally coming off most likely the worst efficiency of his profession in opposition to Leon Edwards. I am a bit of shocked Machado Garry needs this struggle as a lot as he does, as a result of it will possible flip into an unsightly struggle week between the 2 and I do not imagine Machado Garry really enjoys that sort of destructive vitality — however it will be a giant title for his hit checklist. It could be nice if the UFC made it a five-round major occasion. Maybe in Dublin?
Wild card: Shavkat Rakhmonov
These two have educated alongside one another in South Florida, however they’re going to sq. off in the event that they need to. They’re each undefeated. They’re each seen as future title contenders. They’ll possible struggle a technique or one other, and it could possibly be subsequent. However the Covington matchup is the one to discover first.
Michael Chandler, light-weight
Who ought to be subsequent: Justin Gaethje
I simply do not suppose Conor McGregor fights once more at this level. He by no means appeared that into the concept of preventing Chandler within the first place. The percentages of him returning after this lengthy layoff to a struggle he would not appear eager on anyway — I do not see how that provides up. Chandler has held out an inexpensive period of time. There wasn’t any nice possibility for him to move up whereas he waited for McGregor, however to attend longer feels dangerous. I do know Gaethje nonetheless wants a bit of time earlier than coming again. Let Chandler wait a number of extra months to see what occurs with McGregor, and if there’s nothing on the books, pursue a matchup with Gaethje. Gaethje put his No. 1 contender spot on the road at UFC 300, did the corporate a strong and ended up dropping his place in line. Reward that threat by reserving him in opposition to Chandler and calling it a No. 1 contender struggle.
Wild card: McGregor
The opposite possibility is to attend for McGregor. At this level, although, it feels extra like a wild card than a assure that it’ll ever occur.
Conor McGregor, welterweight
Who ought to be subsequent: Michael Chandler
If he fights, it ought to be Chandler. Easy and simple. It is what’s proper, for one, however past that, it is also the matchup the UFC has invested. The one possibility that might trump it will be…
Wild card: Max Holloway
As a result of Holloway is so large in the meanwhile, primarily based on what he did at UFC 300, this struggle could be a blockbuster house run. However Holloway is headed again to 145 kilos, almost certainly. And even when he had been to remain at 155 kilos, he isn’t going, nor ought to he go to 170. And McGregor is not going again to 155 any time quickly.