UFC 303 was speculated to mark Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon. However his highly-anticipated bout towards Michael Chandler was scuttled (for now) resulting from an damage McGregor suffered within the lead-up to the struggle.
However credit score the UFC, which moved swiftly to switch the primary occasion and salvage a pay-per-view card that suffered a number of different setbacks. And the brand new primary occasion needs to be a lot thrilling for struggle followers: Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka are squaring off once more, with the sunshine heavyweight title Pereira gained towards former champ Prochazka final November on the road.
Comply with together with USA TODAY Sports activities for updates and highlights from UFC 303:
Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze consequence
This struggle arriving on the UFC 303 card was a complete odyssey. However followers most likely weren’t tremendous thrilled with the precise bout — the followers at T-Cell Area definitely weren’t in any case, as they booed after the ultimate horn.
Probably the most eventful second of the struggle was discovered within the second spherical, when Dolidze unloaded some ground-and-pound on a fallen Smith. However in any other case, the bout was pretty boring and Dolidze earned a unanimous determination win (30-27, 29-28, 29-28).
Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson consequence
Chiasson opened up a big lower proper above Bueno Silva’s eye with a brutal elbow whereas the pair was on the bottom in the course of the second spherical. The struggle was finally stopped by the ref for a medical analysis and the ringside physician referred to as the struggle. (Jon Anik relayed that the lower was so deep it was practically “all the way down to the bone.”) Thus, this high-event bout led to a bloody however anticlimactic end in favor of Chiasson.
Bueno Silva vehemently protested the choice to cease the struggle, even leaping the cage to have a dialogue with UFC President Dana White.
Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Web page consequence
This was a detailed battle and an attention-grabbing conflict of types. Web page had the clear placing benefit, however Machado Garry proved to be the superior grappler. In the long run, the judges awarded Machado Garry a unanimous determination victory with 29-28 scores throughout the board.
Machado Garry has but to lose in his MMA profession.
Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault consequence
Pyfer simply ended the prelims with a bang. He knocked out Barriault with some heavy punches simply 1:25 into the struggle. Three of the 4 prelims ended with stoppages. Hopefully the motion continues on the primary card.
New struggle on UFC 303 card: Diego Lopes vs. Dan Ige
Brian Ortega has been scratched from his UFC 303 struggle, however his opponent continues to be set to compete.
Ortega is sick and operating a 103-degree fever, Jon Anik relayed on the published. Jeff Mullen of the Nevada State Athletic Fee mentioned on the published Ortega was “medically unable to compete.”
Diego Lopes continues to be hopping into the octagon, although. He shall be taking over Dan Ige, who was tapped as a (actually unprecedented) last-minute alternative. Mullen mentioned that Ige is cleared to compete as a result of he is fought just lately sufficient that each one his medicals are updated within the eyes of the fee.
A card that has confronted loads of hurdles has one way or the other, a way cleared one other one.
Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili consequence
Fili defeated Swanson in a break up determination. Two judges gave the struggle to Fili (29-28) whereas one decide dominated it 29-28 in favor of Swanson.
Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva consequence
Now we’re cooking. Jean Silva delivered a second consecutive knockout on this card by dropping Charles Jourdain with a vicious uppercut. It introduced the struggle to a sudden shut at 1:22 of the second spherical. Silva did miss weight earlier than the struggle, nevertheless.
Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri consequence
We’ve our first stoppage! Payton Talbott proved why he was an enormous favourite on this struggle, dropping Ghemmouri to the canvas with a brutal proper and following it up with strikes that triggered the ref to cease the struggle simply 19 seconds in.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson consequence
Robertson closed out the early prelims with a formidable unanimous determination victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-26). Waterson-Gomez introduced her retirement after the bout in an emotional scene. The UFC performed a really good tribute video for her and Waterson-Gomez delivered a heartfelt speech.
Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday consequence
Not rather a lot occurred on this one. The opponents have been implored to be extra lively a number of occasions by the ref and have been booed when the ultimate horn sounded. The judges dominated it a break up determination in Buday’s favor (30-27, 29-28 to 1 29-28 card for the 45-year-old Arlovski).
Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez consequence
In a match outlined by wild grappling, it was Tsuruya — in his UFC debut — who emerged victorious. He earned a unanimous determination victory with scores of 29-28 on all three scorecards.
Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira consequence
Oliveira and Simon went the space, with Oliveira securing the victory by unanimous determination (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
When is UFC 303?
The early prelims start at 6 p.m. ET Saturday. Prelims are then slated to start at roughly 8 p.m. ET with the pay-per-view card starting round 10 p.m. ET.
UFC 303 dwell stream
Early prelims and prelims for UFC 303 will air on ESPN and could be streamed through ESPN+. The pay-per-view card could be bought through ESPN+.
The place is UFC 303?
The UFC returns to a common hang-out for 303 — Las Vegas’ T-Cell Area.
UFC 303 struggle card
Important card
- Alex Pereira (champ) vs. Jiri Prochazka (gentle heavyweight)
- Diego Lopes vs. Dan Ige
- Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze (gentle heavyweight)
- Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson (girls’s bantamweight)
- Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Web page (welterweight)
Prelims
- Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (middleweight)
- Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili (featherweight)
- Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva (featherweight)
- Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (bantamweight)
Early Prelims
- Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson (girls’s strawweight)
- Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday (heavyweight)
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez
- Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira
Why Conor McGregor struggle is not on UFC 303 card
Hypothesis that the McGregor-Chandler struggle is perhaps in hassle started when the UFC all of a sudden referred to as off a June 3 press convention that was set to be staged in Dublin. Ten days later, UFC President Dana White introduced the struggle was off the 303 card with an damage sidelining McGregor. That damage has since been revealed to be a damaged toe.
McGregor final fought in July 2021, when he misplaced through physician’s stoppage after he broke his leg in a struggle towards Dustin Poirier.
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka: Story of the tape
Alex Pereira | vs. | Jiri Prochazka |
10-2-0 | Report | 30-4-1 |
Brazil | Nation | Czechia |
6-4 | Top | 6-3 |
220 | Weight | 218 |
79 inches | Attain | 80 inches |
44 inches | Leg attain | 45 inches |
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka first struggle
Alex Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka by second-round TKO of their battle for the then-vacant gentle heavyweight championship at UFC 295 in November.
Alex Pereira championship historical past
Earlier than capturing the sunshine heavyweight title, Pereira — a kickboxing standout — was the middleweight champ. He defeated Israel Adesanya by TKO at UFC 281 in December 2022 to win that belt, however Adesanya acquired revenge within the rematch at UFC 287 in April 2023 by knocking out Pereira to recapture the title.
Pereira moved as much as gentle heavyweight after the defeat. He has one profitable title protection since successful the belt in November, knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April.
Jiri Prochazka championship historical past
Jiri Prochazka defeated Glover Teixeira through submission at UFC 275 in June 2022 to win the sunshine heavyweight title. However he by no means acquired to stage a correct protection, vacating the title resulting from damage. His subsequent time within the octagon was his loss to Pereira in November 2023.