UFC 303 Preview: 30 Tidbits, Facts And Storylines

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

Within the pay-per-view (PPV) foremost occasion, Alex Pereira defends his mild 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 ought 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. Nevertheless, a toe damage ruined the whole lot (severely). Now, everybody has to attend longer for McGregor versus Michael Chandler, which hopefully will go down later this 12 months.

Rematch

Pereira vs. Prochazka are working it again this weekend, and let’s be trustworthy, they’ll combat each two weeks and combat followers shall be simply advantageous. The 2 mild 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.

Form Of Quick Discover …

Sure, Pereira vs. Prochazka is a short-notice combat. 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 in regards to 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 Metropolis later this 12 months if he loses.

Phenomenal ‘Poatan’

Pereira’s Octagon run has been completely beautiful to date. In eight UFC fights, Pereira turned 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 Battle Week.”

When you concentrate on 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. Up to now, he’s the one fighter to knockout Aleksandar Rakic and Volkan Oezdemir, submit Glover Teixeira, and end former Bellator Mild 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 likely one of the finest matchups within the Featherweight division that could possibly be made as a result of each males are glorious grapplers and very thrilling. On high of that, it very effectively could possibly be for a No. 1 contender.

Ilia Topuria vs. Max Holloway is the combat that ought to be made, but when that combat falls aside, the winner of Lopes vs. Ortega might 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.

Discuss 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 acquired technical knockout finishes.

Change-Up Mania

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

Certainly, the unique combat was former Mild Heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, taking over Khalil Rountree Jr. Nevertheless, Rountree Jr. failed a drug take a look at, so the combat was modified to Hill versus Carlos Ulberg. Subsequent, Hill bought injured, after which Smith stepped in, making it Smith vs. Ulberg. Effectively, Ulberg suffered an damage, and now the ultimate matchup (knock on wooden) is Smith vs. Dolidze.

Transferring Up

Dolidze shall be transferring again as much as Mild Heavyweight to face Smith.

10 vs. 10

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

Polar Bear In The Desert

UFC 303’s new foremost card (that’s being held along with duct tape) seems to be fairly superior; nonetheless, there’s 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, nevertheless it was a horrible combat and efficiency.

No disrespect, however that girls’s Bantamweight combat is just not UFC 303 PPV foremost card-worthy, particularly for “Worldwide Battle Week.” Two apparent fights might 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 High 10 rankings.

“MVP” made a big splash within the promotion when he upset Kevin Holland in his UFC debut earlier this 12 months at UFC 299. He’s driving 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 energetic 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 evening that Web page fought Paul Daley at Bellator 216. Garry fought James Sheehan at Cage Warriors 101.

They each gained.

Rebound

Joe Pyfer seems to be to rebound from his first UFC foremost 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 Sequence, and it nonetheless feels that approach.

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 might 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 previous, and Waterson is 38. It simply is smart as a result of it’s “Worldwide Battle 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 ought 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 12 months, and due to that, he bought positioned on UFC 303.

He holds an 88 % end price and is likely one of the flashiest fighters in UFC in the mean time.

Largest Favourite Ever?

Whereas Talbott isn’t the most important betting favourite … but — that belongs to Bo Nickal (-2200). However, by combat evening, Talbott might surpass that if cash retains coming in on him. He’s presently a -1600 favourite, by far the most important 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 “Street To UFC” Flyweight finals (he completed Jiniushiyue).

Tsuruya holds an 88 % 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 High 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 increased on the cardboard, the matchmakers know exactly what they’re doing: begin UFC 303 off with a bang.

UFC 303 Battle Chief

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

UFC 303 Battle 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 below are the divisions that shall be on show this Saturday:

One Heavyweight combat
Two Mild Heavyweight fights
One Middleweight combat
One Welterweight combat
Three Featherweight fights
Two Bantamweight fights
One Flyweight
One ladies’s Strawweight
One ladies’s Bantamweight

Beta Canine

In accordance with DraftKings, the “largest” underdog at UFC 303 is Ghemmouri at +900.

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