UFC 303 start time, full fight card details | Pereira vs. Prochazka 2

Final Preventing Championship (UFC) is again at it once more, hitting the pay-per-view (PPV) market with UFC 303 dwell later TONIGHT (Sat., June 29, 2024) on ESPN+ PPV from inside T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada. Headlining the occasion will likely be a lightweight heavyweight championship rematch as division king, Alex Pereira, defends his belt towards Jiri Prochazka. Within the co-headlining act, Brian Ortega will face off towards rising star, Diego Lopes, in a ~~featherweight~~ lightweight scrap.

What’s Sizzling:

When speaking about who the current M.V.P. and face of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is, it could be very exhausting to argue towards Alex Pereira. He has headlined Madison Sq. Backyard on two separate events, and when the promotion wanted somebody to headline the historic UFC 300 fight card simply because it appeared Dana White and Co. had been going to come back up brief with their promise to ship, Pereira answered the decision and defended his belt towards Jamahal Hill. And, he was even willing to fight at UFC 301 a couple of weeks later. His companies weren’t wanted then, however they had been wanted to save lots of UFC 303 and Worldwide Combat Week, and “Poatan,” once again answered the call. In three years and 6 fights with the promotion, 4 of these bouts have been title fights, he received titles in two divisions and he’s as entertaining as they arrive. He’s beloved by many, hated by few, and has achieved a lot in such a brief time frame. With one other spectacular win tonight, Pereira will proceed to jot down his personal ticket, money large checks and his legend will solely develop. He actually is the present face of the promotion, no questions requested.

Jiri Prochazka was slowly cementing his personal legacy within the promotion by successful the 205-pound title in simply his third battle contained in the Octagon after submitting Glover Teixeira at UFC 275 (highlights). Sadly, his reign was short-lived after he voluntarily vacated the title on account of an damage. His quest to win it again went up in flames after Pereira knocked him out at UFC 295 (see it here). 5 months later, he bounced again by knocking out Aleksandar Rakic, placing him within the place to get revenge towards Pereira. This battle has all of the makings of an absolute basic as a result of Prochazka will are available motivated and impressed, whereas Pereira is out to up his fame and legacy as among the finest on the planet. A win for Prochazka seemingly units up an prompt trilogy battle, but when Pereira dismisses him yet one more time, his championship desires will likely be placed on maintain for some time. Watch out for those spirits.

What’s Not:

There isn’t an entire lot complain about on the subject of this card, but unlike my colleague, I’m not an enormous fan of Macy Chiasson and Mayra Bueno Silva taking over a predominant card slot. For my cash I might’ve put Cub Swanson and Andre Fili as the principle card opener, put Chiasson and Silva on the undercard, after which bump up Michael Web page vs. Ian Garry to the center of the principle card.

Authentic Card vs. Precise Card:

The Ultimate Fighter Season 31: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler

In fact, the unique headlining bout was alleged to function the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor, who was set to tackle Michael Chandler in a Welterweight bout. After months of anticipation, the bout was axed when “Infamous” suffered a toe injury in coaching camp, delaying his return but once more. Moreover, the co-main occasion additionally underwent a couple of adjustments as the unique battle was alleged to function Jamahal Hill taking up Khalil Rountree. Jr. earlier than Rountree was pulled from the battle for a failed drug check (get all the details here). In consequence, Carlos Ulberg was pegged as Rountree’s alternative. Just a few weeks later, Hill withdrew from the battle with a torn meniscus and changed by Anthony Smith. Per week later, it was Ulberg who withdrew from the fight and changed by Roman Dolidze.

Accidents:

Apart from McGregor’s toe debacle, and Hill’s aforementioned damage, there have been no different fights canceled on account of well being points.

New Blood:

Rei Tsuruya received the Highway to UFC Season 2 finals with a first-round, buzzer beating end, and is now able to make his official Octagon debut towards Carlos Hernandez. Tsuruya is an thrilling prospect as a result of he’s undefeated at 9-0, which incorporates eight stoppages. The 22-year previous will tackle Hernandez, who’s 2-2 underneath the UFC banner and is coming off a knockout loss to surging star, Tatsuro Taira (see it again here).

How The ‘Prelims’ Look:

Headlining the undercard will likely be a middleweight battle between Joe Pyfer and Marc-Andre Barriault, two fighters coming off losses. Pyfer was final seen dropping to Jack Hermansson through unanimous determination, whereas Barriault misplaced a split-decision to Chris Curtis earlier this yr. Each males try to make some noise to shake up the division, and a win right here will get them some newfound confidence shifting ahead.

At 40 years of age. Cub Swanson continues to be combating at a excessive degree, quietly securing a 4-2 document over his final six fights contained in the Octagon. As for Andre Fili, he hasn’t actually executed a lot to face out throughout his time with the promotion, however he has executed sufficient to safe employment. However with a document of 3-5-1 over the past 5 years, he wants to start out doing extra or danger getting reduce. A win over Swanson would look good on his resume. For Swanson, getting one other win will get him nearer to the Prime 15 once more.

Charles Jourdain has been as inconsistent as they arrive, amassing a 6-6-1 document with the promotion. That merely received’t be sufficient if he ever desires to crack the Prime 15. So far as his foe Jean Silva is worried, he hasn’t tasted defeat in six years. At present using a nine-fight win streak, Silva made his debut earlier this yr by knocking out Westin Wilson within the very first spherical (see it again here).

Contender Sequence standout, Payton Talbott, has thus far answered the decision in his first two fights with the promotion, incomes back-to-back stoppages to re-assure everybody that his hype was warranted. He’ll go for fortunate win quantity three contained in the Octagon when he takes on Yanis Ghemmouri, who got here up brief in his UFC debut after getting stopped by William Gomis, snapping his nine-fight win streak.

Longtime veteran and former UFC heavyweight champion, Andre Arlovski, continues to be chugging alongside. The Octagon hasn’t been too sort to him shortly, nevertheless, dropping his final three fights, together with his final win coming two years in the past. If he loses his fourth straight when he faces Martin Buday, who’s coming off a loss to Shamil Gaziev, I wouldn’t be too shocked if he referred to as it a day. Previous to his loss to Gaziev, Buday was on a 12-fight win streak, together with going 4-0 underneath the UFC banner, so he’s greater than able to ruining “Pitbull’s” night time.

Kicking off the occasion is a bantamweight battle between Ricky Simon and Vinicius Oliveira. Simon at present finds himself the proprietor of a two-fight dropping streak, which was preceded by a five-fight win streak. He’s in determined want of a win, however he’ll discover it exhausting to do towards Oliveira, who’s at present on a three-fight win streak.

Who Wants A Win Badly:

Michelle Waterson-Gomez was at one time hoping to grow to be the first-ever UFC “Mom Champ,” a aim that by no means materialized. In actual fact, “The Karate Hottie” was by no means in a position to make it to a UFC title battle, and that goal appears means out of attain at this level in her profession as a result of to say she has struggled can be an understatement. Waterson-Gomez is on a four-fight dropping streak, and has misplaced six of her final seven fights. She’s going to try and earn her first win in 4 years when she takes on Gillian Robertson on the undercard. Robertson is 3-1 in her final 4 fights and is coming off a win over Polyana Viana, knocking her out at UFC 297. If Waterson-Gomez comes up brief, I wouldn’t be too shocked if she calls it a profession. If not, the promotion may very effectively reduce her.

Curiosity Degree: 8.5/10

Within the co-main occasion, Diego Lopes will try and safe the most important win of his younger — but, thrilling — UFC profession. Lopes has shortly grow to be a fan-favorite, and it’s no secret as to why. He’s as entertaining as they come as soon as the cage door slams shut behind him, and he is aware of nothing else however to maneuver ahead. However he’s very calculated, and never sloppy. He’s at present on a three-fight win streak, all first-round stoppages, together with his lone defeat contained in the Octagon coming to No. 5 ranked featherweight, Movsar Evloev. Ortega had trouble making weight, so the battle was agreed upon to happen at 155 kilos — foreshadowing? If Lopes (No. 14) can defeat Ortega, he’ll shoot up the rankings and a title shot might come sooner, relatively than later. At present ranked No. 3, Ortega is coming off an enormous win over Yair Rodriguez (see it again here), snapping his two-fight dropping streak within the course of. If he can cease Lopes’ momentum, he will likely be proper again into the thick of the championship dialog, although his weight points aren’t doing him any favors.

Anthony Smith is adamant no different mild heavyweight wanted to answer the call when he wanted a alternative opponent which, if we’re being sincere, isn’t true for the explanations he thinks. Smith is ranked No. 10 at 205 kilos, however let’s not act like he has been lighting it up contained in the Octagon as of late, going simply 2-3 over his final 5 fights. If fighters are turning him down, it’s as a result of they don’t see him as a prize win to placed on their resume at this level in his profession. Now, “Lionheart” should again all of it up when he battles a middleweight in Roman Dolidze, who’s on a two-fight dropping streak. That mentioned, Dolidze has nothing to lose and every thing to achieve on this battle. He’s “anticipated” to lose on brief discover and shifting up a weight class, but when he places Smith out, his bankroll will increase and will get some newfound confidence shifting ahead. And who is aware of, he might resolve to stay spherical at mild heavyweight.

The battle I’m personally trying ahead to probably the most (aside from the principle occasion) is the welterweight scrap between Michael Web page and Ian Garry. Web page made his profitable UFC debut by schooling Kevin Holland at UFC 299, overcoming the UFC jitters after spending his profession underneath the Bellator MMA banner. As for Garry, he has dubbed himself the following large star after storming out of the UFC gates with seven straight wins to enhance his document to 14-0. If he can defeat Web page, it will likely be an enormous increase to his resume and a Prime 5 rating is all however assured. “Venom” is 8-1 over his final 9 fights, and now that he’s combating with the large boys of UFC, the can-crushing label is slowly beginning to put on off. If he will be the one to silence Garry, he’ll shoot into the Prime 10 and larger and higher fights will come of it. This battle has the potential to steal the present.

Benefit from the fights!

Full UFC 303 Fight Card:

UFC 303 Foremost Occasion On ESPN+ PPV:

205 lbs.: UFC Gentle Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka
~~170 lbs.: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler~~

UFC 303 Foremost Card On ESPN+ PPV (10 p.m. ET):

155 lbs.: Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
205 lbs: Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze (not Carlos Ulberg)
135 lbs.: Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
170 lbs.: Ian Garry vs. Michael Web page

UFC 303 Prelims Card On ESPN/ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET):

185 lbs.: Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
145 lbs.: Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva
135 lbs.: Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri

UFC 303 Early Prelims Card On ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET):

115 lbs.: Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson
265 lbs.: Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday
125 lbs.: Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez
135 lbs.: Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira

*Combat card, bout order and variety of fights stay topic to alter.*

Do not forget that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of your entire UFC 303 fight card proper here, beginning with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches on-line, that are scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET (simulcast on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET), earlier than the pay-per-view (PPV) predominant card begin time at 10 p.m. ET (additionally on ESPN+).

To take a look at the most recent and best UFC 303: “Alex vs. Jiri 2” information and notes you’ll want to hit up our complete occasion archive proper here.

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