Every Fight Cancellation at UFC 303

Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree Jr

After a devastating loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300, Hill would need to find a quick redeeming qin to get back in title contention. The #3 Light Heavyweight contender would be set to face the #8 contender, Khalil Rountree Jr, in the Co-Main Event of UFC 303. On May 19, Rountree would be removed from the event after consuming a banned substance unintentionally. The #11 Light Heavyweight contender, Carlos Ulberg, would step in to replace Rountree and have the opportunity of boosting up the rankings.

Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler

It would be confirmed during the UFC 300 post-fight press conference that McGregor would finally return to face Chandler as fans would just need to wait two months before they see the infamous return of the Irishman. The former UFC two-division champion and the current #6 Lightweight contender would headline UFC 303 in a Welterweight bout. Sadly, McGregor would suffer a broken toe which would give him no choice but to be pulled from the event, leaving Chandler to wait even longer for his anticipating matchup with the Notorious. With two week remaining until the PPV event, Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka would step in to replace the Main Event and have their rematch for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Jamahal Hill vs Carlos Ulberg
At the same time when McGregor vs Chandler had been ruled out, the new Co-Main Event was also looking doubtful. Hill had two tears in his meniscus, sprained his ACL, and an infusion in some joints. It was clear that Dana White and the UFC matchmakers would need to find an opponent for Ulberg and quick as time would be ticking away before UFC 303. Luckily, the #10 Light Heavyweight contender, Anthony Smith would step in to replace his recent training partner. This Light Heavyweight bout would be changed to a Main Card fight, due to the replacements that were being made for this particular fight as Brian Ortgea and Diego Lopes would be the new Co-Main Event on two weeks' short notice.

Anthony Smith vs Carlos Ulberg

Just when you think there would be no more panic on cancelled fights for UFC 303, Ulberg would be pulled from the event for undisclosed reasons as it meant someone would need to step in on less than two weeks' short notice. An unexpected fighter would rise to the occasion as the #10 Middleweight contender, Roman Dolidze, would challenge himself in a different weight class to face one of the most experienced men in the division. The fight would stay on the main card but would be seen as very surprising how the Light Heavyweight bout originally started with Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr to then having three different fight replacements.