The T-Mobile Arena returns to host an MMA event since UFC 300 as plenty of short-noticed fights are prepared for at UFC 303. The Main Event sees a rematch between the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Alex Pereira, and the #1 contender, Jiri Prochazka. In the Co-Main Event, Brian Ortega takes on Brazilian rising star, Diego Lopes, in an anticipating Featherweight matchup. Here is everything you need to know before UFC 303 commences.
TWO. MORE. DAYS. #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/le4sW0J4fe
— UFC (@ufc) June 27, 2024
Early prelims
Ricky Simon vs Vinicius Oliveira (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Simon last fought at UFC Vegas 84 where he would suffer an unanimous decision loss to Mario Bautista which would see him fall away from the Bantamweight rankings. The Oregon-born fighter's last victory came at UFC Elmont, earning a second-round submission win over Jack Shore. Simon is currently on a two-fight losing streak and will be searching for redemption in Las Vegas.
Oliveira made his debut at UFC Vegas 87 with a spectacular third-round knockout win over Bernardo Sopaj. LokDog looks like he has full potential in the UFC with 18 of his 20 MMA victories ending in a finish, 16 of those have ended by KO/TKO. The Brazilian has an opportunity to beat an experienced fighter in the division before having a shot to enter the Bantamweight rankings.
Rei Tsuruya vs Carlos Hernandez (UFC Flyweight Bout) - Tsuruya makes his UFC debut at the T-Mobile Arena after earning a contract in the Road to UFC: Season 2 Finals when he defeated Jiniushiyue by first-round TKO. The Japanese mixed martial artist is undefeated with nine victories, four have ended by submission and another four have ended by KO/TKO. Tsuruya will aim to please and surprise the crowd so he can put the Flyweight division on notice.
Hernandez last fought at UFC Vegas 83 when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Tatsuro Taira. In his four UFC bouts, the Illinois fighter has won two by decision and lost once by TKO and submission. Hernandez will need a victory to recover his recent form of fights as he could redeem himself in his first UFC PPV event.
Andrei Arlovski vs Martin Buday (UFC Heavyweight Bout) - Arlovski has not been victorious in his last three fights, losing his most recent one to Waldo Cortes-Acosta by unanimous decision at UFC Vegas 84. The former UFC Heavyweight Champion is still going strong at 45 years of age, holding the record for the most fights and win in UFC Heavyweight history as well as being second for overall fights and wins in UFC history. A much-needed win is required for The Pitbull as he if wants to retire, he would like to end it on a good note.
Buday was on a 12-fight losing streak before he lost to Shamil Gaziev by second-round TKO at UFC 296. The former Heavyweight contender has finished the majority of his fights by TKO, but has only had one stoppage win in the UFC which ended by submission in the first round at UFC Vegas 78. Badys will be aiming to get back in the win column and regain a spot in the Heavyweight rankings.
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs Gillian Robertson (UFC Women's Strawweight Bout) - Waterson-Gomez has not been victorious since September 2020, when she defeated Angela Hill by split decision, as she currently stands on a four-fight losing streak. The Karate Hottie has faced some of the greatest in the Strawweight division as well as former champions like; Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza. The #14 Strawweight contender is in desperate need to get back to winning ways as it could save her UFC career.
Robertson last fought in her home country of Canada at UFC 297, earning a second-round TKO win over Polyana Viana which would allow her to enter the Strawweight rankings. When triumphant, The Savage rarely leaves it to the scorecards as 11 of Robertson's 13 career wins have ended by stoppage. The #15 contender has the chance to move up one spot in the rankings and maintain her position in the division.
Preliminary card
Payton Talbott vs Yanis Ghemmouri (UFC Bantamweight Bout) - Talbott has fought twice in the UFC so far, winning by third-round submission against Nick Aguirre and second-round TKO against Cameron Saaiman. Currently undefeated, the Nevada-born fighter is looking like the hottest prospect in the UFC, stopping seven of his eight opponents with six wins ending by KO/TKO. A win in his hometown could see Talbott one fight away fron the Bantamweight rankings.
Ghemmouri made his UFC debut in September 2023 when he suffered a third-round TKO loss to William Gomis at UFC Paris. The Desert Warrior was previously on a nine-fight winning streak with his last two wins coming by knockout at MMA promotion, Brave CF. It may look tough on paper, but if the Frenchman can redeem himself and become the first man to defeat Talbott, he may standout to the MMA community.
Charles Jourdain vs Jean Silva (UFC Featherweight Bout) - Jourdain fought at the beginning of the year where he would just come up short from victory, losing by split decision to Sean Woodson at UFC 297. The Canadian is not someone who likes to take fights to the judges as the scorecards are rarely on his side with six losses ending by a decision. Jourdain will try to earn a win in Las Vegas so he can have more wins than losses in the UFC.
Silva made his debut at UFC Vegas 84 with a first-round TKO win over Westin Wilson. The Brazilian is currently on a nine-fight winning streak and is looking unstoppable as he is yet to be finished in MMA whilst triumphantly stopping 11 of his 12 victories by knockout or submission. A big impression in front of the UFC crowd will do the job for Silva as he looks to warn the Featherweight division that a future contender is ready to enter the rankings.
Cub Swanson vs Andre Fili (UFC Featherweight Bout) - Swanson last fought at UFC Vegas 78 when he did enough to earn an unanimous decision win against Hakeem Dawodu. The UFC Featherweight veteran has been with the organisation since November 2011 and has faced the likes of; Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Frankie Edgar, Max Holloway and Brian Ortega. The Californian will aim to begin a winning streak and will look to get a win in front of a proper crowd for the first time since October 2019.
Fili fought at UFC Vegas 86 where he would have a bad start to 2024, losing to Dan Ige by first-round knockout while missing an opportunity to enter the Featherweight rankings. Touchy prefers to stay on the feet when he fights, earning more knockouts than submissions as 10 of his 23 victories have ended by KO/TKO. Fili once again needs to redeem himself and get back in the win column or else he may lose his chance of being a contender in the division.
Joe Pyfer vs Marc-Andre Barriault (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Pyfer headlined his first UFC event in 2024, but it would not have a spectacular ending as he lost by unanimous decision to Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86. Before his loss, Bodybagz was on a five-fight winning streak, defeating four of his opponents by KO/TKO and one by submission. Another stoppage win for Pyfer could see him get another opportunity at entering the Middleweight rankings after he came up short in his last fight.
Barriault fought in his country at UFC 297, but would not be successful as just like Pyfer, he would lose the opportunity to enter the Middleweight rankings after he suffered an split decision loss to Chris Curtis. The Canadian shined in 2023 when he defeated Julian Marquez by TKO at UFC 285 and Eryk Anders by unanimous decision at UFC 289. With 10 KO/TKO wins out of 16 victories, Barriault could make the T-Mobile Arena go crazy if he can stop Pyfer in his tracks.
Main card
Ian Machado Garry vs Michael Page (UFC Welterweight Bout) - Garry last fought at UFC 298, doing enough to convince the judges and earn a split decision win over Geoff Neal. Currently undefeated, The Future has made a big impact in his UFC career with seven wins in the organisation with three of those ending by KO/TKO. The #7 Welterweight contender hopes to be successful at UFC 303 as he may not be far off a title shot against Leon Edwards, depending on the outcome of his fight against MVP.
Page made his long-awaited UFC debut at UFC 299 and did not disappoint, defeating Kevin Holland by unanimous decision to enter the Welterweight rankings. MVP was a big knockout problem at Bellator, earning 11 KO/TKO wins with the MMA promotion as he still looks for his first one in the UFC. The London-born fighter currently stands at #14 in the rankings and a win against Garry will boost him up very close to title contention.
Mayra Bueno Silva vs Macy Chiasson (UFC Women's Bantamweight Bout) - Bueno Silva failed to capture the UFC Women's Bantamweight title in her last fight as she lost by unanimous decision to Raquel Pennington at UFC 297. Sheetara has always been a deadly submission artist, winning seven of her 10 wins by submitting her opponents. The #3 Bantamweight contender looks to get redemption from her title loss and bounce back for another opportunity at UFC Gold.
Chiasson last fought at UFC Vegas 88 where she earned a big win to boost her up the Bantamweight rankings after she defeated Pannie Kiazad by first-round submission. The New Orleans-born mixed martial artist is a threat on both the feet and ground, earning three KO/TKO and submission wins out of her 10 MMA victories. A win for the #7 Bantamweight contender could put Chiasson in title contention depending on the situation of the possible challengers that are next in line of the belt.
Anthony Smith vs Roman Dolidze (UFC Middleweight Bout) - Smith last fought at UFC 301 where he would become victorious in enemy territory, defeating Vitor Petrino by first-round submission. Lionheart rarely sees a fight got to a decision, whether he wins or loses, as he has stopped 34 of 38 conquered opponents. The #10 Light Heavyweight contender looks to begin a winning streak and maintain his contender's spot.
Dolidze has been unsuccessful in his last two fights, losing by majority decision to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Vegas 85 and unanimous decision to Marvin Vettori. The Georgian has never been stopped in his career and has 10 stoppage wins out of 12 victories. The #10 Middleweight contender makes his Light Heavyweight debut and, a win against one of the most experienced Light Heavyweights could see him enter the rankings in shocking fashion.
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes (UFC Featherweight Bout) - Ortega managed to avenge one of his losses in MMA when he defeated Yair Rodriguez by second-round submission at UFC Mexico City. T-City has been one of the most dangerous submission artists in the UFC Featherweight division as half of his victories in MMA have ended by submission. The #3 Featherweight contender will look to keep his position in the rankings as he could get more shot at the 145-pound title.
Lopes has been seen as one of the biggest prospects in the UFC, especially after an incredible first-round knockout win over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300 which allowed him to enter the Featherweight rankings. The Brazilian always looks to finish the fight as he has earned 10 knockouts and 12 submissions out of 24 MMA victories. The #14 contender may be gifted a huge boost up the rankings if he can defeat the two-time UFC Featherweight title challenger.
Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka (UFC Light Heavyweight Title Bout) - Pereira main evented one of the most iconic UFC events, knocking out Jamahal Hill in the first round to keep the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Poatan has only had 12 fights in MMA and in that time; he has become a two-division UFC Champion, earned eight knockouts out of 10 MMA wins, won the UFC Middleweight title after four fights, and won the UFC Light Heavyweight title after two fights. The King of the 205lb division looks to repeat a victory that he got at UFC 295 when he defeated Prochazka by second-round TKO in their first bout.
Prochazka was the featured prelim for UFC 300 as he would defeat Aleksandr Rakic by second-round TKO to get himself back in title contention. Out of 35 MMA fights, BJP has only had five fights in the UFC with four ending gloriously as he knocked out Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 251, knocked out Dominick Reyes at UFC Vegas 25, and submitted Glover Teixeira in the fifth round of UFC 275 to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. The #1 contender has the ultimate opportunity to redeem and avenge his only loss in the UFC as the Czech Republican looks for revenge at UFC 303.
Will it be Repeat or Revenge in the Main Event of UFC 303? What are your predictions?
Written by Charlie Oxtoby
Instagram: charlie_oxtoby
MMA Instagram: undisputed._.mma
Twitter: Charlie_Oxtoby1
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