Nate Diaz recently looked back on how his first fight with Conor McGregor came together, and the discussions he had to ensure he was adequately compensated for the short-notice assignment.
Diaz has long been a fan favorite in the sport of mixed martial arts, but his star well and truly grew to astronomical levels when he shared the Octagon with McGregor in Las Vegas at UFC 196 eight years ago.
Diaz answered the call on just 11 days’ notice, replacing the injured Rafael dos Anjos to face the then-featherweight titleholder in a welterweight bout.
Against the odds, the Stockton native handed McGregor his first professional defeat since 2010 and first setback on MMA’s biggest stage, countering the Dubliner’s tired takedown attempt in round two with some brutal ground-and-pound, which set up the shocking rear-naked choke submission finish.
As well as the victory, a Fight of the Night bonus, and a Performance of the Night bonus, Diaz exited T-Mobile Arena with his heftiest pay check to date. But the figure on it was apparently a far cry from what the UFC first proposed…
Diaz Says UFC Tried Offering ‘Pennies’ For McGregor 1
During a recent interview with UFC legend and current ONE Championship titleholder Demetrious Johnson, Diaz looked back on his first showdown with McGregor and discussed the short-notice bout coming together.
When discussing the financial implications that many expect to come with fighting McGregor, Diaz confirmed that UFC 196 marked his highest pay up to that point in his career.
But that was seemingly something he had to work for behind closed doors, outlining the offer originally slid across his desk by the UFC compared to what he ultimately managed to secure.
“At the time, it was (the biggest pay check I’d received). But they were trying to give me pennies for that too,” Diaz said. “I was like, ‘Yeah, right. I know what I’m doing here. I’ve been through it.’ I’d already been into it with the organization about that. So they called me and they were like, ‘Hey, while you’re going to do this, we’re going to give you a million dollars.’ I was like, ‘Hey, you’re gonna give me more than that.’
“So I got like five times more than that because of that. I knew the game by then and I was like, ‘F*ck that,’” Diaz continued. “Remember when I was telling you about how if I fight every two months, I could be rich. That basic math attitude kind of f*cking times 10, times 100, over and over again. So I knew what it was with the whole money in the business and sh*t. I might not be educated but I’m not stupid.”
Both men have had some major paydays since. For Diaz, that’s currently in the realm of boxing.
After fighting out his contract with the UFC in a submission win over Tony Ferguson, the Stockton star went on to share the ring with YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul last August.
Having kept his stock high in defeat against “The Problem Child,” Diaz is next set to revisit his rivalry with Jorge Masvidal, which was forged inside the Octagon at UFC 244 back in 2019.
Although his current focus is on boxing and his match with “Gamebred” this weekend, Diaz has been firm in insisting that the final chapter in his storied feud with McGregor is not yet written.
With their series sat level at one win apiece, a trilogy could be in store down the line.
The lineup for what is expected to be a blockbuster UFC pay-per-view at Las Vegas’ Sphere is expected to come together soon, and it appears one of the first names added to the card is the electrifying Michel Pereira.
The event — originally titled UFC 306 but now set as “Riyadh Season Noche UFC” — will be the promotion’s second celebration of Mexican Independence Day. While the first at T-Mobile Arena was a successful occasion last September, the mixed martial arts leader is looking to go above and beyond this time around.
On September 14, live sporting action will go down inside the Sphere for the very first time. Ever since confirming the venue for the second instalment of Noche UFC, Dana White has promised fireworks in an unforgettable night.
And when it comes to that level of excitement, you could do worse than having Michel Pereira making the walk…
Pereira & ‘Fluffy’ Hernandez Set For Sphere Showcase
The promotion has been tight-lipped thus far when it comes to which athletes will make the walk inside the Sphere, but Pereira appears to have let slip his inclusion.
In a post on Instagram, the #13-ranked middleweight uploaded an image of his in-game character on UFC 5 facing off with the man directly below him on the 185-pound ladder, Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez.
In the caption, “Demolidor” revealed that he’s set to share the Octagon with the fan favorite on September 14.
“HERE WE GOOOO !! September 14th the Sphere Las Vegas will be LIT,” Pereira wrote, translated from Portuguese. “And Carrapato Hernandez is going to meet the Revestrés and Smoke Mix!! Michel Pereira x Anthony Hernandez!! HERE WE GO!!
Pereira (31-11, 2 NC) was most recently in action on home soil at UFC 301, where he thrilled the Rio de Janeiro crowd with a 54-second finish of Ihor Potieria. The result marked the Brazilian’s third straight win since returning to middleweight, with all three equalling just 3 minutes and one second of Octagon time.
Hernandez (12-2, 1 NC), meanwhile, has risen into the top 15 courtesy of five consecutive wins since a loss to Kevin Holland in 2020. That run started with a memorable submission of Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Rodolfo Vieira and most recently saw “Fluffy” force a tap from Roman Kopylov at UFC 298 in Anaheim this past February.
The top fighters confirmed to be in action at UFC 305 on August 17 took to the stage for an on-sale press conference in the event’s host city this week.
Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion will return to Perth next month for the first time since last February. On that occasion, the RAC Arena played host to local favorite Alexander Volkanovski’s competitive lightweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev.
This time around, the venue will mark the location for the long-awaited comeback of another standout from the Oceanic region, former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.
Also on the lineup is a teammate of Adesanya’s in Kai Kara-France. With concussion issues keeping him out of a fight close to home 10 months ago and leaving him without Octagon action since a narrow loss to Amir Albazi last May, “Don’t Blink” will look to reinsert his name into the title conversation at flyweight.
He likely won’t have the backing of the crowd on August 17, however, as he goes up against Perth’s own Steve Erceg. The contest will mark “Astroboy’s” first since falling short of Alexandre Pantoja’s 125-pound gold at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro a couple of months ago.
With Fight Club Pre-Sale starting on Tuesday, the promotion hosted a press conference in Perth, where Du Plessis, Adesanya, Kara-France, and Erceg all had mics in hand.
See below for a full replay of the presser, followed by all the highlights and one of the longest, most intense faceoffs in recent memory between the two UFC 305 headliners.
UFC featherweight contenders Diego Lopes and Movsar Evloev recently exchanged heated words on X, much to the MMA community’s amusement, adding fuel to the already unclear matchmaking situation in the division.
Lopes navigated a tumultuous lead-up to his short-notice fight at UFC 303 last Saturday. Despite the chaos, the highly regarded featherweight contender extended his winning streak, triumphing over Dan Ige, who accepted the bout just a few hours before the showdown.
With Brian Ortega unable to compete, Lopes chose to remain on the card and face Ige, who resides near the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and heroically stepped up when the UFC needed him most.
Lopes had his fair share of success with both striking and grappling throughout the first two rounds of their fight. However, Ige mounted a fierce comeback in the final round, pushing the Brazilian to his limits. Despite this, Lopes secured the victory, with all three judges unanimously scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor.
Following Lopes’ triumph, Evloev took to X to propose a rematch against his former opponent at Noche UFC (UFC 306), slated for September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undefeated Russian’s challenge came out of apparent frustration with Aljamain Sterling’s reluctance to schedule a fight.
“Hey, @Diegolopesmma, I wanna give you a rematch at the Sphere because @funkmasterMMA is running for his life, and this time, I’m gonna finish you.”
Lopes swiftly fired back at Evloev, accusing him of ignoring his previous callout for a rematch.
“Have you finally realized that the way the UFC pays attention to you is by mentioning my name? Or are you afraid that tomorrow morning I’ll be in your place in the rankings? It took you 3 months to get back to me. Sit back and watch the big guys do the work.”
Have you finally realized that the way the UFC pays attention to you is by mentioning my name? Or are you afraid that tomorrow morning I'll be in your place in the rankings? It took you 3 months to get back to me. Sit back and watch the big guys do the work. https://t.co/WeeRx2nNVz
The two fighters first clashed at UFC 288 in May 2023, where Lopes made his promotional debut on less than a week’s notice. Although he was a fresh face up against a top-ranked opponent, Lopes delivered an impressive performance, narrowly losing a decision in a bout that earned Fight of the Night honors.
Following their initial bout, Lopes has been nearly unstoppable in the UFC, amassing a four-fight win streak. In contrast, Evloev has only competed once, securing a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Allen in January.
Only time will tell if this duo gets the chance to settle their score. However, Lopes has already laid down the gauntlet, expressing his desire to either fight with Ortega or challenge former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski at the UFC’s highly anticipated event in September.
UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier has underscored the remarkable transformation within the UFC light heavyweight division, emphasizing the stark contrast between its current state and that of just half a decade ago.
For years, the UFC light heavyweight belt was held by some of the sport’s most iconic figures, such as Jon Jones, Chuck Liddell, and Cormier. However, none of them experienced the rapid ascent within the division like the reigning champion, Alex Pereira.
In just 13 professional MMA bouts and nine UFC appearances, Pereira has crafted an extraordinary legacy. He became the ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions. Remarkably, he is the first to capture titles in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions within a mere two-year span.
With years of fighting experience and his own status as a two-division UFC champion, Cormier possesses an intimate understanding of the fighters and the current dynamics of the 205-pound division.
“DC” observes that the landscape has dramatically shifted in the past five years, especially due to Pereira’s dominance and exceptional striking prowess…
Cormier Highlights Dramatic Change in Current LHW Fighting Styles
During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Chael Sonnen, Cormier delved into the current state of the light heavyweight division, with “Poatan” reigning as champion and his challengers on the horizon.
They discussed Magomed Ankalaev’s recent challenge to Pereira, where the undefeated Dagestani intriguingly promised not to rely on wrestling in their potential title fight.
“DC” pointed out that five or six years ago, the top fighters in the division primarily had wrestling or grappling backgrounds. In contrast, the present-day contenders are increasingly reliant on striking skills.
“Look at this weight class right now, Chael, I see no wrestlers.” Cormier said. “I don’t see any wrestlers all the way to #10. #6 guy in the world is Nikita Krylov.”
The former Olympian further assessed the prospects of dethroning Pereira, considering the challengers’ fighting styles.
“If nobody wrestles this guy, Chael, how long can Alex Pereira reign at top of the division? Because it feels if you’re forced to stand with him and strike with him, you really have no chance.”
Dan Ige stepped in on four hours’ notice to fight Diego Lopes in the co-main event of UFC 303. The fight was a fairly entertaining affair, with Lopes securing the first two and Ige bouncing back in the third.
On June 13, 2024, Ortega vs. Lopes was announced as the co-main event for UFC 303. Just before the weigh-ins, the bout was shifted to lightweight from featherweight.
Things took another turn as Ortega pulled out due to illness on fight night. This is when Ige agreed to fight Lopes at a catchweight of 165 pounds – only he didn’t even know that that was the weight limit for the fight.
Dan Ige Reveals How He Happened To Be On Weight To Fight Diego Lopes At UFC 303
Ige recently appeared on the Michael Bisping YouTube channel and discussed his initial reaction to fighting on four hours’ notice. His first thought was to eat for energy and get hydrated.
“I was in the kitchen, just grabbing things, like what am I doing? What do I do with my hands? I was just like, I gotta eat, I gotta fuel. I’m like, starting to grab things. I’m like, what do I, what do I need? I start hydrating because I was like, if I’m gonna fight, need to be hydrated.”
Amidst these worries, “50k” admits to not even checking the weight mentioned on the contract before signing it. He claims to be more intrigued by the paycheck and the opportunity to do something unprecedented.
“I didn’t even know I had to weigh in Bisping. I didn’t know how this was working. They told me, they’re like, what do you weigh? I was like, I was 164-165 this morning, somewhere along those lines. So, they sent me the contract, it said 165 for the bout agreement, I didn’t read. Only thing I read was numbers because I was like sweet, the money’s in there, we’re good.”
Ige then revealed he wasn’t expecting to weigh in officially for the fight. However, his concerns regarding missing weight and its impact on his purse were cleared as he stepped on the scale at 164.5 lbs.
The new UFC 303 co-main event was announced as soon as the short-notice fighter made weight, and the rest is history.
Hill broke the fight down in a video on his YouTube channel where despite his hunger to avenge his loss and take back the title, he gave lots of credit to his former opponent.
Jamahal Hill Says Alex Pereira Looked Better Than Ever At UFC 303
In his breakdown of the fight, Hill spoke about a few things that he noticed from Pereira that were different to his previous fights inside the UFC.
Heading into this highly anticipated rematch, a lot was said about how Procházka was winning the first fight against “Poatan” until he was caught by his opponent’s lethal left hook.
Hill pointed out how Pereira was able to take control of the fight much earlier on this occasion and dominate the contest until it was over, unlike many of his other fights.
“Great main event, absolutely dominant performance by Alex from start to finish. I believe this is honestly probably the first that I’ve seen where Alex came out and won the fight from start until he got the finish. He didn’t have to come back and, it was still some adversity, Jiří still presented his challenges in it but he adapted and he made good adjustments.”
Having been on the end of an advancing, lunging left hook from the champion in April, Hill analyzed how his former foe made the adjustment in order to land the strike as a counter whilst moving away from his opponent, different to what he did back at UFC 295.
“The adjustment that I seen that Alex made from that was the check hook. More so before, you see him in come like he steps in with that hook and he tries to land it leaning in and throwing his power forward. This time we seen him implement it from more of a defensive and a counteractive manner in this particular fighting sequence.
“The first hook that he landed on Jiří, he hit him and you could see the eyes roll, you could see him get dazed a little bit. From there, he landed another one that kind of wobbled him, that kind of shook the legs a little bit and then he landed the one at the end of the round that put him out, that put him on his back. It’s beautiful adjustments bro, beautiful adjustments. He looked evolved, he looked like he’s taking more steps and getting better as a fighter.”
In a short clip, he appears to wear down his sparring partner early on and from that point on, continues to toy with him and hit him repeatedly, as his opponent stands still against the cage.
With blood coming from his nose, the trained soldier who clearly has no right being in there with Strickland, repeatedly falls to the floor only for the former middleweight champ to tell him to get back up to his feet again.
Sean Strickland putting an absolute beating on a former Navy SEAL in the gym today 😳 pic.twitter.com/EHKDnyGBfv
MMA Fans React To Sean Strickland Putting A Beating On A Navy Seal
MMA fans reacted on social media to the latest video of Strickland beating someone up for seemingly his own enjoyment.
Of course, the sparring partner would have surely known what he was in for given the reputation of the man that he would be standing across the cage from.
Strickland posted on social media before the video was published online where he said that despite his dislike of Navy Seals, the guy earned his respect.
So you guys it finally happened… I sparred a navy seal
But I got to know him after the blood and he's such a great guy. Everything I hate about special forces guys he's not..
You're on of the real ones.. dammit man that wasn't meant for you. Lol!!!!!!
It has been three years since the Stockton original last competed in the UFC and that, in turn, was a comeback from a six-year hiatus.
Before his fight with Robbie Lawler at UFC 266, Diaz was reportedly offered several opponents before the decision was made to run back his first clash with Lawler.
Colby Covington revealed in a recent interview with Submission Radio that he was one of the names in contention for a fight with Diaz – which would have surely been chaotic to say the least.
Colby Covington Says Nick Diaz ‘Ducked’ The Fight But He Has Nothing Bad To Say About Him
During the interview, Covington spoke about how there were talks of him facing off with Diaz back in 2021, with Madison Square Garden as a potential destination.
The former three-time UFC welterweight title challenger said that he understands why the UFC hasn’t attempted to revisit this fight after Diaz turned this option down.
“Unfortunately, he hasn’t been offered to me in about three years. The last time Hunter had called me with Nick Diaz’s name across my desk was when they offered me to him in Madison Square Garden about three years ago so, he turned down the fight, he didn’t want the fight so I think the UFC just knows that they can’t match that up.
“I mean, that’s the biggest mismatch in UFC history to give me a guy like Nick Diaz so it wouldn’t be doing the company any justice to put some guy that’s over the hill and past his prime versus the guy that’s in his prime and the best welterweight on earth right now, Colby Covington.
Covington also said that despite this and some comments that the Diaz brothers have made over the years, he has no hard feelings towards them after this fight didn’t come together.
He said that he even shared a moment with the elder Diaz following one of his fights where the leader of the “Nick Diaz Army” was very complimentary of his skills and career.
Covington states that despite Diaz being “scared” to fight him, he has nothing negative to say about one of MMA’s most iconic siblings.
“He knew at that time that I was the best welterweight on earth. He came up to me one time when I fought, after UFC Sacramento, and he’s like, ‘Yeah you’re the future of this division’ and showed me a lot of respect so I’m not going to put down the Diaz brothers and talk s*** about them.
“They’ve said some things about me but they’ve done great things in this sport and I’m not going to sit down and say anything bad about them but he did dodge the fight. He was scared to fight me and that’s facts, that’s truth.”
After things appeared to be going quiet on that front, the latest update says completely the opposite as things are becoming increasingly severe.
Russian media platform MASH have now reported that Nurmagomedov has had all of his bank accounts seized by the Russian tax authorities.
This is due to him reportedly being in debt which equates to over 3 million US dollars.
Nurmagomedov’s team had denied the claims at first but there is no official statement as yet in response to the latest details.
MMA Fans React To Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Reported Financial Troubles
MMA fans reacted on social media to the newest updates regarding Nurmagomedov’s financial issues with the Russian tax authorities.
The name of the former UFC lightweight champion has also been in the news due to a terrorist being identified as someone that once trained in the same Dagestani gym.
As several replies to the news showed, many were waiting for Conor McGregor’s reaction which surely wouldn’t take long to come through on social media.
Whilst McGregor didn’t say anything on this latest update, he did repost the following video on social media in response.
However, White’s flourishing ties with Turki Alalshikh might open doors for cross-promotion fights in the UFC. After hosting several spectacular boxing and MMA events, Riyadh Season will sponsor the Noche UFC event in The Sphere.
When asked if Riyadh Season could convince him to work with Ngannou again, the UFC CEO said this during the UFC 303 post-press conference:
“I think that, what this guy’s [Alalshikh] done in a short amount of time is pretty incredible. So, we’re obviously talking about lots of different options with this guy. And I respect him, I like him, so, we’ll see what the future holds.”
UFC 306 is the first event in the promotion’s history to have a title partner. With new stakeholders coming into play, Ngannou facing UFC heavyweights like Aspinall and Jones might not be far-fetched.
Why Riyadh Season was roped in as a sponsor of Noche UFC
During the UFC 303 post-press conference posted on TheMacLife YouTube channel, White reiterated that he’s spent over $15 million on producing Noche UFC. The UFC CEO then jokingly claimed this to be the reason behind the new sponsors for the event.
When asked about the factors that led to Riyadh Season becoming the title partner of UFC 306, here’s what he said:
“I spent $17 million on production and it’s not even September yet.”
It is worth noting that Riyadh Season featured massive boxing cards like Fury vs. Ngannou, Joshua vs. Ngannou, and Fury vs. Usyk. In early 2024, the Kingdom Arena also hosted the PFL vs. Bellator Champions event.
While discussing the impact of new sponsors, White admitted to having a good relationship with Turki Alalshikh. He also appreciated the boxing events organized by Riyadh Season.
“I actually respect Sheikh Turki. He’s a nice guy and we have actually formed a relationship over the last couple of months. I respect what he’s done with boxing. He’s the only guy that could ever pull this off. Making these big fights and the fight was good.”
Ian Machado Garry doubles down on his allegations against “MVP”.
The lead up to UFC 303 was chaotic to say the least. The postponement of the main event between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler dominated the headlines in the weeks before International Fight Week, and the carousel of replacement fighters that were drafted into (and subsequently fell back out of) the co-main event slot beggared belief.
The bizarre fight card shake-up continued well into fight day, as Dan Ige was drafted in at the last second to replace Brian Ortega opposite Diego Lopes in scenes never witnessed before in UFC history.
— “The Future” Ian Machado Garry (@iangarryMMA) June 27, 2024
Speaking at the press conference after his unanimous decision victory over ‘MVP’ ‘The Future’ doubled down on the accusations.
“We do all these drug tests, we do all this stuff to go, ‘you’re clean, you’re not doing drugs’…but someone came out here and offered money for my information from my team? Thank God Chute Boxe is f**kin rock solid” said the Irishman. “Thank God Chute Boxe go ‘No’…we shut it down and we locked everything down, nothing went out. We had a blackout on Instagram and stuff and socials”.
‘That’s Filthy And That’s Cheating’ – Garry Doesn’t Let Page Off The Hook
Garry said in the post-fight press conference that he has already reported the allegations to the powers-that-be and also queried whether his opponent may have a history of this kind of behavior – and whether there may be evidence of links to gambling.
“For me, I said to the (Nevada State Athletic) Commission, they were like, ‘Look, there’s no rules against it’. I was like, ‘Well let’s make sure there is, because it’s cheating and it’s dirty and we can’t be doing all this stuff when it comes to testing and making sure the sport’s clean, and then people are being dirty in other regards. So let’s make a rule.
“And also, has anyone ever made money on it? Has there ever been any side bets on it? If you know what I know and I’m putting money on it because we have inside information it’s f**kin dirty…so that’s what I think when I said there should be suspension for life. I believe that if you go check the bank accounts and if you go check the bookies I guarantee there’s been some money won somewhere along the line, and that’s filthy and that’s cheating to me”.
Alex Pereira saved UFC 303 by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the second round with a vicious head kick. He walked out of the Octagon with minimal damage, and fans are already discussing his next fight.
At light heavyweight, Magomed Ankalaev is seemingly the only fighter with a case for a title challenge. However, more fans want “Poatan” to move up a weight class and have a super fight with Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.
Apart from the loss to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has mostly looked invincible in the UFC. Is he really that good or is he yet to be properly tested by a superior grappler? Here’s Henry Cejudo’s two cents on the matter…
Henry Cejudo Expects Alex Pereira To Fight ‘Well-Rounded Wrestler’ Before Taking On Jon Jones
In a recent episode uploaded on the Pound 4 Poundwith Kamaru & Henry, the former UFC champions discussed the UFC 303 main event. “Triple C” congratulated the Brazilian but quickly pointed out how the outcome wasn’t surprising because the fight didn’t go to the ground.
According to Cejudo, Procházka should’ve avoided a battle on the feet as Pereira will always have an edge there. He also thinks that the UFC light heavyweight champion still needs to beat a remarkable wrestler like Ankalaev to prove his well-roundedness.
“It’s not until Alex Pereira really fights somebody like Ankalaev where I’m gonna say, ‘okay, this guy is the…’ is he the real deal? 100 percent but, could he get past a well-rounded wrestler? Someone who’s going to bring in the grappling?”
“Triple C” criticized Pereira’s past opponents in the UFC’s light heavyweight division for trying to strike with him. Like many, he believes that fights with heavyweights Jones and Aspinall will truly test his mettle because of the wrestling.
“The IQ of the light heavyweight division, dude, I think everybody just wants to strike, Kamaru. I think that’s where everything goes wrong.”
Cejudo claims that Pereira hasn’t talked about fighting Jones because it won’t be his ideal matchup. This is also why the former UFC double champ is excited to see Pereira vs. Ankalaev at light heavyweight first.
“Either way, Alex Pereira, he’s not mentioning Jon Jones because I think he knows that Jon Jones has that special sauce, and it’s called wrestling. But that being said, I want to see the fight with Ankalaev.”
The opening betting odds have been released for the matchup many expect to serve as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira’s next title defense, and they’ve certainly split opinion.
Pereira further cemented his grip on the crown at this past weekend’s UFC 303 pay-per-view. “Poatan,” a former two-weight Glory Kickboxing kingpin, headlined International Fight Week on short notice opposite a familiar foe of his in Jiří Procházka.
Like at Madison Square Garden last November, it was Pereira who had his hand raised. On this occasion, however, the finish came in a much more definitive and violent fashion.
As if often the case when a champion keeps ahold of their belt, it didn’t take long for a potential challenger to make their voice heard, with Magomed Ankalaev calling for an opportunity to unseat the Brazilian later this year.
Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia, New York Vegas doesn’t matter anywhere anytime by KO be ready Alex
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) June 30, 2024
Odds were quickly put out by BetOnline.Ag, with Pereira opening as a +210 underdog against Ankalaev’s -250 line.
The Dagestani has long been touted as a future champion by many, and it would appear that his wrestling ability has left the oddsmakers seeing “and new” as a real possibility should the UFC match them together next.
Fans React To Pereira vs. Ankalaev Odds: ‘Is This A Joke?’
Unsurprisingly, the opening odds became a topic of discussion and debate in the MMA community.
Others, however, made note of Ankalaev’s well-rounded game, which is expected to give Pereira the kind of grappling test that he’s yet to experience inside the Octagon.
People saying it's crazy but Alex has yet to fight a grappling/wrestling heavy opponent. Closest you could say would be Jan and he squeaked out a controversial split decision.
UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry was disappointed not to finish a fight within the distance for the third straight time this past weekend.
At Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view, Garry was tasked with opening up the main card in what marked his second Octagon assignment of the year. After getting past Geoff Neal in February, the undefeated Irishman was faced with a tougher striking test in Michael “Venom” Page.
In the lead-up, “The Future” expressed a distinct lack of interest in the fight and vowed to “run through” the Englishman with ease. While he ultimately had his hand raised at T-Mobile Arena, it was far from a walk in the park.
For the Dubliner, he maintained his position close to the top of the division and kept the 0 on his record. But like many fans who were expecting more from the clash, Garry didn’t exit the cage without some frustration…
Garry ‘Irritated’ At Going The Distance With Page
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TPKGBU_R3A
During a backstage interview with Caroline Pearce for TNT Sports, Garry reflected on his performance and result opposite the tricky Page at UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
The former Cage Warriors champion admitted disappointment at his failure to finish “MVP” before the final horn, especially after both Neal and Neil Magny made it the 15-minute distance in his previous two bouts.
“I nearly had the heel hook as well. Look, that for me is just little details on locking up things,” Garry said. “I said to Demian (Maia), ‘Do you know what we need to do now? We need to go every possibility of finish and we need to lock in the minor details; hand position, head position, feet position. We just need to go over it all.’
“And it needs to be the same on the feet. I need to start working on these finishes because no one’s more irritated than me at having a third f**king decision in a row,” Garry continued. “Even though it’s against elite competition, it f*cks me off.”
Having started life on MMA’s biggest stage with three knockouts in his first five outings, Garry will no doubt be hoping to return to those finishing ways moving forward.
And now that he spends most of his time training over at Diego Lima’s Chute Box Academy in São Paulo alongside the likes of the UFC’s all-time most prolific submission artist Charles Oliveira, perhaps the Irishman’s next stoppage will come by way of a choke or hold.
While the aftermath of the June 29 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight title picture to the 170-pound championship conversation.
At UFC 304, set for the newly built Co-op Live in Manchester, England, on July 27, reigning welterweight kingpin Leon Edwards will make the walk for the first time this year, making his third defense of the gold in a rematch against Belal Muhammad.
There will also be title stakes between familiar opponents in the co-headliner, as interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall runs it back with Curtis Blaydes two years on from his devastating knee injury opposite “Razor” just 15 seconds into their UFC Fight Night main event in London.
Pimblett, Mokaev, Allen Set The Stage For Title Headliners At UFC 304
Before Edwards and Aspinall defend their championships on home soil in the main and co-main events, respectively, a number of other high-profile Brits will take to the Octagon looking to make the post of their position on the major card.
That includes up-and-coming lightweight Paddy Pimblett, who gets his toughest test to date in the form of the #15-ranked Bobby Green. After extending his unbeaten UFC record to 5-0 by getting the better of Tony Ferguson, the Liverpool native has the chance to break through into the top 15 against “King,” who most recently outpointed Jim Miller on the milestone UFC 300 card this past April.
Prior to that, Dagestan-born Brit Muhammad Mokaev will look to stake his claim for a first shot at the flyweight gold when he meets former Rizin champion Manel Kape. “The Young Punisher” most recently edged past ex-title challenger Alex Perez at the Apex in March. “Starboy,” meanwhile, hasn’t competed since a victory at UFC 293 in Sydney last September, with a weight miss and injury subsequently scrapping his two scheduled rematches with Matheus Nicolau this year.
Another local favorite will open the main card, with Ipswich native Arnold Allen looking to get back on track. Following a valiant effort in defeat against Max Holloway in Kansas City last April, “Almighty” fell on the wrong side of a tight and debated decision opposite Movsar Evloev at UFC 297 in Toronto, Canada, this past January. To bounce back, Allen must halt the resurgence of striking specialist Giga Chikadze, who most recently returned to winning ways at the expense of Alex Caceres in Singapore last August.
See below for the full UFC 304 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Leon Edwards (C) vs. Belal Muhammad (welterweight championship main event)
Tom Aspinall (C) vs. Curtis Blaydes (interim heavyweight championship co-main event)
Bobby Green vs. Paddy Pimblett (lightweight)
Muhammad Mokaev vs. Manel Kape (flyweight)
Arnold Allen vs. Giga Chikadze (featherweight)
Preliminary Card:
Nathaniel Wood vs. Daniel Pineda (featherweight)
Molly McCann vs. Bruna Brasil (women’s strawweight)
Caolán Loughran vs. Ramon Tavares (bantamweight)
Mick Parkin vs. Łukasz Brzeski (heavyweight)
Early Preliminary Card:
Oban Elliott vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight)
Sam Patterson vs. Kiefer Crosbie (welterweight)
Shauna Bannon vs. Ravena Oliveira (women’s strawweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Marcin Prachnio (light heavyweight)
After answering a short-notice call to face Brian Ortega on the June 29 card following the original co-main event falling through, the Mexican-based Brazilian stepped up once again when “T-City” couldn’t make the featherweight limit last Friday morning.
On fight day, however, Lopes found himself back on the scales, this time to weigh in for a 165-pound catchweight contest against Dan Ige. That came about after Ortega was struck by illness hours before UFC 303.
Lopes ultimately emerged victorious over his late-notice replacement opponent, grinding out a unanimous decision victory across three rounds of action inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
Pre-fight, Lopes had already announced his intention to make the turnaround to fight at the Sphere in September. And having gone above and beyond last week, it would appear that the UFC is unsurprisingly set to grant that wish…
Lopes Calls For Rescheduled Ortega Fight Or Volkanovski Clash At The Sphere
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaXTQaGJF9s
During a backstage media scrum at T-Mobile Arena, Lopes reflected on his tumultuous fight week and victorious performance at UFC 303 while in conversation with reporters.
Responding to a question regarding his next fight from Caroline Pearce of TNT Sports, the Mexican-based Brazilian reiterated his plan to make the walk inside the Sphere for Riyadh Season Noche UFC.
And the surging featherweight also had a couple of opponents in mind…
“I would really love to fight on the Sphere (card). If you think about this, it’s such a special day, Mexican Independence Day weekend. I live in Mexico. It would be amazing to fight,” Lopes said. “They could just basically reschedule the fight against Ortega, I’d love that.
“If that’s not available, I’d love to have a fight against Alexander Volkanovski. I think that would be a great fight as well,” Lopes continued. “I think we need to sit down with the UFC and check what the plans are, but I think it should be somebody in the top five that I should be fighting with.”
When quizzed on the possibility of rescheduling Ortega vs. Lopes for the September 14 event during his post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White noted that the promotion needs to gauge “T-City’s” availability and plans.
Volkanovski, meanwhile, has been taking a break from competition ever since losing the featherweight title in violent fashion against Ilia Topuria in February.
While he’s been firm in stating that the gold will be on the line in his comeback fight, perhaps the allure of the Sphere could tempt the Australian to do battle with one of the division’s fastest-rising names.
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington unsurprisingly had a firm take on rival Ian Garry’s recent success inside the Octagon.
Garry emerged victorious from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past weekend, where he opened the UFC 303 pay-per-view card alongside striking specialist Michael “Venom” Page.
The pair didn’t set the cage alight as some were expecting, with the Irishman instead utilizing his grappling to get the better of “MVP” in rounds one and three to secure a unanimous decision triumph on the scorecards.
In the lead-up, the former Cage Warriors champion expressed absolutely no interest in squaring off with Page at UFC 303, an event at which he’d initially hoped to face Covington as the co-headlining act for Conor McGregor’s return.
“Chaos” publicly dismissed that matchup, branding Garry a “nobody.” And he believes that stance has been vindicated having seen the Dubliner’s efforts on Saturday night…
Covington On Garry’s UFC 303 Performance: ‘That Was Pathetic!’
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Covington provided his thoughts on Garry’s decision win over Page on June 29, which extended his perfect professional record to 15-0.
“Chaos” laughed off mention of that unblemished slate, suggesting that Garry has built it by fighting “bums.” And while insisting that “The Future’s” performance was well below requirement, Covington mentioned UFC CEO Dana White’s take on the UFC 303 main card opener to support his point.
“Fighting cans from the Indian Casinos league, oh, big deal,” Covington said. “Anybody could be 15-0 fighting a bunch of 15 bums. Even Dana White himself said what he thought of the performance. He thought it was a draw. He doesn’t think there should have been a winner.
“I feel bad for the fans. The fans got robbed of a pay-per-view opener. That was pathetic. That guy’s fighting the number 14 guy in the world and barely scraping by,” Covington continued. “I think he lost the fight. I feel bad for the fans. They got robbed. But it just shows how much of a bum he is. … He was willing too do whatever he wanted to get on the Conor McGregor card because his name’s ‘Corner McGregor,’ the Conor McGregor wannabe. He pulled all these strings to get on the Conor card and then Conor left him on the alter. … The guy’s an absolute nobody and he’s a bum.”
Although much of Garry’s focus following his win over Geoff Neal in February was on Covington, it would appear that he’s accepted the sailing of that ship.
Rather than reiterating a desire to face “Chaos” post-UFC 303, the Irishman instead mentioned Shavkat Rakhmonov and Kamaru Usman as desirable next foes. It remains to be seen who Garry will share the cage with next, but after a third straight decision, he’ll no doubt be looking to finish whoever it is inside the distance.
After his win last night @IanGarryMMA is now 15-0 👏
He now has the longest active UFC win streak in the welterweight division with 8 consecutive wins! #UFC303pic.twitter.com/nhReY73m35
It’ll be Oceania vs. Oceania in Oceania when former flyweight title challengers Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg share the Octagon at UFC 305 on August 17.
Topping the lineup this time will be UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus Du Plessis and divisional legend Israel Adesanya. And the Nigerian-New Zealander won’t be the only fighter from that region competing close to home.
As well as the likes of Joshua Culibao and Jack Jenkins, New Zealand’s Kara-France is set to meet Australia’s Erceg in a key bout in the context of the flyweight division.
Kara-France, Erceg Target Bounce-Back Win At UFC 305
When the #4-ranked Kara-France and #9-ranked Erceg throw down in Perth in less than two months’ time, both will be looking for a crucial rebound performance.
Kara-France (24-11, 1 NC) hasn’t been in action since June 2023 when he suffered a narrow main event decision loss to Amir Albazi at the Apex in Las Vegas. The result sent “Don’t Blink” onto the first losing skid of his UFC career, having followed an interim title defeat opposite Brandon Moreno 11 months prior at UFC 277 in Dallas.
If the New Zealander is to taste victory for the first time since his win over Askar Askrav 27 months ago, he must stall the charge of Erceg (12-2) and his pursuit of a rematch with reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja. The Aussie battled “The Cannibal” in the main event of UFC 301 in Brazil this past May, an opportunity that came off the back of three quick wins following his arrival in the promotion.
Despite a valiant attempt in Rio de Janeiro, “AstroBoy” was ultimately unable to unseat the champ. After expressing his desire to bounce back on home soil this August, Erceg has had his wish granted, and he’ll now look to return to the win column at the expense of Kara-France.
While the finish of their first fight back at UFC 295 last November left many dissatisfied and bemoaning the stoppage as early, that was not the case second time around, as “Poatan” brutally knocking “BJP” out with a head kick and follow-up punches on the ground.
As has become a common occurrence whenever he enters the cage, Pereira’s latest triumph once again had fans in the arena and at home on their feet yelling Joe Rogan-esque screams.
But one man’s reaction was a far cry from that…
Adesanya Reacts To Pereira vs. Procházka 2: ‘Damn, That’s Bad’
In a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Adesanya and some of his training partners can be seen reacting to the events that unfolded at the International Fight Week event on June 29.
The Nigerian-New Zealander had a strong connection to the main event, having faced Pereira four times across mixed martial arts and kickboxing, defeating him once by way of KO last April.
Since the pair last faced off, Pereira has flattened his opponents three times with his renowned power. With that, Adesanya was seemingly not at all shocked by Saturday’s finish and remained stoically reclined on his couch as “Poatan” floored his Czech counterpart with a head kick.
“Damn, that is bad. Oh, that is bad,” Adesanya said in the immediate after of the finish. “This card was cursed”
Much has been made about the potential of Pereira and Adesanya competing their MMA trilogy up at light heavyweight down the line.
For now, “The Last Stylebender” has his sights set on regaining the middleweight gold and settling his grudge with another rival in Dricus Du Plessis, whom Adesanya has gone back and forth with for well over a year.
They’re set to headline the upcoming UFC 305 event in Perth, Australia, on August 17.
Despite his unwavering affection for this technique, “The Diamond” is yet to win a fight by this specific method. However, things could have been very different.
The fight had just about everything with both men having their moments in a true battle of wills that eventually went the way of the Louisiana native via unanimous decision.
New details from Hooker himself suggest that Poirier could have got his hand raised even earlier had he and the referee noticed something in the middle of the fight.
Dan Hooker Says Dustin Poirier Choked Him Out With A Guillotine But No One Noticed
In the third round of their incredible clash at the Apex, New Zealand’s Hooker looked to switch up his approach by shooting for a takedown on Poirier.
As he has been known to do, “The Diamond” caught his opponent in a guillotine and looked to wrap up the submission to close the show.
Hooker was able to survive the choke and make his way out after it appeared to be tight, or so it seemed.
On a recent episode of mainevent for Fox Sports, Hooker and Alexander Volkanovski came onto the topic of close calls with submission attempts.
As Volkanovski reflected on his own nail-biting moment against Brian Ortega, his fellow Kiwi shared a never-before-heard story.
“A funny one, in the Poirier fight, he had me in a guillotine and I might have been the first guy that he ever submitted in the guillotine but he just didn’t even realize I was out so I actually woke up.
“It was the third round, I shot for a takedown and he jumped the guillotine and then he must have just run out of steam squeezing because I woke up and I was like, ‘Oh the fight’s still going’, I was like, ‘This is cool’. So he did finish a guillotine, just no one realized.”
UFC bantamweight contender Brady Hiestand has explored the reasons behind the delay in scheduling the Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili fight, asserting that this highly anticipated clash is inevitable.
After securing a dominant unanimous decision win in his rematch against Marlon Vera at UFC 299 this past March, O’Malley initially put forward a champion vs. champion showdown with UFC featherweight kingpin Ilia Topuria. However, the fans appeared to dismiss this proposal, leading “Sugar” to redirect his focus toward a matchup with Dvalishvili.
The Georgian is a logical opponent for the reigning UFC bantamweight champion. “The Machine” boasts an impressive 10-fight win streak and holds the #1 spot in the divisional rankings, firmly establishing himself as a frontrunner for a title opportunity.
Initially opting to remain on the sidelines as his close friend Aljamain Sterling ruled the bantamweight division, the Georgian has shifted his approach. With Sterling’s move to featherweight, Dvalishvili is now actively seeking a fight with O’Malley. He’s even using humorous skits on social media to encourage his prospective opponent to sign the contract.
Rumors swirled that O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili could headline UFC 306 on September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the UFC has yet to officially confirm the matchup for the event.
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, Heistand confidently asserted that the O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili bout is destined to take place.
“It’s for sure gonna happen,” Heistand said. “From them [UFC], not making that fight is Merab becoming the superstar he is and being so funny with everything; now they don’t need O’Malley. I mean, Merab’s the star, too, so making that fight just makes sense. And I think Merab’s going to get that fight; it just depends on when they set it up.”
“Bam Bam” further suggested that O’Malley is hesitant about fighting Dvalishvili and is adamant about leaving no stone unturned in his preparation.
“I think O’Malley is just not ready to fight. I don’t know because I mean, why else haven’t they fought anytime soon? I think O’Malley’s maybe a little scared. I think Merab f**ks him up, honestly.”
UFC 303 has gone through several changes lately. However, as originally planned, Ian Garry vs. Michael ‘Venom’ Page will feature.
Following Conor McGregor’s withdrawal, Garry claims to have lost all interest in fighting Page. This is largely because of the difference in their positions in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Michael Bisping, though, thinks Page has all the tools to shut down Garry’s offence. He also laid down the best-case scenario for the Londoner if he wins at UFC 303…
Bisping Excited To See Edwards vs. ‘Venom’ Page For The UFC Welterweight Title
Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping revealed his UFC 303 picks in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. While talking about the first fight on the main card, “The Count” claimed that Page is better than Garry at his own game.
Looking at the bigger picture, Bisping wants “MVP” and Leon Edwards to fight for the UFC welterweight title. Yet again, it would be an exciting striking matchup and a British fighter will walk out as the champion regardless of who wins.
“There’s my pick, Michael ‘Venom’ Page gets the victory and I’m telling you right now, we might see Leon Edwards vs. Michael Page and all British affair going down In London, the Millennium Stadium, who knows where?”
“The Future” has outclassed most of his UFC opponents with crisp striking and by picking them apart from range. However, Bisping thinks he won’t be able to do it against Page due to the former Bellator standout’s superior range, speed, and power.
“The Count” admitted Garry is the better conventional striker who throws neat combinations. He has more regard for Page’s scary knockout power and timing, though.
The first British UFC champ advised Garry to also rely on his wrestling. But he’s still confident that “MVP” can avoid being controlled on the ground and get back up comfortably.
“The problem is, Kevin Holland is a legitimate black belt in jiu-jitsu, and he got him down. He took his back, had him mounted, and Michael ‘Venom’ Page was able to get back up. So it’s not an easy path to victory but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ian Garry tries that.”
For now, Bisping’s all-British welterweight title fight dream depends on the outcome of Garry vs. Page at UFC 303.
UFC 303 is now only a couple of days away, and what better way to get hyped for the upcoming pay-per-view than with some MMA News staff predictions for the International Fight Week card?
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, June 29, 2024. The main card begins at 10 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 6 PM ET.
Also colliding with little preparation will be former two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega and surging jiu-jitsu specialist Diego Lopes in the co-main event, as well as 205-pound veteran Anthony Smith and ranked middleweight Roman Dolidze.
Elsewhere on the main card, Mayra Bueno Silva will be backing action for the first time since falling short of the bantamweight title at UFC 297 this past January. While she’s tasked with defending her spot on the ladder against Macy Chiasson, it’ll be a similar story for undefeated welterweight Ian Garry, who fights down the pecking order against Michael “Venom” Page in Saturday’s PPV opener.
UFC 303: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 303 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Tyriece Simon, and Andrew Starc have provided their picks for the five-fight main card, which you can see below.
Light Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Alex Pereira (C) vs. Jiří Procházka
Featherweight: Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze
Women’s Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
Welterweight: Ian Garry vs. Michael Page
Welterweight: Ian Garry vs. Michael Page
Ian Garry, Michael Page
Images: Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports & UFC/Zuffa LLC
Kyle Dimond: It’s hard to see this fight being anything other than lots of feints for me personally. While Page is a very good striker at a distance, his biggest weapon is his unorthodox movement and timing in combination with his blitz attack and creative offense. When I picture a few of those happening per round, I think Garry might just be sharp enough to land effectively in these moments as Page comes in.
It’s going to be a very hard fight to call and I think there’s a decent chance of “MVP” landing a shot that ends the fight. If he can’t do that, I think the Irishman edges out a razor-close decision, which seems just ever so slightly more likely. (Prediction: Ian Garry)
Ryan Jarrell: Garry and Page will be Fight of the Night. Mark my words, this one is going to be fun. I know I’m not really going out on a limb here as these guys styles should lead to a back-and-forth standup battle that should be very exciting for as long as it lasts. “Venom” will have a five-inch reach advantage, and if he fights technically, he could put Garry in some very difficult situations. Ultimately, I expect the younger fighter in the Irishman to outlast any early adversity and finish this fight late. (Prediction: Ian Garry)
Thomas Albano: The idea of this matchup seemed to be tossed around with nothing coming out of the potential of Garry vs. Colby Covington bout. On the surface, with Garry’s rise among the ranks and popularity and Page’s popularity from his explosive knockout past, this seems like it would be a barnburner to start off the PPV card. And yet, both could use a noteworthy performance despite coming off wins. Garry hasn’t looked great in his last couple of outings against the likes of Neil Magny and Geoff Neal, while Page’s UFC debut against Kevin Holland proved to be forgettable.
This matchup could go one of two ways. It either ends up being explosive with both men firing off their best shots or it will be slow fight with plenty of clinch work that will end up proving unpopular to the live crowd. Unfortunately, I foresee more of the latter, which the UFC probably isn’t hoping for after all the moving and shaking surrounding this card’s structure. And if the fight goes in that direction, and the longer the might goes on, the more it tips in Garry’s favor. (Prediction: Ian Garry)
Tyriece Simon: This matchup has the potential to be the best fight on the card. Garry and Page have been taking jabs at each other in interviews and on social media, so fans should expect both to be extra motivated to win decisively. That said, I believe Garry will be victorious. The critical factor will be the Irishman attacking the legs of the former Bellator standout early on. I think “The Future” will utilize leg and oblique kicks to slow down the movement of “MVP.”
Another potential issue for Page is that he likes to rush into his opponent with punches. In his fight with Magny, Garry showed he can fight well in the clinch, and I think he can time a body lock when the Brit rushes in. In these moments, the Dubliner could try to fight “Venom” against the cage and possibly look for sweeps to take the fight to the ground, which he has done in past fights. I’m not sure if Garry can finish Page, but I do think he has shown to be more of a diverse fighter to outpoint his opponent on Saturday. (Prediction Ian Garry)
Andrew Starc: This is going to be a tough test for Garry, who’ll need to contend with an opponent who has a longer reach and years of experience. Having earned a unanimous decision against Holland on his UFC debut in March, Page has all the tools to match or eclipse the Irishman in the striking department, and he’s surely a step up in caliber from what “The Future” has faced in the past. I think this will be the fight that ends Garry’s undefeated record. (Prediction: Michael Page)
Consensus: 4-1 Ian Garry
Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
Mayra Bueno Silva, Macy Chiasson
Images: UFC/Zuffa LLC & Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Dimond: Bueno Silva has got some questions to answer in this one. Her vacant title fight against Raquel Pennington last time out was not a particularly inspiring display, which makes me second guess whether she can close the gap on Chiasson. However, if she does, I expect her to have the grappling advantage, so my pick is a second-round submission for “Sheetara.” (Prediction: Mayra Bueno Silva)
Ryan Jarrell: The lone female fight on the main card should be a fun one. But it’s also the fight I am least confident when it comes to picking a winner. I think this one could go either way, to be honest. Chiasson has a large height and reach advantage in the bantamweight bout, but will she be able to utilize it? I’m not so sure she will be able to do so because of how well rounded of a fighter Bueno Silva is. I believe we will see a close fight here, but in the end, give me “Sheetara” to get her hand raised. (Prediction: Mayra Bueno Silva)
Thomas Albano: Bueno Silva started a run upon her return to bantamweight in 2022, winning three straight fights. Things seemed to continue to go that route with a good performance against Holly Holm last year. But that win’s overturning due to a failed drug test – combined with a lackluster outing in a title fight loss (an opportunity she probably didn’t deserve) – has left a bitter taste in the mouths of some in the MMA world.
Chiasson wasn’t on the best of runs either, but the year-and-a-half away from the Octagon she had seemed to do her wonders. She looked great in her return to bantamweight, with her first-round submission of Pannie Kianzad proving to be an eye-catching performance. Chiasson may not have the same glare about her as she did winning The Ultimate Fighter, but she still has plenty of potential. And when you match these two up side by side, it’s pretty clear which is the better all-around fighter. (Prediction: Macy Chiasson)
Tyriece Simon: I think Bueno Silva will be a tough matchup for Chiasson. Although the New Orleans native has a significant height and reach advantage, I don’t believe she can keep her opponent at a distance. “Sheetara’s” striking has continued to improve, as she showed in her fight against Holm. I expect Bueno Silva to pressure Chiasson and try to grapple with her against the cage. If she can consistently get on the inside and use her grappling, the Brazilian should be able to win on the scorecards. However, I believe she will get it done inside the distance with a submission. (Prediction: Mayra Bueno Silva)
Andrew Starc: Chiasson definitely has the height and reach advantage in this one, so she’ll likely have the advantage on the feet. She is coming off a first-round submission win against Kianzad in March, and she’s only been submitted once in her career. However, I think Bueno Silva’s strong grappling could pose problems. She was on a four-fight unbeaten streak prior to losing her championship bout with Pennington in January. I think “Sheetara” will get back in the win column here. (Prediction: Mayra Bueno Silva)
Consensus: 4-1 Mayra Bueno Silva
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze
Anthony Smith, Roman Dolidze
Images: Jim Dedmon/Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Dimond: Where to even start with this pick-and-mix fight. It seems that it has worked out pretty well for Smith, at least on paper I’d say. Dolidze moving back up a weight class on late notice off the back of two losses feels a long way away from the momentum that was behind him after the Jack Hermansson win back in December of 2022. Not to mention, Smith just secured his best win in a long time when he submitted Vitor Petrino in Brazil last month.
I think “Lionheart” might take it. He’s got some losses on his record but I can’t really see either man getting a finish in this fight, and without seeing the Georgian compete at light heavyweight against a top name with a full camp, Smith seems like the safer bet. (Prediction: Anthony Smith)
Ryan Jarrell: Dolidze steps in on short notice to replace Carlos Ulberg and take on Smith. This is a great thing for “Lionheart” and gives him a much better chance of winning in my opinion. But the Georgian is no slouch, so Smith must stay technical and away from the power of his opponent. This is a very important fight for Smith if he hopes to climb back to the top of the division, as a loss to a middleweight moving up on late notice could be damaging. This is a tough fight to pick but I have a hunch that the veteran will get in done and stay a relevant part of the 205-pound roster. (Prediction: Anthony Smith)
Thomas Albano: This matchup is…weird. I still can’t believe we went from Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree to this. Anyway, Smith is trying to prove he still has something left in the tank, and he did that in a big way against Petrino in Brazil last month. He’s now won two of three and is looking to maintain – and elevate – his spot in the top 10 of the light heavyweight rankings. Dolidze, meanwhile, was riding high with a 6-1 Octagon record entering 2023. But back-to-back losses against Marvin Vettori and Nassourdine Imavov have placed a bit of a setback for him at middleweight.
Dolidze may be a grappling world champion, but he could be in for a tougher time trying to focus on that in his gameplan against someone like Smith, who has 15 submission victories in his career. If the Georgian keeps the fight standing, he possesses the power (maybe not so much speed, but I’d still give him the speed edge over Smith) to finish “Lionheart” at a moment’s notice. The question might be where does Dolidze go from here? Is he taking a light heavyweight fight simply because it’s a fight he’s taking on mere days’ notice? Or, if he gets an impressive performance, could he be thinking about a move to 205 pounds? Dolidze did compete at light heavyweight prior to joining the UFC, mind you. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Tyriece Simon: This fight is the hardest on the main card to predict. Both are stepping up to compete on short notice, with Dolidze returning to light heavyweight. It’s important to note that the Georgian is undefeated at 205 pounds with seven wins. I don’t believe readjusting to fighting at light heavyweight will be an issue for him.
“Lionheart” had a great victory over Petrino in his last fight, but I’m still unsure if he can have similar success on Saturday. I think a big factor for me is whether Smith can still endure strikes at this stage of his career against Dolidze, who has knockout power. If the veteran American can use his grappling and sap away at the energy of his opponent, who is fighting on shorter notice, he can win by decision. That said, I think Dolidze will still be undefeated at light heavyweight, and I wouldn’t be shocked if that’s by way of a knockout. (Prediction: Roman Dolidze)
Andrew Starc: It’s hard to see Dolidze overcoming the odds here. Smith’s recent record is patchy, but he’s coming off a submission win against Petrino in May. Dolidze, meanwhile, is stepping up to light heavyweight on eight days’ notice and he’s on a two-fight skid. I think Smith’s experience and grappling nous will get him the win. (Prediction: Anthony Smith)
Consensus: 3-2 Anthony Smith
Featherweight: Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
Brian Ortega, Diego Lopes
Images: Tom Szczerbowski/Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
Kyle Dimond: This has bonus money written all over it and might be the toughest one to call on this main card. Ortega is a bit of a strange case because he always seems to surprise people with how good he actually is purely because he isn’t very active. But at the same time, even in his impressive wins, he tends to take a decent amount of damage, and Lopes is a finisher. The question is whether his fight with Movsar Evloev was a true reflection of where he belongs in this division.
Ortega does seem relatively checked out at this weight class for the time being, so this could be the right fight at the right time for Lopes. I’ve gone back and forth on this one but I am going to back “T-City” via decision. I don’t see it hitting the floor and I think, with his toughness keeping him in the fight, Ortega may have just that bit more in him. (Prediction: Brian Ortega)
Ryan Jarrell: The UFC has to be very excited about the young phenom Lopes, and rightfully so. He is 3-1 thus far in the largest promotion in the world and has faced some stiff competition. Ortega, however, is by far his toughest test to date. I truly believe Lopes will be a title contender at some point down the line, but the time is not now. Give me “T-City” to use his veteran tactics and outpoint the young lion. (Prediction: Brian Ortega)
Thomas Albano: The madness of UFC 303’s shuffling has led to a huge opportunity for Brian Ortega – and an even bigger opportunity for Diego Lopes. Over a year-and-a-half after suffering a shoulder injury against Yair Rodríguez, Ortega returned in a big way by submitting him in spectacular fashion in February. Spectacular is also the word to describe Lopes’ time in the Octagon thus far. Just four fights into the UFC, he’s had a narrow loss to Evloev and highlight finishes of Gavin Tucker, Pat Sabatini, and Sodiq Yusuff.
This should be one of the best fights on the card, even with how quick and sudden it’s come together. It’s a big step up to be taking on a two-time title challenger on less than a month’s notice, but it’s the biggest opportunity of Lopes’ life – and he needs to make the most of it. And the thing is, he has the capability to get it done. “T-City” might be tough to finish with a solid chin, but Lopes possesses some explosive speed and power with his striking. Even on the ground, the up-and-comer could be able to duel in grappling with Ortega with his jiu-jitsu experience. Lopes, in fact, has more wins via submission in his MMA career than he holds KO/TKOs. If he continues his run with the kind of circumstances he’s facing here, one can only imagine the kind of major doors that will open for him. (Prediction: Diego Lopes)
Tyriece Simon: The question coming into this fight is if the UFC is pushing Lopes to the top of the division too soon. He is coming off an incredible knockout win over Yusuff at UFC 300, but Ortega is a big challenge on short notice. “T-City” has continued to evolve on the feet and has a tested chin that has held up against the likes of Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski.
An important key to the fight will be if Lopes wants to engage in grappling with Ortega. The featherweight prospect tends to stay on his back if taken down because he has great jiu-jitsu ability to be a threat. However, the former title challenger is equally capable, and I believe Lopes could find himself on his back for too long, similar to his fight against Evloev. Ultimately, I lean toward Ortega getting the win by decision. (Prediction: Brian Ortega)
Andrew Starc: This is a huge step up in competition for Lopes. Ortega is coming off a submission win against Rodríguez in February, while Lopes has racked up three first-round finishes in the past year. The Mexican-based Brazilian is the bigger man with huge KO power, and both fighters have good grappling. However, I think if “T-City” survives a first-round onslaught from Lopes, his experience will see him get the win. (Prediction: Brian Ortega)
Consensus: 4-1 Brian Ortega
UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Jiří Procházka
Alex Pereira, Jiří Procházka
Images: Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports & UFC/YouTube
Kyle Dimond: My big question going into the first fight was whether the unorthodox movement and angles of Procházka would cause even someone like Pereira some issues. While the Czech star had his moments, the fight was effectively a ticking time bomb due to the leg kicks that he was taking. His movement is one of his biggest weapons but his stance leaves him so open to them.
Procházka is also not the kind of fighter who you can imagine coming in with a game plan of tying “Poatan” up to get the win. With that in mind, despite being a huge fan or “BJP,” it’s hard to see him having much more success than last time unless he lands something big early on before the kicks take their toll. I envision the champ landing a knockout blow in round three. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Ryan Jarrell: With the unreal power that “Poatan” possesses, it is extremely hard to pick against current the champ. I did like what I saw from Procházka in his most recent win over Aleksandar Rakić, but Pereira is a whole different animal. I think we will see a more cautious Czechia native this time around, and he will do a better job of staying away from KO shots. Ultimately, however, I don’t think he will do enough to wrestle the belt away from Alex. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Thomas Albano: Pereira and Procházka have the hearts and spirits of warriors, as evident by the fact the former is now stepping up a second time in about three months to take a main event at a major UFC pay-per-view on short notice – as well as this is the second time these two are competing in a main event when they weren’t originally scheduled to. The sudden nature of this fight, combined with the fact that both men contain destructive power, are excellent kickboxers, and have very similar bodies, makes this one really hard to predict.
With both men having experience against one another, this should be a fight that lasts longer than their last outing. Both men can be technical with their power, looking for openings on their opponents, even from range, and we’ll probably end up seeing a mix of technical striking and brawl-like trading in this bout. While I know many people are rooting for Procházka to gain revenge and the title – and I hope one day he does wear UFC gold again – we’ve seen what “Poatan” can do on short notice before, and that’s why I’m going to side with the champ on this one. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Tyriece Simon: In their 2023 fight, Pereira was able to finish Procházka in the second round. Both had their moments, but the result came down to “BJP” making defensive errors against “Poatan,” and I think it’ll happen again. Although the champion got caught with punches from Procházka, he used his head movement to evade most of them. I also think Pereira hurt his rival early with leg kicks and could implement the same game plan in their rematch.
Procházka had a good game plan in their first fight, as he grappled with Pereira early and took him down. This decision made “Poatan” cautious of getting dragged to the mat, which I think the challenger could do on Saturday. That said, it will take more than that strategy to beat the Brazilian knockout artist. I also believe Pereira may look to throw a knee because Procházka dips his head low when he tries to go for feints to get on the inside. The fight could go either way because both are incredible on the feet, but I think Pereira will retain his title again this Saturday. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Andrew Starc: I can’t see this fight turning out differently from their first encounter. Both fighters have KO power but, in my opinion, Pereira has the better striking. Procházka managed to take down the Brazilian in their last fight, so he could have some success if he can do this again. However, the challenger’s tendency to eat shots to the head is something you can’t do against “Poatan,” and I think he’ll also have trouble with the un-telegraphed leg kicks coming from the champ. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)
Consensus: 5-0 Alex Pereira
That’ll do it for our UFC 303 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the UFC 303 undercard below.
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-André Barriault
Featherweight: Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
Featherweight: Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Strawweight: Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson
Heavyweight: Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday
Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez
Bantamweight: Ricky Simón vs. Vinicius Oliveira
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com tomorrow for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 303!
When Alex Pereira and Jiří Procházka faced each other at UFC 295, Pereira’s light heavyweight title win had a tinge of controversy, with debating ensuing over the legitimacy of the stoppage.
There was no controversy at UFC 303, however.
With both men taking the fight on just a few weeks’ notice, following the collapse of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, Pereira scored a huge knockout to keep the light heavyweight championship in the evening’s main event.
“Poatan” did damage to Procházka’s leg early on before dropping the Czech star right before the end of the first round with a solid left hook.
Procházka was on wobbly legs but continued on into round two. And in just 13 seconds, Pereira dropped him again, this time with a massive head kick, before delivering ground-and-pound until the fight was halted.
Alex Pereira Secures Another Jaw-Dropping Highlight To Retain Light Heavyweight Title At UFC 303
I’ll sleep the next guy and then we go again!!! Great win but we are not done!!!
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) June 30, 2024
We know the formula now. Everyone mistakenly thought the mcgregor draw was funny trash talk. It’s taking fights and knocking people out, that’s it. Just do that over and over. Chama #UFC303
OH. MY. GOODNESS Pereira is superhuman!!!! ITS OVER #UFC303
— Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson (@WonderboyMMA) June 30, 2024
This is the second time since becoming champion that Pereira has defended the light heavyweight title on short notice. He and Jamahal Hill were quickly booked as the UFC 300 main event, with “Poatan” winning that fight via first-round stoppage just a couple of months ago.
Pereira and Procházka’s first fight at UFC 295 had always been booked for that card but was elevated to main event status on short notice following UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones suffering a torn pec.
Pereira teased a move up to heavyweight eventually in his post-fight interview.
