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UFC 303 PREVIEW

UFC 303 Preview

The UFC returns to PPV and Las Vegas for UFC 303. This card was originally slated to feature the return of Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler. However, McGregor had to pull out due to injury and we are left to wonder if we will ever get that fight. This card has also had its issues with other fights, but in the end - we do have a pretty solid card. I’m not complaining about the final product at all! Let’s take a look at what the UFC will be giving us for UFC 303 on June 29th…

Main Card (10 PM - ESPN+ PPV)
Alex Pereira (Champion) vs. Jiri Prochazka for the Light Heavyweight Championship
Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze
Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page

Preliminary Card (6 PM - ESPN/ESPN+)
Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva
Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson
Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday
Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez
Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira

The Prelims
These early fights feature some fun names and matchups. Let’s take a look at what I’m looking forward to…

Ricky Simon always puts on a show and Vinicius Oliveira is a tough opponent for him. This is a great way to start off the night.

Andrei Arlovski in the third fight of the night against Martin Buday? Sign me up. I know Andrei is at the end of his career, but I will always enjoy it when he steps into the cage.

Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson is a fun fight with Waterson-Gomez trying to put an end to her four fight skid.

Payton Talbott has become must-see-TV. Seriously…do not skip this fight! Payton is an exciting prospect who needs to be watched.

Much like Andrei Arlovski, I know Cub Swanson is nearing the end of his career, but I love watching him fight. Andre Fili has been up and down in his career, but is exciting and super tough. This should be a good scrap.

I believe Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault got bumped up to the featured Prelim, which will be fun. Pyfer is a super tough puncher and seems more pissed off than usual after his loss to Jack Hermansson in February.

Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page

A little over a year ago, Machado Garry laid out his plan - two in the Top 15, two in the Top 10, two in the Top 5, and a title shot. Dana White loved it. A lot of fans loved it. And he’s mostly stuck to it. Sure - a lot of fans have soured on him with some of his antics and whatnot. He was quite brazen for a while, but he seems to have his head back on his shoulders. Michael Page is not, rankings-wise, part of Machado Garry’s plan. However, Page is only ranked at #14 due to being new to the UFC. He’s a tough opponent with a world of high level experience outside of the UFC. While he didn’t overly impress in his UFC debut, everyone knows what he is capable of. With a big win, he ruins Machado Garry’s plan. However, it’ll be tough to take that zero away from Machado Garry’s record. This could be a hell of a fight.

Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze

How did we get to this fight? This was supposed to be Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Roundtree. Roundtree got suspended and was replaced by Carlos Ulberg. Jamahal Hill had to pull out and was replaced by Anthony Smith. After that, Carlos Ulberg was pulled and Roman Dolidze stepped in. Fun! Roman Dolidze steps in with a motivation to end his two fight skid, while Anthony Smith is just having fun late in his career. He got a big win over Vitor Petrino the last time in, proving that no one should count him out just yet. This will be a fun fight, for sure.

Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson

Bueno Silva hasn’t had an easy 365 days. She got her big win over Holly Holm overturned due to a failed test and then lost to Raquel Pennington in a title fight. She is hoping to get back on track over Macy Chiasson, who has some big wins to her name despite going 4-3 in her last seven fights. This will be a scrappy one with the winner getting a favorable look in the Women’s Bantamweight Division.

Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes

I am super excited for this one! Brian Ortega is back on track after his big win over Yair Rodriguez. He seems re-focused and ready to do some damage at the top of the Featherweight Division. However, Diego Lopes is coming in super hot. Lopes has taken the UFC by storm since filling in as a late replacement against Movsar Evloev last April. Even though he lost that fight (with some disagreeing that he actually did lose), he got another look and is 3-0 since and now ranked #14 in the division. With a win here, Lopes can leapfrog quite a bit of names and become an immediate contender. There is a lot at stake in this fight. I can’t wait!

Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka

The rematch! In November, Alex Perreira got a huge win over Jiri Prochazka in his Light Heavyweight debut. It was for the vacant title and both men were out to prove something. Alex was trying to claim a belt in his second division. Jiri was trying to make a big comeback. It was a heck of a fight and they are doing it again on Saturday as a replacement fight for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler. But this isn’t any normal replacement fight, this is a motherfucking BANGER! Since the first fight, both men have proved that they deserve to be at the top of the division. Alex defended his title in grand style against Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka had a crazy win over Aleksandar Rakic. The questions and cobwebs are cleared. Both men want the title. Both men deserve the spotlight. And the fans…? We get to see two monsters go to war. It’s going to be a good one! Don’t miss it!

My Picks
Alex Pereira
Diego Lopes
Mayra Bueno Silva
Anthony Smith
Ian Machado Garry
Charles Jourdain
Joe Pyfer
Cub Swanson
Payton Talbott
Gillian Robertson
Martin Buday
Rei Tsuruya
Ricky Simon

The more I look at this card, the more excited I get. I know the card has changed from the original plan, but I think we actually got a pretty damn good result. I am really looking forward to it.

How about you? Who do you have winning in the main event? Do you think Diego Lopes will continue his crazy run? What about Ian Machado Garry? Let me know what you think at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com. I’ll be back next week to talk about the busy MMA weekend ahead of us. See you then!