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UFC 303 RECAP

UFC 303 Recap

UFC 303 went through a lot of changes leading up to the show - including a crazy one DURING the show. However, at the end of the night, we ended up getting a pretty good night of fights. Let’s take a look at the results…

Main Card

Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka via second-round TKO (0:18) to retain the Light Heavyweight Championship

Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Roman Dolidze def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva via TKO (R2, 1:58) (doctor’s stoppage)

Ian Machado Garry def. Michael Page via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Preliminary Card

Joe Pyfer def. Marc-Andre Barriault via first-round KO (1:25)

Andre Fili def. Cub Swanson via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)

Jean Silva def. Charles Jourdain via second-round KO (1:20)

Payton Talbott def. Yanis Ghemmouri via first-round KO (0:19)

Gillian Robertson def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 30-26)

Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)

Rei Tsuruya def. Carlos Hernandez via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

Vinicius Oliveira def. Ricky Simon via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)

The Prelims

Like tends to happen with UFC Prelims, they did not disappoint. Here’s what stood out to me…

Vinicius Oliveira is a tough man. I seriously thought he broke his leg or injured it badly on Ricky Simon’s check of his kick. Whether he did or didn’t, he continued to fight and went to a decision in a really hard fought, back and forth battle. This was an excellent way to start the night.

It was cool seeing Shinsuke Nakamura corner a UFC fighter (Rei Tsuruya).

Remember when I said it’s always fun to see Andrei Arlovski? Well, this fight didn’t prove that. I’m sorry if anyone who read my preview got excited for the fight. All one of you. None? Who knows? Either way, I’m sorry.

I hope Michelle Waterson-Gomez enjoys retirement. It’s definitely time. Really fun career, though.

If you read my preview, I hope that what I said about Andrei Arlovski was redeemed with what I said about Payton Talbott. What a fucking beast. What a prospect. I can’t wait for his next fight!

Jean Silva and Joe Pyfer had awesome knockouts. And both men were all over the place emotionally afterwards - in different ways. So chaotic. I loved it!

Andre Fili and Cub Swanson were given Fight of the Night. It was a really good one, for sure. It was great to see Cub Swanson have another war. I don’t know how much is left in his tank, but if there’s enough for a few more fights - I won’t mind.

Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page

I know some people didn’t enjoy this fight with two elite strikers going the distance without many strikes being thrown. However, this just goes to show how smart and good Machado Garry is. If you listened to his interviews, before and after the fight, you know that he had a gameplan and he stuck to it perfectly. He truly is a great striker, but so is Page. Therefore, Machado Garry knew that he had to work the ground game a lot more and he was able to do it enough to secure the win. It was a close one. A close one, for sure. However, Machado Garry got the nod and his plan to get to a title shot continues.

Macy Chiasson vs. Mayra Bueno Silva

The finish to this fight was pretty disgusting. Chiasson threw an amazing elbow on the ground that opened up Bueno Silva DEEP. Ugh! It was pretty clear that the doctor was going to stop the fight and he did just that. Sure, he tried to put it in the ref’s hands, but it had to be done. I’ll say this, though - watch Bueno Silva’s face after she got hit. Dana White and others will tell you that she’s tough, but I don’t think she wanted any more of the fight after that elbow. Everything afterwards came off like histrionics. But…who am I to say? 

Roman Dolidze vs. Anthony Smith

Well, the fight that had a ton of changes may result in allowing Roman Dolidze to be ranked in two divisions. Maybe. We’ll see. This was back and forth, but to me - it seemed like Anthony Smith was a bit off. He had a little trouble making weight for the fight and had to deal with changes to the fight. This was not a bad fight, but I felt like it could have had more to it if it didn’t have such a cloud over it.

Diego Lopes vs. Dan Ige

Speaking of changes to fights…yes, you read that right. It was Diego Lopes vs. DAN IGE. Brian Ortega had a weird week. He seemed a little off in interviews. He didn’t make weight. The fight got changed to a catch weight and then he pulled out on Saturday. So…no fight, right? Nope. Dan Ige stepped up big time and became the hero of the card. Give credit to Diego Lopes, though. He said on Friday that he’ll fight anyone, anywhere. He did just that. He didn’t blink at Dan Ige’s offer to step in and was able to pull out the hard fought victory. Honestly, it almost didn’t matter what happened in this fight. Both men came out looking great - both inside and outside of the Octagon. For Lopes, though, this is another impressive win as he continues to climb up the division.

Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 

It’s crazy that Alex Pereira hasn’t been in the UFC for longer because he’s close to reaching legend status. Anything thrown at him, he kills. He laid out Jiri Prochazka, who is so damn tough, for the second time in eight months. Actually, he laid him out twice on Saturday. The first time, Jiri was saved by the bell at the end of the first round. No bell could save him in the second, though. Alex Pereira is lethal and it’s no secret why just about everyone loves him and his fights.

My Picks

I’m still going to count the Lopes/Ige fight since I picked Lopes, haha. With that, I went 8-5, which is not great, but not horrible. 

Overall, I really enjoyed my time watching UFC 303 on Saturday. The Prelims were pretty damn good and the Main Card delivered. Not only did we get a crazy moment with Dan Ige stepping in on four hour notice, but the main event added to the legend that is Alex Pereira.

What did you think? Can you believe what Dan Ige did? What do you think is next for Alex Pereira? Let me know at matt.tenhoeve@gmail.com. I’ll be back later in the week to talk about this week’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter. See you then!