UFC will close out June with a blockbuster pay-per-view card headlined by a pivotal light heavyweight championship rematch between Alex Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Jiri Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC). Pereira is fresh off a knockout win over Jamahal Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and comes less than three weeks after the original main event, Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, was postponed due to McGregor's toe injury.
UFC 303: Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 live results and highlights
Pereira and Prochazka had previously fought once before in November 2023 at UFC 295, where Pereira won the then-vacant light heavyweight title. After a close first round, Pereira rocked Prochazka with a few elbows as the Polish fighter went for a takedown, but Prochazka was unable to mount an intelligent defense, and a new era began for the Brazilian at light heavyweight.
The bout will likely happen sooner than expected, but the UFC has few options for a high-profile championship main event fight, making Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 the logical choice.
In the newly scheduled co-main event, Brian Ortega (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who recently revealed his intentions to move up to lightweight after a decade fighting at featherweight, will have his wish come true early Saturday night, as it was announced early Friday morning that his bout against Diego Lopez (24-6 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will take place at 155 pounds as scheduled.
UFC 303 news: Co-main event bout faces major changes on weigh-in day
Ortega is looking to resume winning streak for the first time since March 2018, having ended a two-fight losing streak by defeating former interim featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez (18-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in February.
Meanwhile, Lopez is an up-and-coming fighter who has been thrust into the spotlight since his debut in May 2023, when he suffered his only loss in the Octagon against Movsar Evloev (18-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC). Since that loss, Lopez has reeled off three straight wins, including a TKO win over Sodiq Yusuf (13-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) at UFC 300 in April.
Elsewhere on the card, Anthony Smith (37-19 MMA, 13-9 UFC) will make a surprise move to face Roman Dolidze (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) at light heavyweight, Ian Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) will face Michael Page (22-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a potentially game-changing bout at welterweight, and the women's bantamweight division will try to get into the mix.
Check out the betting odds and fixtures heading into Saturday night.
UFC 303 full fight card predictions: Pereira vs. Prochazka, Lopez vs. Ortega
Ahead of Saturday night, here is all the collateral information and the latest matchups. Odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
• Main Event: Alex Pereira (-148) vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 (+124) – UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
• Co-Main Event: Brian Ortega (+114) vs. Diego Lopez (-135)
• Anthony Smith (+120) vs. Roman Dolidze (-142)
• Mayra Bueno Silva (-105) vs. Macy Chiasson (+115)
• Ian Machado-Garry (-155) vs. Michael Page (+130)
• Joe Peifer (-310) vs. Marc-Andre Barrio (+250)
• Cub Swanson (+180) vs. Andre Fili (-218)
• Charles Jourdan (-118) vs. Jean Silva (-102)
• Peyton Talbot (-1600) vs. Giannis Ghemmouri (+900)
• Michelle Waterson Gomez (+150) vs. Gillian Robertson (-215)
• Andrei Arlovski (+220) vs. Martin Budai (-270)
• Carlos Hernandez (+360) vs. Rei Tsuruta (-470)
• Ricky Simon (-250) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (+205)
Game odds are updated regularly and are subject to change.
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