The main event of UFC 303 will be a light heavyweight championship rematch. Alex Pereira and Jiri ProchazkaPereira will be looking to improve to 2-0 when he faces Prochazka, while the former champion will be looking to avenge his TKO loss.
The card, which will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, was originally scheduled for release on Conor McGregor Against Michael ChandlerMcGregor has been out since July 2021 with a broken ankle. Dustin PoirierThe match was cancelled due to a leg injury.
Featherweight title contender Brian Ortega and Diego Lopez The two Jiu-Jitsu specialists will square off in what should be an exciting battle in the co-main event.
The remainder of the UFC 303 main card is Anthony Smith versus Roman Dolidze and Mayra Bueno Silva versus Macy Chiasson and Ian Machado Garry versus Michael “Venom” Page.
The preliminary card for UFC 303 features some great matchups to set up the main card action, and here are five fights you won't want to miss.
Joe Peifer vs. Marc-Andre Barrio
Pifer is coming off his first UFC loss against No. 9-ranked middleweight Jack Hermansson. All three of Pifer's wins at UFC have come against tough opponents. Abdul Razak Alhassan, Gerald Meerschaert and Allen AmedovskyThe hard-hitting Pifer will be looking to earn another spot in Top 15 action when he takes on Barrio.
Barrio brings a tenacious, workmanlike style to the middleweight division that wears down opponents in under 15 minutes. “Powerbar” is a tough opponent for anyone to handle. He Erik Anders, Julian Marquez and Jordan Wrightall of them have the ability to finish. Barrio finished two of them, Abu Azaitar It was his first official UFC win.
Barriault will be a good indicator of where Pifer stands after his first loss at UFC, and the winner could easily qualify for another Top 15 showdown, making this fight an important one for both fighters.
Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
Longtime UFC veterans Swanson and Fili will face off in a fast-paced featherweight bout. Swanson, 25, and Fili, 22, have a combined 47 UFC bouts between them.
The 40-year-old Swanson has faced some killer fights in the UFC and has faced some legendary fighters such as: Charles Oliveira, Dustin Poirier, Max Hollowayand Frankie Edgar He beat Oliveira and Poirier. Even toward the end of his career, Swanson turned down promising fighters, including: Hakim Daoudu and Kron GracieHe was nominated for Fight of the Year. Choi Du-ho That was seven and a half years ago, and even then people saw this as a battle of old versus new. Swanson has proven his longevity time and time again.
Still, the 34-year-old has stepped into the Octagon just three fewer times than “Killer Cub.” His record includes: Lucas Almeida, Bill Algeo, Charles Jourdan, Denis Bermudez, Artyom Lobov, Hacran Diazand Gabriel Benitez.
Swanson has a resume filled with big-name players, but Fili is six years younger than Swanson.
Charles Jourdan vs. Jean Silva
Jardin, a veteran of 13 UFC fights, will face Silva in what will be his second UFC appearance in a format very similar to Simon vs Oliveira below. UFC feels they have something in Silva and are rushing to match him up against a tough veteran who can finish the fight anywhere.
Silva wins by TKO The Westin Wilson He won his UFC debut in the first round and rose to fame with his overwhelming strength.
Jordan saw fighters of many styles over his 23-fight pro career. “Air” Jordan defeated: Ricardo Lamas, Rand Vannata and Kron Gracie And confronted Sean Woodson, Nathaniel Wood, Shane Burgos and Julian Elosa.
Jordaan has won all but two of his 15 pro fights, while Silva has won all but one of his 12 by knockout. This featherweight bout should be highly entertaining, especially if it ends up being decided standing up.
Peyton Talbot vs. Giannis Ghemmouri
Aside from top-10 welterweight Ian Machado Garry, Talbot is the most intriguing blue chip prospect on the card. The 8-0 bantamweight will face France's Gemme Mori. Talbot won by rear-naked choke in his UFC debut. Nick Aguirre He also defeated a top contender by TKO. Cameron Syman.
Talbot has finished all but one of his wins. Gemmori is a well-rounded fighter with three wins by T/KO, four by submission and five by decision. However, Talbot enters the fight as the overwhelming favorite to win and is expected to defeat Gemmori, who will be looking to disrupt Talbot.
This match will be worth watching to see if Talbot continues to hone his skills or if Gemmori can turn things around.
Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira
The bout, scheduled to open UFC 303, will be a big event for fans, as Simon will be looking to end a two-fight losing streak against the up-and-coming Oliveira. Bernardo Sopay After Oliveira landed a flying knee in his UFC debut, UFC seems to have high hopes for him, pitting him against Simon, a 12-fight veteran in the Octagon, in just his second bout.
Simon has fought some of the best in the bantamweight division. Merab Dvalishvili, Jack Shore, Rafael Assunção, Brian Kelleher, Ray Borg, Rani Yahya and Montel JacksonHere are some examples:
Simon is a well-rounded fighter who pushes the pace while Oliveira has won 16 of his 20 fights by way of T/KO. Simon has the advantage in experience while Oliveira is dangerous in the stand-up, making this a very intriguing matchup of styles. Simon has a lot to lose in this fight and Oliveira has everything to gain.
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