UFC 303 will headline the annual International Fight Week on June 29 with Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka running it back for the light heavyweight title on short notice. The two intense stalwarts met for the vacant belt at UFC 295 with Pereira winning the fight by second-round knockout.
The high-profile event was originally scheduled to be headlined by Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler in the former’s return to competition after breaking his leg in 2021. However, the fight was scrapped in mid-June due to an injury from McGregor in training camp and subsequently replaced by Pereira and Prochazka.
UFC 303 Updated Betting Odds
As UFC 303 approaches, preview the current betting odds for each fight according to Fanduel Sportsbook. Game odds and lines refresh periodically and are subject to change.
UFC 303 Main Card (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on ESPN+ PPV)
(C) Alex Pereira (-158) vs. Jiri Prochazka (+124)
Brian Ortega (+122) vs. Diego Lopes (-156)
Anthony Smith (+118) vs. Roman Dolidze (-150)
Mayra Bueno Silva (-104) vs. Macy Chiasson (-122)
Ian Machado Garry (-140) vs. Michael Page (+114)
UFC 303 Preliminary Card (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on ESPN and ESPN+)
Joe Pyfer (-290) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (+215)
Andre Fili (-245) vs. Cub Swanson (+186)
Charles Jourdain (-128) vs. Jean Silva (+100)
Payton Talbott (-2200) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (+870)
UFC 303 Early Prelims (6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+)
Michelle Waterson-Gomez (+144) vs. Gillian Robertson (-186)
Martin Buday (-295) vs. Andrei Arlovski (+220)
Rei Tsuruya (-520) vs. Carlos Hernandez (+350)
Ricky Simón (225) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (+172)
UFC 295: Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 1 Recap
When Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka met for the first time on Nov. 11, 2023, the anticipation could not have caused more tension. The excitement culminated with the fighters’ pre-fight staredown which is still often replayed on social media as one of the most intense moments in MMA history.
Entering the fight, Prochazka had not fought in 17 months since winning the 205-pound title in a back-and-forth war with Pereira’s head coach, Glover Teixeira. The newly-crowned king was scheduled to rematch Teixeira six months after their first fight but a month before the event, it was announced he had suffered a devastating shoulder injury that forced him to relinquish the title.
By the time Prochazka returned to action, Pereira — the former middleweight champion — had moved up to light heavyweight and made himself an immediate contender with a win over Jan Blachowicz. The matchup between two knockout artists had lived up to the hype through two rounds with both men hurting each other before Pereira landed a counter left hook against the fence that floored Prochazka and ultimately led to the finish.
UFC 303: Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 Preview
On June 13, Dana White confirmed the rumors that Conor McGregor was out of his expected return fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303 and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira would headline the event on short notice against Jiri Prochazka. The news of McGregor’s withdrawal was heartbreaking, but fans were immediately excited for the rematch between two beloved action fighters.
With 16 days of preparation, Pereira and Prochazka will meet under vastly different circumstances than their first fight. Both men recently competed on April 13 at UFC 300 and in the second matchup, it will be Pereira entering the fight compromised, announcing that he will be fighting with two broken toes. Ironically, his reported injury is the same that caused McGregor to pull out of the fight.
For a kickboxer like Pereira, broken toes are a much bigger deal than many might assume. Not only will his balance be compromised, but the champion’s kicks may have diminished power and will certainly be less frequent, particularly given it is his right foot. Leg kicks were a key part of Pereira’s game against Prochazka at UFC 295.
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