UFC 303 was all set to be the biggest event of 2024, until last week. Unfortunately, the event has now lost its headliner of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler.
UFC 303 can no longer call upon the promotion's biggest-ever star in 'The Notorious', but despite this, the event could still be a classic. As the centerpiece of international fight week, the promotion has done its best to salvage the event, and they've definitely done a good job.
Here, then, are five reasons why UFC 303 could still be a classic despite losing Conor McGregor.
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#5. Two of the UFC's best prospects are in action on the preliminary card
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Historically, the UFC has often looked to use cards headlined by Conor McGregor to shine a bigger spotlight on some of its fast-rising prospects.
UFC 303 is no different in this sense, despite the loss of 'The Notorious'. In fact, two of the better prospects in the promotion right now are in action on the preliminary card.
Firstly, bantamweight Payton Talbott is set to face Yanis Ghemmouri, and at the top of the prelim card, middleweight Joe Pyfer will face Marc-Andre Barriault. With no disrespect to Ghemmouri or Barriault, Talbott and Pyfer are the men to watch here.
Still only 25 years old, Talbott is currently 8-0 with two of those wins in the octagon. His striking style has drawn comparisons to current bantamweight champ Sean O'Malley, and based on what we've seen so far, his ceiling is remarkably high.
Pyfer, meanwhile, lost to Jack Hermansson in his first headliner earlier this year. That fight was perhaps a step too far for 'Bodybagz', but he's still a charismatic, fast-improving striker who could yet reach the top of the 185-pound division.
Overall, if both Talbott and Pyfer bring their best, either man could steal the show. Their presence definitely makes this event's prelim card worth watching.
#4. Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page is a hugely intriguing fight
One of UFC 303's most intriguing fights is set to open the main card. It's a welterweight battle pitting Ireland against England, as Ian Machado Garry takes on Michael 'Venom' Page.
The fight is a fascinating one for a number of reasons. Firstly, there's an argument that both men will be facing their toughest test to date.
Garry is obviously the more proven of the two in the octagon, with seven straight wins there since debuting in 2021. Thus far, nobody's really been able to get a handle on his smooth, technical striking style, even heavy hitters like Geoff Neal and Neil Magny.
Page, on the other hand, has more experience in MMA thanks to his extensive career in Bellator. He won his octagon debut earlier this year, outpointing Kevin Holland in a slick showing that wasn't quite as exciting as fans would've hoped.
Here, the big question will be how 'The Future' deals with the unorthodox style of 'Venom', but either way, the winner should be propelled into title contention at 170 pounds.
If both men deliver in the way that they're capable of, then, this one should be a fantastic fight to watch.
#3. Carlos Ulberg is still getting a big step up in competition
While all of the focus last week was on the loss of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler from UFC 303, the event also took another hit.
On the same day that McGregor was announced as being out, former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill also withdrew from the card due to injury.
'Sweet Dreams' was set to hand fast-rising star Carlos Ulberg his toughest test to date in what would've been a great co-headliner. Thankfully, though, the promotion were able to salvage things in this instance.
'Black Jag' is now set to remain on the card, and thankfully, he'll still be facing a very tricky test in the form of former title challenger Anthony Smith.
'Lionheart' turned back the challenge of Vitor Petrino in May, cementing himself as the light-heavyweight division's toughest gatekeeper. Whether he'll be able to get past Ulberg, who is riding a six-fight win streak, though, will be another thing entirely.
'Black Jag' won't earn as much with a win over Smith as he would've done had he beaten Hill, but a victory here would still be huge for him and would send him into title contention.
When you also consider that both of these fighters are consummate finishers who rarely go the distance, this should be an awesome fight to watch. It could comfortably headline a Fight Night event, and could definitely help to turn UFC 303 into a great show.
#2. Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes could decide the next top contender at featherweight
With Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler off the card, the UFC clearly knew that they'd need to pull more than one rabbit out of their hat to save next weekend's event.
Thankfully they've done just that, putting together a brand-new featherweight co-headliner that could well decide the next top contender at 145 pounds. The bout pits Brian Ortega against Diego Lopes in a match that should see some outstanding action in all areas. It's also a remarkably tough fight to pick.
Of the two fighters, 'T-City' is obviously the better known quantity. A former two-time title challenger, Ortega is arguably the best submission grappler in the division, and he holds big wins over the likes of Frankie Edgar, Chan Sung Jung and Renato Moicano. Most recently, he submitted former interim champ Yair Rodriguez.
Lopes, meanwhile, burst onto the scene last year by pushing the highly rated Movsar Evloev to his limits. Since then, he's won three in a row, most recently dispatching Sodiq Yusuff via KO in a major victory.
Essentially, neither of these two fighters are likely to back down, and whether the fight stays standing or hits the ground, it's probably going to be fantastic. With the winner potentially earning a title shot, it's a potential show-stealer.
#1. Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka could be an amazing headliner
Given the kind of notice that UFC 303 lost its headliner of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler on, the chances of the promotion finding a good replacement felt slim.
Remarkably, though, they've put together one of the best-sounding late-notice title bouts in a long time.
The headliner will now see light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira rematch the man who he claimed the title at the expense of, former titleholder Jiri Prochazka.
To say there's unfinished business between these two would be an understatement. While there's no personal rivalry, their first meeting definitely had some controversy.
Prochazka appeared to have Pereira hurt, only for 'Poatan' to come back and drop 'BJP'. From there, the Brazilian landed a series of elbows to the head that saw referee Marc Goddard step in.
Whether it was an early stoppage is still a point of contention, but either way, it's safe to say that a rematch is probably a good call - particularly as both men have won since.
Is this fight as big as McGregor vs. Chandler? Obviously not, but it should be just as exciting, and if Pereira can pull a win off, he could be on his way to becoming an all-time great.
If this new headliner delivers as it could do, then, UFC 303 could become a classic.
