New UFC 303 full lineup revealed after numerous changes to event
There have been a number of changes to UFC 303 over the past couple of weeks but a finalized lineup was revealed just a week out from the event.
Following an injury suffered by Conor McGregor that forced him to drop out of his scheduled return against Michael Chandler, the UFC had to scramble to fill that spot. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill also fell off the card and then the same thing happened to his opponent Carlos Ulberg.
So now, following a flurry of changes, Alex Pereira headlines UFC 303 in a short-notice title defense as he puts his light heavyweight belt up for grabs in a rematch against former champion Jiri Prochazka. In their first encounter at UFC 295, Pereira scored a knockout win to claim the vacant 205-pound title so Prochazka is looking for revenge.
The new co-main event added to the card pits two-time featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega against fast-rising star Diego Lopes.
Also on the card, Anthony Smith, who was originally pulled in as a replacement for Hill, faces Roman Dolidze in a fight at 205 pounds. Dolidze took the fight after an injury forced Ulberg off the card.
Rounding out the main card are the only two original fights scheduled for UFC 303 as recent bantamweight title challenger Mayra Bueno Silva takes on Macy Chiasson, and Ian Machado Garry faces Michael “Venom” Page at welterweight.
Here’s the full card for UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 with the bout order for the prelims still to be determined.
Main Card
Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka
Bran Ortega vs. Diego Lopes
Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze
Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page
Preliminary Card
Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva
Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri
Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson
Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday