UFC 303 underwent so many changes in the last couple of weeks that three of the five main card bouts are entirely new. And in our opinion, the final card is even better. Here are our early Pereira vs Prochazka 2 predictions.
UFC 303: How did we end up with this new card?
Will Conor McGregor ever return to the Octagon? It’s been almost three years since he fought Dustin Poirier for the third time and his bout against Michael Chandler has been in the works for two years. They were supposed to headline UFC 303 but McGregor withdrew after he broke his toe.
He could have easily fought with that minor injury, especially with more than half a month left to heal. Anyhow, the fight was canceled and we have to thank Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka for stepping up and saving yet another card.
Against Poatan, any mistake has grave consequences.@AlexPereiraUFC aims to defend his light heavyweight title at #UFC303 🏹
But this case was far from the last problem that matchmakers had to solve. Also on the main card, we had Jamahal Hill vs Carlos Ulberg. The former champ withdrew from the fight and then the same thing happened with Ulberg.
Anthony Smith originally agreed to face Ulberg on short notice but he will now fight Roman Dolidze, who agreed to step up as well. And finally, matchmakers added an exciting featherweight clash between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes.
And with all these changes, we believe the card is far more exciting. Nobody attracts more attention than Conor McGregor and this return would have broken all viewership records. But in terms of fight quality, this new lineup is far more promising. With this said, let’s look at a few early Pereira vs Prochazka 2 predictions.
UFC 303 Predictions: Top 3 Fights on the Card
Pereira vs Prochazka 2 Prediction
Alex Pereira is already getting recognition as one of the potential all-time greats and he has only fought 12 fights in his career. In MMA that is, we’re not discussing his kickboxing record. But he joined the UFC in 2021 and in eight fights, he became a double champion and will make his second light heavyweight defense.
Everyone knows his aggressive style and unbelievable power. And there is no doubt that he will move up to heavyweight sooner or later. But he is not impossible to beat and if there is a fighter from the active roster that could do it, it is Jiri Prochazka.
There is hardly a more disciplined fighter on the planet than Jiri. He is a modern-day warrior and to him, it is a lifestyle. He earned his second title shot against Pereira after making a comeback with a TKO vs Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300.
Will he win this rematch and the light heavyweight belt for the second time? It is completely possible knowing that both of them will rush forward and look for the early exit. But we believe that Pereira has superhuman strength and we have to side with him for our Pereira vs Prochazka 2 predictions. And it should be a knockout, as usual.
Ortega vs Lopes Prediction
Brian Ortega is back after beating Yair Rodriguez in February and he will face the most exciting rising star at featherweight, Diego Lopes.
Be careful on the ground with T-City 👀@BrianTCity returns to the Octagon Saturday night in the #UFC303 co-main event!
Ortega, who fought for the title against Holloway and Volkanovski in the past, always produces the best fights on his cards. He entered the Octagon 12 times ahead of this bout and earned 7 bonuses. He has knockout power and high-tier wrestling skills. And his chin is almost unbreakable.
But Diego Lopes is an impressive young man. He is 29 years old and has already fought 30 times in his professional career. His record is 24-6, with 10 knockouts and 12 submissions. He may be #14 in the division but he looks more dangerous than most higher-ranked fighters.
But this one will probably not finish with a fast first-round finish like his last three. Brian Ortega has faced the best fighters in featherweight history and gave them a challenge. We prefer to bet on over 2.5 rounds for our Pereira vs Prochazka 2 predictions.
Machado Garry vs Page Prediction
This is a tough matchup. Michael Page is one of the most entertaining fighters you will ever see and his explosive style is hard to decipher. But Machado Garry is the hottest prospect in this division.
The Irishman remains undefeated with 14-0 and is already eyeing that title shot. However, his last couple of performances raised questions and he has to prove his quality here.
Page is a much more suitable opponent for him as ‘Venom’ will not hold back. Ian will have a lot more chances to show his skills here and this bout could easily end up with a Fight of the Night bonus.
On paper, Page is far more experienced and probably more diverse as a fighter too. But Garry is 11 years younger than him and this could be key in this matchup. We have to side with ‘The Future’ for our Pereira vs Prochazka 2 predictions.
Vlad is a former amateur MMA fighter. After a series of injuries, he found a different way to connect with the sport and its fanbase - through writing. He's been covering everything-UFC for over 5 years on various platforms and has been part of the team at NYFights since early 2022.
