UFC 303 culmunates international fight week with a rematch for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship with Alex Pereira going up against Jiri Prochazka in a second encounter. This card was supposed to be a bit more special, as it was supposed to be the return of one of the biggest superstars in MMA with Conor McGregor returning to fight Michael Chandler however, McGregor had to pull out due to a toe injury which was said to keep him out of action for atleast another 2 months. However, Poatan got the call to step in and defend his title and he will against a familiar foe in Jiri Prochazka. Also on the card, the co main event features a blockbuster featherweight contest between cult hero Brian Ortega and rising star Diego Lopes. A fight that fans are claiming will be fight of the night. The last fight we will be covering here will be the welterweight bout between Ian Machado Garry and Michael ‘Venom’ Page which has actually intensified through fight week with saying some harsh words about each other in interviews.

Alex Pereira vs Jiri Prochazka 2 – UFC Light Heavyweight Championship – Main Event

Alex Pereria and Jiri Prochazka will step into the octagon once again for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship stepping in on short notice to fill the void of Conor McGregor pulling out of his fight. Jiri and Alex have both fought once since their last meeting with Jiri beating Rakic and Poatan defeating Jamahal Hill both at UFC 300. Both men recieved the news that they were going to fight at the same time, however it was rumoured that they were both going to face each other at UFC 305 in Australia but now that has been moved to one side with both agreeing to fight this weekend. Stylistically, this fight should not be difficult for Pereria or even any different, however, we have information that Poatan is actually stepping into the octagon with two broken toes that have not fully healed yet. This is massive for Jiri as this could negate the movement of Pereria and his ability to throw leg kicks at Jiri.

Prediction – Alex Pereria via TKO

As much as I believe that Jiri Prochazka has a massive chance in this fight, I can’t see him being able to avoid the massive left hook or left uppercut of Alex Pereria. Poatan has shown that he only needs one strike to really hurt his opponent and with Jiri’s awkward style, he is far more likely to get caught by a shot from one of the greatest kickboxers MMA has ever seen. This fight will do wonders for the career and legacy of Alex Pereria as it shows how he can adapt, show up on short notice and how he can perform while being hurt.

Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes – Co Main Event

Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes got the call to face each other in the co main event of UFC 303 to help bolster the card after the main event went through and MMA fans around the world rejounced after the announcement from UFC president Dana White that this fight would be the co main event. Diego Lopes has rapidly become of the fastest rising stars in MMA after having 3 first round TKO’s with his latest coming up against top 15 contender Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300 this April. However, this is a completely different level of fighter and step up in competition as Diego will be going up against “T City” Brian Ortega. Ortega went back to winning ways in his last contest against former title contender Yair Rodriquez getting a classic submission victory in the 3rd round earlier this year. Ortega stepping up for the UFC and winning this fight could grant him one more opportunity at featherweight gold.

Prediction – Brian Ortega via Submission

I believe this is a little too soon, a little too fast for Diego Lopes who I believe will hurt Ortega and pounce into guard where Ortega will use his high level jiu jitsu to get Lopes into a triangle or an armbar and get the finish. Ortega has fought the best of the best fighters in the world and I believe will use the lessons he has learnt from those fights to ensure that he becomes victorious at UFC 303. For Diego Lopes, I think in order to win this fight he needs to stay on the feet. If he hurts Ortega he must only jump on him if he is certain that he will get the finish because even though Lopes is great on the ground, ‘ T City’ is a completely different beast.

Ian ‘Machado’ Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page – Welterweight grudge match

Ian Garry and MVP have both been the “MVPs” of this fight card. They have both shown up during media week and even before with some great heavy trash talk with MVP calling Ian Garry “BBL Garry” and a “Fake Conor McGregor” and with Ian clapping back and saying MVP is a “Bellator Tick.” They have both shown how they are capable of holding their own and promoting their own cards which I’m sure the UFC brass are thrilled that the welterweight division has two big marketable stars in Page and Garry. The fight itself is an interesting one, with Garry and Page having tremendous striking but also completely contrasting styles in their offence and defence approaches with MVP having his hands down and rushing in with bursts while Garry is more of the technical approach. A win for either fighter could have them one fight away from challenging Leon Edwards for the UFC Welterweight championship which we know both desire. MVP has previously stated that a stadium show clash with Edwards in the UK is what he wants as it will show how great UK and British MMA is whereas Garry has some previous personal issues with Edwards as it was said that Ian Garry had been kicked out of the gym in which Edwards trains at so there is a storyline for both in this fight.

Prediction – MVP via KO

This may shock and surprise people, however I believe that Michael “Venom” Page will use them unorthodox bursts and his fightimg style which he learnt at the shootfighters gym and will catch Garry in an exchange. We have seen in Garry’s UFC career that he can get dropped which was the case in his fight against Song Kanan at UFC 285. Garry could use takedowns in order to try and win this fight as he has great ground work due to him being a member of Chute Boxe in Brazil with Charles Oliveira but I believe it will be a stand up fight for the most part and MVP will catch Garry when he is not expecting it. Either way, I think it is going to be a great chess match for the fans at home and in attendance.

Let us know what you think about OUR predictions and who do YOU think is going to come out victorious at UFC 303!