UFC 303 explained

UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2
Promotion:Ultimate Fighting Championship
City:Paradise, Nevada, United States
Attendance:18,881[1]
Gate:$15,909,243

UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on June 29, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, United States.[2]

Background

A welterweight bout between former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor and former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion (also a former UFC lightweight title challenger) Michael Chandler was expected to headline the event.[3] The pairing previously coached on against each other.[4] However on June 13, it was announced that McGregor was injured and the pairing would be postponed to a future date.[5]

The new headliner for this event was a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between current champion Alex Pereira (also former UFC Middleweight Champion and former Glory Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Champion) and former champion Jiří Procházka (also the inaugural Rizin Light Heavyweight Champion).[5] They previously met at UFC 295 in November 2023, where Pereira won the vacant title via a second-round TKO.[6]

A light heavyweight bout between former champion Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. was expected to serve as the co-headliner for this event.[7] However, Rountree withdrew from the event after unintentionally ingesting DHEA and contacting Senior Vice President of Anti-doping compliance Jeff Noviztky and UFC Vice President of Anti-doping compliance, Donna Marcolini to inform them of the matter.[8] Rountree was suspended for just two months as it was confirmed he received a tainted supplement.[9] He was replaced by Carlos Ulberg.[10] In turn, Hill pulled out due to injury and was replaced by former title challenger Anthony Smith.[11] [12] Subsequently, for unknown reasons, Ulberg pulled out and was replaced by Roman Dolidze.[13]

A women's strawweight bout between former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson-Gomez and Gillian Robertson was scheduled for UFC 302.[14] However, the bout was postponed to this event for unknown reasons.[15]

A flyweight bout between Cody Durden and Carlos Hernandez was scheduled for the event.[16] However, Durden was pulled from the event for unknown reasons and replaced by Road to UFC Season 2 flyweight winner Rei Tsuruya.[17]

A heavyweight bout between former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski and Martin Buday was expected to take place at UFC Fight Night 242.[18] However, the bout was moved to this event for unknown reasons.[19]

A day before the event, the featherweight co-headliner bout between former UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes was changed to a lightweight bout at the request of Ortega, reportedly due to weight-cutting issues. Lopes was already on weight, weighing at 146.5 when he was notified, and as such had to gain back up to 155 before the weigh ins.[20] Subsequently, on the day of the event, Ortega withdrew from the bout due to an illness. He was replaced by Dan Ige just hours before the bout took place at a catchweight of 165 pounds.[21]

At the weigh-ins, Jean Silva weighed in at 147.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Silva was fined 20 percent of his purse which went to his opponent Charles Jourdain.[22]

Results

[23]

Bonus awards

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[24]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UFC 303 post-event facts: Ian Machado Garry joins exclusive club with 8-0 octagon start. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2024-06-30. 2024-06-30.
  2. Web site: UFC 303, UFC 306 dates and locations announced. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2024-02-25. 2024-02-25.
  3. Web site: Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler finally official for UFC 303. mmafighting.com. Damon Martin. 2024-04-14. 2024-04-14.
  4. Web site: Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler to coach TUF 31, clash later this year. mmafighting.com. Staff. 2023-02-04. 2024-04-14.
  5. Web site: Conor McGregor injured; Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka set as new UFC 303 headliner. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Matthew Wells. 2024-06-13. 2024-06-13.
  6. Web site: Alex Pereira defeats Jiří Procházka by KO to win light heavyweight title at UFC 295. bleacherreport.com. Alex Ballentine. 2023-11-12. 2024-02-18.
  7. News: Jay Anderson. Jamahal Hill books quick return, gets Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 303. cagesidepress.com. 2024-04-19. 2024-05-20.
  8. Web site: Staff. 2024-05-19. Khalil Rountree out of UFC 303 due to banned substance. 2024-05-19. cagesidepress.com.
  9. Web site: UFC: Khalil Rountree failed drug test due to supplement company's mistake, suspension reduced to 2 months. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2024-05-22. 2024-05-22.
  10. Web site: 2024-05-23. With Khalil Rountree out, Carlos Ulberg steps in to face Jamahal Hill at UFC 303. 2024-05-23. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Farah Hannoun.
  11. Web site: UFC 303: Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega added, Anthony Smith replaces Jamahal Hill vs. Carlos Ulberg. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2024-06-13. 2024-06-13.
  12. Web site: Jamahal Hill reveals list of injuries behind UFC 303 withdrawal, vows to 'be back soon'. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn. 2024-06-14. 2024-06-15.
  13. Web site: Roman Dolidze steps in on 8 days’ notice to face Anthony Smith at UFC 303. mmafighting.com. Mike Heck. 2024-06-21. 2024-06-22.
  14. Web site: Jay Anderson. 2024-03-16. Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson booked for UFC 302 in Newark. 2024-03-17. cagesidepress.com.
  15. Web site: Julio Fernando Navas. 2024-04-08. Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson is postponed until UFC 303. 2024-04-09. mmaaldia.com.
  16. Web site: Vipin Raghuwanshi. 2024-03-25. Cody Durden announces UFC 303 bout against Carlos Hernandez. 2024-03-25. itnwwe.com.
  17. Web site: sherdog.com. Flyweight prospect Rei Tsuruya slated to face Carlos Hernandez at UFC 303. 2024-04-12. David Andrew.
  18. Web site: 2024-04-08. Andrei Arlovski books 42nd UFC fight, faces Martin Buday in Las Vegas. 2024-04-08. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King.
  19. Web site: 2024-05-12. Former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski added to Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler card at UFC 303. 2024-05-13. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Mike Bohn.
  20. Web site: Ken Hathaway. UFC 303 weigh-ins video: Brian Ortega, Diego Lopes hit marks for newly agreed-to lightweight co-main. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. 2024-06-28. 2024-06-28.
  21. Web site: Dan Ige replaces Brian Ortega in shocking 11th-hour UFC 303 co-main event change vs. Diego Lopes. mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Nolan King. 2024-06-29. 2024-06-29.
  22. Web site: Alexander K.Lee. 2024-06-28. UFC 303 weigh-in results: Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2 official, co-main has weight class changed. 2024-06-28. mmafighting.com.
  23. Web site: UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2. Ultimate Fighting Championship. 2024-04-16.
  24. Web site: UFC 303 Bonus Report: Alex Pereira one of six fighters to take home $50k. bjpenn.com. Chris Taylor. 2024-06-29. 2024-06-29.

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