In a disappointing turn of events, Conor McGregor has been officially ruled out of UFC 303 due to an injury, resulting in his highly anticipated fight against Michael Chandler being canceled. Despite speculation surrounding the fight’s status, the promotion made the decision to move forward without McGregor and Chandler, leaving Chandler completely off the card.
The new main event for UFC 303 will feature Alex Pereira defending his UFC light heavyweight title against former champion Jiri Prochazka in a rematch of their 2023 bout at UFC 295. Pereira had emerged victorious in their previous encounter, winning the vacant light heavyweight title with a second-round TKO. Despite suffering a broken toe in his recent title defense against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Pereira appears to be healthy and ready to compete in what is expected to be a lucrative opportunity for him.
With former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill also forced out of the co-main event due to a knee injury, Carlos Ulberg stepped in to face UFC veteran and former title challenger Anthony Smith. The co-main event slot was filled by a matchup between rising star Diego Lopes and perennial contender Brian Ortega. Ortega, currently ranked No. 3, is taking a significant risk in this fight as a loss could hinder his chances of securing a title shot in the near future.
Despite the setbacks caused by McGregor’s absence, the UFC 303 main card still promises to deliver three solid fights. The promotion faced challenges in finding a suitable replacement for McGregor due to his immense popularity and drawing power. However, they have managed to assemble a card with compelling matchups that should keep fans engaged and entertained on International Fight Week.
In the wake of McGregor’s withdrawal from the event, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler being officially ruled out of UFC 303 due to an injury sustained by McGregor, the attention has now shifted to the new main event featuring Alex Pereira defending his UFC light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka in a rematch of their previous encounter. Prochazka’s victory over Aleksandr Rakic positioned him for a second shot at Pereira as they look to settle the score in what promises to be an exciting rematch.
As the UFC 303 main card takes shape with Pereira vs. Prochazka headlining the event, the co-main event features a matchup between Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega, providing fans with high-stakes fights that could have implications on the respective fighters’ title aspirations. With each fighter looking to make a statement on the big stage, UFC 303 is shaping up to be a must-watch event for fans of the sport.
