UFC 303 recap - Alex Pereira stops Jiri Prochazka in round 2 again, Ian Machado Garry edges Michael Page on points
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Updated 30/06/2024 at 07:09 GMT+1
Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka topped the bill at UFC 303 from Las Vegas in a rematch for the UFC light heavyweight title. This fight went the same way as the first one with Pereira securing a dramatic victory. Brit Michael 'Venom' Page was beaten on points by Ireland's Ian Machado Garry. The stacked card also saw Dan Ige put on a brave performance on four hours notice in losing to Diego Lopes.
'On top of the MMA world!' - Pereira clinches stunning knockout over Prochazka
Thanks for following the action with us tonight
Much of the main card felt a little lacklustre but how the main event made up for it!
Join us again for UFC 304 from Manchester, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Pereira: 'Heavyweight is in my future'
Pereira is certainly interested in becoming the first three-weight UFC champion after winning the middleweight and light-heavyweight crowns.
"The fans have a lot of say in this," Pereira said. "If that's what they want it will be inevitable.
"Heavyweight is in my future."
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'It's in my future' - Pereira aiming to be three-division champion
Pereira stops Prochazka in Round 2
Immediately Pereira landed a huge switch kick putting Prochazka down and a flurry of ensuing shots on the ground saw the referee jump in.
Pereira-Prochazka: Round 1
Saved by the bell! Pereira dominated the round with his strikes and right on the buzzer landed a huge left hook which put Prochazka down and with another couple of seconds the fight would have surely ended.
Pereira-Prochazka: Staredown is intense
As if the tension ahead of this fight was not enough. Neither man blinked until Bruce Buffer spoke.
The main event is next...
Watch it with us on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
Lopes wins an unanimous points decision
He wins on all three cards 29-28. Clearly the first two rounds for Lopes and the last for Ige.
Ige-Lopes: Round 3
Ige came out swinging in the third round and landed a big straight right hand which might have been the best of the contest. Lopes hurt Ige with a leg kick and then took his opponent down but it was Lopes who was visibly tiring. He landed body shots and followd up with big left hands. In desperation Lopes went for a takedownbut though Ige got out, he looked to ground and pound where Lopes found it easier to defend from within the grasp. Ige's round but too little, too late.
Ige-Lopes: Round 2
Lopes with control both standing up and on the mat after he took position on his back and maintained a body triangle for the rest of the round though had to take some hard punches from Ige as well.
Ige-Lopes: Round 1
Lopes the busier fighter with leg kicks and swinging hooks and though Ige's defence was fairly tight, the Brazilian landed more shots. Lopes locked in a guillotine in the last 30 seconds which Ige broke just before the buzzer.
Ige-Lopes next...
A late replacement for Diego Lopes (24-6) as he takes on Dan Ige (14-7), who steps in for Brian Ortega after the latter was not medically cleared to fight.
UFC 303: What TV channel is the main event on?
Live coverage from Las Vegas is on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. The fights can also be watched on UFC Fight Pass.
Dolidze wins unanimous decision!
The judges scored the fight 30-27 and 29-28 (twice) in favour of the Georgian.
Smith-Dolidze: Round 3
A messy round with both fighters clearly fatigued. The crowd booed at the end. A difficult round to score, but surely Dolidze has taken this underwhelming contest.
Smith-Dolidze: Round 2
Dolidze lands a strong left hand and following up forces Smith to the ground and pounds on the American and though he was not overly hurt, Dolidze kept position on his back. In the last 30 seconds Smith got up and chased Dolidze but was caught by a left hand which had him wobbling.
Smith-Dolidze: Round 1
Smith was on the offensive throughout and was successful slowing Dolidze down with leg kicks, but the Georgian also landed his own kicks and was by far the more effective striking, with a left hook in close the punch of the round.
Light-heavyweights up next...
Anthony Smith (38-19) takes on Georgian Roman Dolidze (12-3).
Chiasson wins by TKO as cut ends fight
Chiasson produced an early takedown and a nasty elbow then produced a massive cut above the Brazilian's right eye which ultimately led the doctor and the referee to decide to stop the contest.
Bueno Silva-Chiasson: Round 1
Bueno Silva chased Chiasson around and when she landed in close, her strikes had much greater effect, with knees in close also making Chiasson wince. The Brazilian is open to taking shots herself though.
Bueno Silva-Chiasson up next
'Sheetara' Mayra Bueno Silva (10-3-1) is taking on Macy Chiasson (10-3).
Garry: I'm coming for the world title
"The future is inevitable and I'm coming for this belt," Garry said.
"I'm coming for the world title.
"Patience was the key to victory."
Garry wins a unanimous decision!
He won on all three scorecards 29-28.
Garry-Page: Round 3
A round where Garry got a body triangle but was on the bottom position. Garry then had position on Page's back, although he was off the ground and not putting great pressure on.
Garry-Page: Round 2
Page landed a huge right hand in the opening seconds which got Garry's attention. Another jab and couple of overhand right followed. Garry then had control against the Octagon before taking Page down and holding a leg lock. Back on the feet Page dominated with a couple of big right hands which probably sees him edge the round, so we go into the third with it all to play for.
Garry-Page: Round 1
Machado Garry caught an attempted kick and took Page down to the mat and had control by the Octagon. He locked in a choke hold which looked like it would end the contest but Page managed to survive despite being held in a body triangle for nearly four minutes.
Garry comes out to Layla and a stream of boos
Ian Machado Garry is the 7th-ranked middleweight, while Page is #14.
No Undertaker outfit this time for Page
He dances on his way to the Octagon exchanging fives with fans, encouraging the MVP chants and then puts sunglasses on as James Brown kicks in.
Machado Garry is the narrow favourite
Page (22-2) certainly feels if the fight was not in the UFC he would be the favourite, but Garry comes into the bout with his unbeaten record (14-0) and the confidence that comes with this. He feels he is quicker than Page, which is certainly questionable. Page is certainly the more elusive.
UFC 303: What TV channel is the main event on?
Live coverage from the Las Vegas is on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+. The fights can also be watched on UFC Fight Pass.
The Main Card is about to start - with Garry-Page
Watch it with us on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
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Pyfer: 'Paul Craig come see me'
"I aint scared of anyone, John Pyfer only needs one baby," he said on TNT Sports. "All you haters who expected to me to lose. I came from nothing.
"Paul Craig, come see me in the fall."
Pyfer knocks out Barriault in Round 1
We have had some crazy knockouts tonight already and here was another. A right hand around the guard on the temple could be heard around the arena and then a combination of shots to body and then right hand sent Barriault on his way to the floor, with another shot ensuring a face-first fall to the mat.
Big prospect Joe Pyfer up next...
Contender star Pyfer (12-3) takes on Canadian 'Powerbar' Marc-Andre Barriault (16-7).
Dan Ige replaces Ortega in co-main event!
Brian Ortega had a temperature of 103 and had to be replaced. Incredibly Ige who was due to fight in three weeks stepped up to take the fight against Diego Lopes.
Fili wins split decision on points!
He was given the decision 29-28 on two cards, with one 29-28 the other. The second round might be the round there was conjecture about. Fili clearly won the first and Swanson took the third.
Swanson-Fili: Round 3
Fili landed a good one-two early in the round but two right hands were felt by him. Swanson over-extended himself and was taken down by Fili. As the round went on Swanson landed more and importantly for the judges looked the more aggressive. A right hand in the last minute hurt Fili, who then looked to hold his opponent against the Octagon. Two right hands on the buzzer ensured Swanson took the last.
Swanson-Fili: Round 2
Fili took Swanson down early in the round and there was little action for the first half of the round as he then locked in a hold by the Octagon. Swanson caught Fili with a big right hand and tried to throw his opponent down but once more the action was locked up. Swanson continued to hint but Fili landed three good shots near the end of the round.
Swanson-Fili: Round 1
Swanson walked down his opponent for most of the round but was caught by kicks and shots, with a right hand putting the King Cub down near the end. In between Swanson landed some big shots in close, but the round was Fili's.
Swanson-Fili next
Another featherweight contest, this one between two battle-worn veterans in Cub Swanson (29-13) and Andrew 'Touchy' Fili (23-11).
Silva: I'm the most dangerous
"I think I'm the most dangerous," Silva said on TNT Sports. "No one has worked as hard as I have to get here."
Silva KO's Jourdain in Round 2!
A remarkable one-punch knockout with an uppercut and the referee jumps straight in. Jourdain had never been stopped before.
Jourdain-Silva: Round 1
A strange round. Silva twice slapped hands with Jourdain when he missed with attempted high kicks. Then Silva knocked Jourdain down with a left hook and then after a couple of punches invited him back up. More hard shots followed and nasty elbows followed, but Jourdain did take down Silva in the final moments.
Featherweight action next...
Canada's Charles Jourdain (15-7-1) takes on Jean Silva (12-2) of Brazil.
Talbott calls out Adrian Yanez
"That's electric, I'm living my dream," Talbott said on TNT Sports.
Asked who he wanted next, Talbott said: Adrian Yanez, let's see if you belong in the top 20.
"I think I belong there."
Talbott stops Ghemmouri in 18 seconds!
An incredible performance for his ninth win. This man is a future star. And not too far into the future. One straight right hand put Ghemmouri down and a little ground and pound later and the bout was over.
Talbott-Ghemmouri up first
A bantamweight contest between unbeaten former Contender fighter Payton Talbott (8-0) and 'The Desert Warrior' Yanis Ghemmouri (12-2).
Emotional goodbye for Michelle Waterson
We are LIVE!
The prelims are starting shortly and you can watch them with us on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
0050 - The last time they met...
This will be the second time Pereira and Prochazka have met. Watch their last clash in November 2023 at UFC 295.
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Prochazka v Pereira - Highlights as Brazilian wins vacant belt
0045 - Bisping on Pereira
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‘This guy walks the walk’ - Bisping lavishes praise on Pereira
0030 - A reminder of MVP's UFC debut
After a long career away from the bright lights of the UFC, Page showed he belonged with his performance against Kevin Holland.
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Watch highlights as Page starts UFC career with win over Holland at UFC 299
0015 - Prelims begin at 1AM
And that is when we will go live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Of course, while excited about the whole card, most of our thoughts are on the Dublin v London battle between Ian Machado Garry and Michael 'Viper' Page which starts the Main Card at 3am our time.
HELLO AND WELCOME TO UFC 303!
Thanks for joining our coverage of this monumental card in Las Vegas, which you can watch live on TNT Sports 1 and discovery+.
All fights can be watched on UFC Fight Pass.
Main Card
Main event: UFC Light heavyweight championship: Alex Pereira v Jiri Prochaka
Catchweight: Dan Ige v Diego Lopes
Light heavyweight: Anthony Smith v Roman Dolidze
Women's Bantamweight: Mayra Bueno Silva v Macy Chiasson
Welterweight: Ian Machado Garry v Michael Page
Preliminary Card
Middleweight: Joe Pyfer v Marc-Andre Barriault
Featherweight: Cub Swanson v Andrew Fili
Featherweight: Charles Jourdain v Jean Silva
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott v Yanis Ghemmouri
Bantamweight: Payton Talbott v Yanis Ghemmouri
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