Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira defends his belt in a rematch with former champion Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303. The original headline fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler at UFC 303 has been canceled due to McGregor's injury. Despite the change, the event will still take place on June 29, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with a five-round championship fight.
Pereira (10-2-0, 8 KOs) has notched three consecutive wins, including an impressive first-round knockout against Jamahal Hill in April at UFC 300. The Brazilian won the vacant light heavyweight title over Prochazka at UFC 295.
Prochazka (30-4-0, 26 KOs) is coming off a dominant outing opposite Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300. The Czech has lost just one fight since 2015 and will be looking to win the light heavyweight crown for the second time.
In the co-main event, #3 Brian Ortega (16-3-0, 3 KOs) and #14 Diego Lopes (24-6-0, 10 KOs) will battle in a highly-anticipated featherweight showdown.
BetMGM, one of the leading UFC sportsbooks, has Pereira (-175) as the favorite to retain his title against Prochazka (+145). The Brazilian defeated the challenger seven months ago in a fight that some believe ended prematurely.
Pereira is one of the most lethal strikers in the division and has eight knockouts in 12 career fights. The 36-year-old lands 5.1 significant strikes per minute and has an impressive 62% striking accuracy. The Brazilian also boasts a solid 70% takedown defense.
The former UFC middleweight champion utilizes his kickboxing background to attack with leg kicks, jabs, and powerful hooks. Pereira does not attempt many takedowns but is highly effective when he does take the fight to the mat.
Prochazka is also an elite striker with 26 career knockouts. The 31-year-old lands 5.75 significant strikes per minute with a 56% striking accuracy, and possesses a respectable 68% takedown defense.
The Czech is seeking to become a two-time champion in the division but must do a better job with his takedowns than he did in the first encounter. Pereira blocked several of Prochazka's takedown attempts before earning the controversial win.
During a recent interview with TheMacLife‘s Oscar Willis, Pereira was asked about one thing Prochazka has changed since their first fight at UFC 295.
"I don't think he would've changed that much, it hasn't been that long," Pereira said of Prochazka. "I was just watching his last fight
While both fighters had just over two weeks to prepare for the title fight, each is confident heading into this weekend's matchup.
"I understand that this fight is very close and there may be difficulties with the lead up time BUT if there is somebody that can make this happen it is me! POATAN!” a message (in Portuguese and English) posted on Pereira's social media profiles.
Pereira added, "This is why I am one of the biggest names in the UFC — Alex Pereira! I take risks that not one other person would be willing to take, but I know I have my ancestors with me. The spirits are with me and I'm ready for it all."
Prochazka kept his message short, saying "I am going to be the perfect storm. No space for mistakes, just WIN NOW HERE."
Betting Pick: Pereira
Betting odds for this exciting light heavyweight clash are live on some of the best NY betting sites, including BetMGM, which has tabbed Pereira as a -175 favorite. The most common bet type for this UFC fight is the moneyline, a wager on who will win the fight outright.
Considering how the champion finished Prochazka in the second round of their first encounter, Pereira is our bet to win the fight. A $100 wager on the American at odds of -175 would net a total payout of $157.14.
The Over/Under bet is another popular type, where you wager on the number of rounds the fight will last. Given that just one of Pereira's previous 12 fights have gone past the third round, we do not expect the fight to go the distance. Thus, betting Under 3.5 rounds could be a winning pick.
The five-round light heavyweight title fight will take place on Saturday, June 29, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC fans in New York can watch the fight live on ESPN+ Pay-per-view.
Light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira is the favorite to retain his title against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. BetMGM has Pereira as a -175 betting favorite, while Prochazka is the +145 underdog.
Featherweights #3 Brian Ortega (16-3-0, 3 KOs) and #14 Diego Lopes (24-6-0, 10 KOs) will collide in the co-main event. Other fights on the undercard include a light heavyweight tussle pitting #10 Anthony Smith (38-19, 20 KOs) against Roman Dolidze (12-3, 7 KOs), a women's bantamweight matchup featuring Mayra Bueno Silva (10-3-1, 1 KO) and Macy Chiasson (10-3-0, 2 KOs), and a welterweight bout with #7 Ian Machado Garry (14-0-0, 7 KOs) butting heads against #14 Michael Page (22-2-0, 13 KOs).
Mixed martial arts fans can place bets during the fight with live UFC odds that are constantly updated based on the real action inside the Octagon. The most popular types of in-play wagers offered include moneyline bets on the predicted winner, the method of victory, and how long the fight will last.
Mixed martial arts fans can place various bets on this exciting Light heavyweight championship fight at BetMGM, a popular and trusted sportsbook in New York.
