This UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 main event update is brought to you by BetOnline. BetOnline is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from UFC betting odds to the NFL and everything in between.
The lead-up to UFC 303 has been a rollercoaster ride for MMA fans across the globe. A light heavyweight clash between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler was supposed to headline the June 29 event, however, things became unclear once a pre-fight press conference was canceled followed combined with the UFC not providing fans with many updates.
UFC CEO and president Dana White finally gave a concrete update on Thursday when he revealed that McGregor had been pulled from the fight after suffering an injury. MMA insider Ariel Helwani confirmed shortly after that McGregor vs. Chandler will be pushed to later this year, although an official date is still up in the air.
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler has been postponed to later this year.
“Everyone involved – the UFC, McGregor, Paradigm – did everything in their power to save this,” Helwani wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “It didn’t look good initially, then it didn’t, then it did and finally it didn’t. The plug was officially pulled a little less than 48 hours ago.”
It didn’t take long for McGregor to provide a statement on the situation. The former champion described pulling out of the fight as being “very tough” and that his injury occurred before the postponed press conference. Between the UFC, doctors, and McGregor’s own team, a conclusion was made that the 35-year-old didn’t have enough time to recover to face Chandler in Las Vegas.
While some fighters would be pissed off about a major bout being canceled this close to a PPV, that isn’t the case here. Chandler responded to McGregor’s social media post, stating that he had “no hard feelings” and that he wants the latter to “heal up” before they finally clash.
Hopefully, McGregor makes a full recovery so we can finally witness this must-see scrap. He’s getting further and further from his last fight, though, leaving time to tell just how much longer he can delay a potential return.
So, with McGregor vs. Chandler off the table, which fight will headline UFC 303?
UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 to Headline in Las Vegas
After the upcoming McGregor vs. Chandler fight was postponed, Dana White & Co. didn’t waste time in naming a new UFC 303 main event.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will put the gold on the line against Jiri Prochazka in the headlining act at T-Mobile Arena later this month. The company was unsure if they would be able to secure the bout on such short notice, but both fighters were more than willing to rise to the challenge.
THE #UFC303 PROMO VID 🔥🍿 pic.twitter.com/RLyHLzBtsX
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) June 16, 2024
“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,” Pereira posted on his Instagram following the announcement. “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.”
These dominant light heavyweights are two of the best that MMA has to offer.
Pereira is a finishing machine who’s gone 7-1 since making his UFC debut back in November 2021. He’s since knocked out five of his last eight opponents, which includes when he scored a first-round finish over Prochazka at UFC 295 to claim the vacant light heavyweight gold.
[su=youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHGomATiHvU” responsive=”yes” autoplay=”no”]But even if he lost the last meeting between these warriors, Prochazka shouldn’t be underestimated. We’re talking about a dangerous Czech fighter who boasts a 96.7% finish rate and had won 13 consecutive fights before losing to Pereira.
Prochazka also has some momentum back on his side after TKO’ing Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300, earning ‘performance of the night’ honors for his effort.
It’s safe to say that Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 was the biggest (and best) replacement option for McGregor vs. Chandler at UFC 303. Hopefully, the last-minute replacement bout lives up to the hype.
UFC 303: Pereira vs Prochazka 2 Opening Odds
All UFC 303 odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of 12:19 p.m. ET on Monday, June 17.
- Record: Alex Pereira (10-2) vs. Jiri Prochazka (30-4-1)
- Moneyline: Alex Perez (-160) | Tatsuro Taira (+140)
- Round total: TBD — Over (TBD) | Under (TBD)
- Most likely method of victory: TBD
Get 50% up to $1,000 on UFC 303 picks at BetOnline
UFC 303: Pereira vs Prochazka 2 Information & FAQ
When is UFC 303?
- UFC 303 will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024.
Where is UFC 303?
- UFC 303 airs live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
What time does UFC 303 start?
- UFC 303 Early Prelims Start Time: 6 p.m. ET
- UFC 303 Preliminary Card Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
- UFC 303 Main Card Start Time: 10 p.m. ET
How to Watch UFC 303
- UFC 303 Early Prelims Channel: ESPN+, ESPN
- UFC 303 Preliminary Card Channel: ESPN+, PPV
- UFC 303 Main Card Channel: ESPN+, PPV
How to Bet on UFC 303
- All of the top online sports betting sites will have UFC odds, but here are some of the sites we recommend most for UFC betting enthusiasts.
