Conor McGregor’s much-anticipated return to the octagon will have to wait. McGregor has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 303 bout against Michael Chandler due to injury. In his place, a thrilling new main event has been announced: a light heavyweight title fight between current champion Alex Pereira and former champion Jiri Prochazka.

Title Fight: Pereira vs. Prochazka

Alex Pereira, known for his devastating power and precision, will defend his light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka. Their first encounter at UFC 295 ended with Pereira securing a second-round TKO victory, a result that Prochazka controversially felt was premature but eventually accepted.

Pereira has been on a remarkable run since moving to the light heavyweight division. His recent victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 solidified his position as the champion, showcasing his kickboxing skills and striking accuracy.

Prochazka, renowned for his unconventional and aggressive fighting style, is eager for redemption. After his loss to Pereira, he bounced back with an impressive knockout win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300, proving his resilience and determination to reclaim the title.

Co-Main Event and Other Fights

With McGregor out, UFC 303’s fight card has seen significant reshuffling. The co-main event will now feature Brian Ortega versus Diego Lopes in a featherweight bout. Additionally, Jamahal Hill, who was originally set to face Carlos Ulberg, has withdrawn due to injury. Anthony Smith will step in to replace Hill on short notice.

Dana White also announced several other exciting matchups for UFC 303:

Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka – Light Heavyweight Title
Diego Lopes vs. Brian Ortega – Featherweight
Anthony Smith vs. Carlos Ulberg – Light Heavyweight
Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson – Women’s Bantamweight
Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Joe Pyfer – Middleweight
Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael Page – Welterweight
Andre Fili vs. Cub Swanson – Featherweight
Vinicius Oliveira vs. Ricky Simon – Bantamweight
Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva – Featherweight
Yanis Ghemmouri vs. Payton Talbott – Bantamweight
Gillian Robertson vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez – Women’s Strawweight
Andrei Arlovski vs. Martin Buday – Heavyweight
Carlos Hernandez vs. Rei Tsuruya – Flyweight

TRENDING:

UFC 303 International Fight Week June 29th pic.twitter.com/P47PSsKcg0

— danawhite (@danawhite) June 14, 2024

Cancelled Fight: McGregor vs. Chandler

The highly anticipated matchup between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler has been cancelled due to McGregor’s injury. McGregor, who has not competed since his leg fracture in 2021, was set to make a dramatic return after coaching against Chandler on “The Ultimate Fighter” 2023. Unfortunately, this comeback will have to be postponed .

Despite this setback, UFC 303 remains a stacked card with multiple high-stakes fights. The event is scheduled for June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promising fans a night of intense and thrilling MMA action.

Sources:

MMAnytt.se

▶️ Follow us on Youtube for the best & latest MMA content ▶️