Say this for the UFC: No fight promoter has ever been better at looking for a backup plan and finding gold at the bottom of the barrel. Some of that comes from experience, because I’ve been here many times before. The biggest part of that is the strength of the UFC roster. Hundreds of fighters under contract, the crème de la crème of the MMA crop, so basically matchmakers just have to make the call and not stop until there is a new main event.
But with Conor McGregor out of the UFC 303 main event fight against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe (and the littlest pig’s pinkie toe, no less), the replacement rematch between light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and former champion Jiří Procházka may go ahead . It doesn’t help, but it feels like a small consolation prize.
These two fought less than a year ago. It was an exciting fight the first time, while it lasted. The rematch will probably be much the same. Between the quiet menace of Pereira and the samurai intensity of Procházka, I’m not sure you could make a bad fight between these two. If you told me I had to see them fight once a month, I wouldn’t have a problem with it.
And yet this would be the big summer blowout. McGregor’s return. The spectacle and the superstar fizzle down in Las Vegas, just in time to take advantage of the lull between the end of the NBA and NHL seasons and before football season starts again. Instead, it’s a UFC pay-per-view that feels pretty good without being great, and it’s all because of one little toe.
The irony, of course, is that Pereira is literally stepping on his own broken toes. He injured one toe while training for his fight at UFC 300 (which was only two months ago). He injured the other during that knockout win over Jamahal Hill.
But when the call came to intervene at short notice and defend his title, Pereira answered anyway and went straight back to work. Perhaps that’s something that’s harder to convince yourself of when the alternative is to stay safe and sound on your luxury yacht.
Here’s a quick look at everything this Saturday’s UFC 303 pay-per-view event has to offer:
Who are they: Garry is an undefeated youngster who plays the role of a future star, but also fights smart, even if that means being a little boring. Page (or ‘MVP’ to those in the know) is a fun, flashy striker with an unpredictable style that can make opponents look foolish – at least if they let him lead the dance.
Why it matters: We’ll try to answer a few questions here. Is Garry as good as he says he is, and is he really on the verge of becoming a title contender in the UFC’s 170-pound division? Is Page late to the UFC party, and too one-dimensional to make a real splash there after years as a reliable but never elite attraction for Bellator? Someone is on the way up, and someone is on the way down. We just haven’t figured out which is which yet.
Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
Who are they: Bueno Silva looked like a good candidate to claim the vacant women’s 135-pound title, but fell short against Raquel Pennington in January. Chiasson won a season of “The Ultimate Fighter” at featherweight, but lately he’s been winning one and losing the next with disturbing regularity.
Why it matters: Bueno Silva is ranked third at bantamweight and probably doesn’t need too many wins to become a title contender again. Chiasson is a great fighter for this weight class, but she still seems pretty raw at times and hasn’t defeated anyone of note in the UFC yet. This would be a big step forward for Chiasson if she could win, while Bueno Silva is trying not to drop in the rankings.
Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze
Who are they: A pair of 35-year-old fighters are trying to make the most of their remaining years in the cage. Smith breathed some life back into his career with a surprise victory in the submission in May. Dolidze has lost twice in a row and is fighting here at light heavyweight, after staying at middleweight for a number of years.
Why it matters: Technically, both of these guys are replacements. Dolidze is basically a replacement for a replacement, but whatever. It’s a brand new fight at this point, and one that acts as a band-aid for a particularly beleaguered spot in this lineup. Think of this fight as the bridge between the main card warm-up and the big things.
Brian Ortega vs Diego Lopes
Who are they: Ortega was once a bright-eyed (literally) young prospect who seemed destined for greatness. After two failed title attempts, the second of which brought him so close, he is in that precarious phase where a weight class jump could be imminent. Lopes may have the haircut of a mid-2000s emo bassist, but his three-fight winning streak suggests he’s developing into a truly dangerous featherweight.
Why it matters: Ortega is the biggest name Lopes has ever fought, and if he does this in the co-main event, it’s a great opportunity for him to get a win that would force people to take him seriously as a potential title contender. But Ortega is a crafty one, especially on the mat, and he is coming off a win that helped dispel any suggestion that he is ready to sink into a step-up role.
Alex Pereira vs Jiří Procházka
Who are they: Pereira is the reigning 205-pound champion and the former 185-pound champion, both of which would be impressive enough. The fact that he did all that in just under three years in the UFC makes it almost unbelievable. Prochazka was champion for a minute before a shoulder injury forced him to give up the belt. He scored a major knockout win on the UFC 300 undercard in April, meaning he’s about an hour ahead of Pereira in terms of rest time between fights.
Why it matters: Well, it’s for the UFC 205-pound title, right? Pereira is brimming with confidence at this stage of his title reign. He is still very busy and this will be his fourth fight in less than a year. That’s a lot for a light heavyweight and a lot for a current champion. Will it equal momentum or burnout? Prochazka hopes it is the latter, because if he loses to Pereira a second time there will probably not be an offer for a third.
