UFC 303 LIVE: Pereira vs Prochazka fight updates and results after Dan Ige steps in on four hours’ notice
Follow live as Alex Pereira defends the light-heavyweight title in a rematch with ex-champion Jiri Prochazka
Alex Pereira defends his world title against Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303 tonight, as the light-heavyweights clash for the second time in seven months.
In November, Pereira stopped the former champion in round two, winning the vacant belt in the process. With that, the Brazilian became a two-weight titlist, having previously claimed middleweight gold. Now Prochazka gets a shot at revenge, and another shot at the belt he held in 2022 – before injury cut short the Czech’s reign.
UFC 303, which plays out at Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena, was due to be headlined by Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler, but a broken toe ruled out the Irishman. As such, Pereira and Prochazka step up here, and the rest of the card has also undergone several changes.
In the co-main event, former 145lb title challenger Brian Ortega faces rising contender Diego Lopes. Beforehand, controversial Irish star Ian Machado Garry fights London veteran Michael “Venom” Page.
Follow live updates and results from UFC 303, below.
UFC 303 LIVE: Anthony Smith vs Roman Dolidze
Round three
Dolidze is landing some grazing punches early in round three. Smith just can’t get going.
Dolidze with some long jabs. Finally Smith starts to land intermittently.
Dolidze with a jab, a front kick and a spinning back kick. He’ll get this one on the scorecards.
Roman Dolidze def. Anthony Smith via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 303 LIVE: Anthony Smith vs Roman Dolidze
Round two
A good left hand has Smith stumbling backwards, and Dolidze helps the American to the canvas with a takedown. Some ground and pound from the Georgian now.
Smith is struggling to defend, but eventually Dolidze slows down.
Late in the round, Smith is able to stand against the fence, and he immediately tries to unload some offence.
UFC 303 LIVE: Anthony Smith vs Roman Dolidze
Round one
Under way! Dolidze stands southpaw, Smith orthodox. Dolidze throws out a few kicks – low, to the body, to the head.
Lots of feints from Smith, who kicks low himself. Dolidze returns fire then tries an overhand right. Another low kick from Dolidze, then one from Smith, who is pressing forward.
Dolidze keeps smiling at Smith. The Georgian wings an overhand right, but American Smith is just out of range. More low kicks from each man.
A left hook from Dolidze puts Smith off balance, at the end of a scrappy exchange.
UFC 303 LIVE: Mayra Bueno Silva vs Macy Chiasson
Round two
Again Chiasson gets into a firefight, but she’s eating the heavier shots. She does pull off a trip, however, and she’s in Bueno Silva’s guard now.
Big elbow from Chiasson cuts open Bueno Silva’s forehead – that’s a nasty gash. Bueno Silva goes for an armbar, but Chiasson stays calm.
Bueno Silva eventually gives up. Chiasson stands and kicks the legs of Bueno Silva, until she decides to let the Brazilian stand.
As soon as Bueno Silva does, the referee stops the action so her cut can be inspected...
And a doctor advises the ref to stop the fight! Chiasson gets the TKO! Blood is leaking down Bueno Silva’s face.
Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva via second-round TKO (doctor stoppage, 1:58)
UFC 303 LIVE: Mayra Bueno Silva vs Macy Chiasson
Round one
Bueno Silva presses forward and lands a decent hook and an elbow at close range. Chiasson tries to fire back with a left hook and misses.
Good knees from Bueno Silva at close range. She and Chiasson clinch along the fence, but Chiasson eventually gets free.
Nice wheel kick by Bueno Silva! She buries body shots into Chiasson’s ribs at close range now! She’s punching with real intention.
Good variety of striking offence by Bueno Silva so far. Now Chiasson lands knees in the clinch.
There have been a few exchanges in which both women have really let their hands go, and Bueno Silva definitely carries the greater power.
UFC 303 LIVE: Ian Machado Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Ian Machado Garry def. Michael “Venom” Page via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
“Nothing surprised me, I knew how good he was,” says Garry. “For me, it was patience; patience was the key to victory for me today.
“He did a great, great gameplan today. Round of applause for MVP. It was a great fight.”
UFC 303 LIVE: Ian Machado Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round three
MVP likely took round two based on significant strikes, even though he spent a spell of the round defending in a grappling exchange and defending a submission.
Both men are known for their striking, with MVP being the more flamboyant of the two, and he’s frozen Garry like no one else has.
Garry gets another body lock, but he gets his momentum wrong and falls back, with MVP in mount! Garry reacts quickly to get closed guard, however.
Garry lands a few elbows from the bottom. Eventually MVP stands and allows Garry back to his feet, greeting him with a body kick.
Beautiful jab by MVP, but he misses with a right hand and finds himself in another body lock. Garry gets his hooks in again and tries to take down the Londoner.
No luck, so Garry opts to hang on to MVP’s back and seek a rear naked choke. No luck with that either, and the crowd boos. The fighters reach the buzzer in that position.
This could be a very close one on the scorecards; Garry definitely took round one, MVP should have round two, and round three was razor close...
UFC 303 LIVE: Ian Machado Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round two
Hard right cross by MVP! He’s so good when at darting in and out of range, as he does here!
More stance switches from MVP. A jab and a grazing overhand right by the Londoner. He really loaded up on that overhand – good head movement by Garry to evade the worst of it, to be fair.
Leg kick by MVP, who leans back to avoid a head kick. MVP with another wild swing, though, missing a hook and allowing Garry to get a body lock.
Boos from the crowd, as Garry pushes MVP to the fence. After some time, the referee warns Garry that he might separate the pair due to a lack of activity.
MVP is able to slip free, and Garry falls to the mat but grabs a leg lock. It looks precarious for MVP for a moment... but he slips out again!
Another good flurry by MVP, as the pair get back to standing and striking. MVP just misses with a flying knee. Another big overhand from the Londoner.
UFC 303 LIVE: Ian Machado Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Garry kicks to the body. Lots of feints by MVP, who switches stances as he presses forward.
He’s back orthodox, and he lands a decent right hand. Garry catches a high kick, though, drives MVP to the fence, and takes him down.
MVP almost makes it back to his feet, but he’s dragged back down. Garry takes MVP’s back and gets his hooks in. Now he’s got a body triangle.
Garry is working on the rear naked choke... He looks to have it locked in, but somehow MVP survives for quite some time – and eventually strips Garry’s grip!!
MVP makes it to the buzzer.
UFC 303 LIVE: Ian Machado Garry vs Michael ‘Venom’ Page
Next up, the main card! It begins with a welterweight bout with genuine ramifications at the top of the division.
Controversial Irish star Ian Machado Garry faces London veteran Michael “Venom” Page.
Will this be the fight of the night, as some have predicted? Or will the two technical strikers cancel each other out? We’ll soon find out.
Earlier this week, Garry accused “MVP” of trying to bribe the Irishman’s coaches for information ahead of this fight...
UFC star accuses opponent of bribing coaches for information before fight
The Irishman and the Londoner are set for a welterweight clash in Las Vegas on Saturday
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