After going to Saudi Arabia final week, UFC returns to its dwelling base of Las Vegas for UFC 303 on Saturday. The UFC 303 struggle card is highlighted by a lightweight heavyweight title struggle between champion Alex Pereira and No. 1 contender Jiří Procházka in a rematch from final November by which Pereira claimed the vacant mild heavyweight championship. Pereira is the -155 favourite (danger $155 to win $100) within the newest UFC 303 odds. Every fighter received their lone bout since that assembly, making T-Cell Area the place to be come Saturday when the primary card begins at 10 p.m. ET.
The cardboard for UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2 additionally incorporates a pair of top-10 ranked ladies’s bantamweight contenders going head-to-head as No. 3 Mayra Bueno Silva faces No. 7 Macy Chiasson (-115). The 5-foot-11 Chiasson owns a six-inch attain benefit whereas Bueno Silva is a submission specialist who may reap the benefits of Chiasson’s lanky limbs. The winner will put herself in place for an eventual title struggle with present champion Raquel Pennington. Earlier than making any UFC 303 picks on these fights or others, be sure to see the MMA predictions and betting recommendation from SportsLine knowledgeable Daniel Vithlani.
From breaking down movie and following fighters and their camps intently, to monitoring sharp motion and betting market indicators, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting panorama prime to backside. He additionally trains newbie boxers and speaks commonly with MMA fighters to grasp the game’s nuances.
Vithlani made his SportsLine debut in January 2023 and swept the primary card for UFC 283 with a 5-0 document and has been a constant winner ever since. Over the previous 12 UFC pay-per-view occasions, Vithlani has gone 8-4 on main-event picks and his main-card picks in that span have netted his followers a revenue of greater than $1,500.
His highlights embody predicting an upset for Sean O’Malley (+210) in opposition to Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292 as a part of a 4-1 fundamental card and his UFC 299 winners included underdog picks on Poirier (+190) in opposition to Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Web page (+110) in opposition to Kevin Holland (-130). Anybody who has adopted him has seen huge returns.
Now, with UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 on deck, Vithlani has studied the cardboard from prime to backside and launched his prime picks. You may solely see his picks and evaluation at SportsLine.
UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 preview
In lower than two years, Pereira (10-2) has advanced from a relative unknown amongst UFC observers to maybe the promotion’s largest energetic star, with “energetic” the operative phrase. That is the second time in simply 10 weeks that the sinister 36-year-old Brazilian striker has taken a short-notice struggle to headline a pay-per-view occasion and salvage the wreckage of the promotion’s matchmaking misfortunes.
Pereira (10-2) was recruited and fast-tracked by the UFC solely for the aim of offering a possible rival for former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who had been dominating the division and operating wanting certified challengers. Pereira, who had crushed Adesanya twice in skilled kickboxing, knocked out Sean Strickland within the first spherical of their title eliminator in July 2022 earlier than rallying to cease Adesanya for the title in November of that 12 months.
He has since claimed a second title at mild heavyweight, however his stardom has skyrocketed largely due to the occasions he has helped save. After UFC brass failed to supply a promised tremendous struggle to headline the historic UFC 300 card in April, Pereira and Jamahal Hill stepped in on quick discover to offer a fundamental occasion. Pereira received by first-round knockout.
He and Prochzaka each competed on the UFC 300 card, and each agreed to headline the UFC 303 card on about two weeks’ discover. Prochazka (30-4-1), a relentless and reckless brawler who received the UFC belt in simply his third struggle with the promotion, knocked out Aleksandar Rakic within the second spherical of a wild struggle that earned him a coveted $300,000 efficiency bonus. It additionally set the stage for him to earn a rematch with Pereira.
The McGregor vs. Chandler struggle was believed to be in jeopardy after a kick-off press convention in Eire was canceled, and the enduring Irish fighter made his withdrawal from UFC 303 official the next week. Quickly after, UFC president Dana White introduced that Pereira vs. Prochazka 2 would change McGregor vs. Chandler within the prime slot at UFC 303 and be the centerpiece of this week’s UFC betting. You may see extra UFC 303 picks at SportsLine.
High UFC 303 predictions
We’ll share considered one of Vithlani’s UFC 303 picks right here: He’s going with Anthony Smith (+120) to get his hand raised in opposition to Roman Dolidze (-140) in a patchwork mild heavyweight matchup on the primary card. Smith simply fought final month at UFC 301 however did not expend a lot power by making Vitor Petrino submit within the first spherical. In the meantime, Dolidze hasn’t received a struggle since 2022 as he is coming off back-to-back defeats, each by determination. All three of his profession losses have come by way of the scorecards, whereas simply three of Smith’s 38 profession wins have come by way of determination, however kinds make fights and Dolidze’s fashion may lose him this bout.
The Georgian is a brawler who’s final 11 fights have ended both by way of knockout or determination, as he does not convey many submission holds to the desk. So, he desires to shut the space between himself and Smith to land blows, however that is the place the veteran of 57 profession fights can take benefit. 5 of Smith’s final seven victories have come by way of submission, so Dolidze’s need to get right into a clinch place performs into Smith’s strengths. Regardless of being the underdog, Vithlani has Smith (+120) sending Dolidze (-140) to his third straight defeat. You may see extra UFC 303 picks at SportsLine.
Learn how to make UFC 303 picks
Vithlani has robust picks for Pereira vs. Prochazka and different bouts on the UFC 303 card. He is placing two models down on one other underdog to win outright. Vithlani’s picks and evaluation are solely out there at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2, and the way precisely does every struggle finish? Go to SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC 303, all from the MMA knowledgeable who profited greater than $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and discover out.
UFC 303 odds, struggle card
See full UFC 303 picks, predictions, greatest bets right here.
Alex Pereira (-155) vs. Jiri Prochazka (+130)
Brian Ortega (+120) vs. Diego Lopes (-140)
Mayra Bueno Silva (-105) vs. Macy Chiasson (-115)
Ian Machado Garry (-140) vs. Michael Web page (+120)
Charles Jourdain (-130) vs. Jean Silva (+110)
Anthony Smith (+120) vs. Roman Dolidze (-140)
Andre Fili (-245) vs. Cub Swanson (+200)
Joe Pyfer (-300) vs. Marc-Andre Barriault (+240)
Vinicius Oliveira (+190) vs. Ricky Simon (-230)
Andre Arlovski (+210) vs. Martin Buday (-260)