UFC 303 predictions — Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka 2: Battle card, odds, prelims, preview, knowledgeable picks

An thrilling rematch between mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka headlines Saturday’s UFC 303 card from Las Vegas. Whereas a combat between two of essentially the most action-oriented fighters within the heavier weight lessons could get followers blood pumping, it was fairly the journey to the 2 large males agreeing to step within the Octagon.

UFC 303 was initially deliberate to characteristic Conor McGregor’s first combat since struggling a damaged leg in his rematch with Dustin Poirier in 2021. Sadly, a damaged toe compelled McGregor out of his combat with Michael Chandler simply weeks forward of the occasion, leaving UFC matchmakers scrambling to discover a strong alternative for the Worldwide Battle Week card.

They bought the job performed with Pereiria and Prochazka, who first met in November 2023, with Pereira scoring a second-round stoppage. That combat was Prochazka’s first since getting back from an damage that compelled him to vacate the sunshine heavyweight title. Each have gone on to choose up a win, with Pereira knocking out former mild heavyweight champ Jamahal Hill and Prochazka outslugging Aleksandar Rakic, each at UFC 300.

The co-main occasion additionally went by way of a serious transformation, initially that includes Hill vs. Khalil Rountree earlier than a collection of accidents to these fighters, in addition to replacements, led to the combat finally changing into Anthony Smith vs. Roman Dolidze.

In response, the UFC booked a brand new co-main occasion that includes featherweight contenders Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega, with the winner shifting nearer to a future shot on the 145-pound title.

With a lot taking place on Saturday night time, let’s take a more in-depth take a look at the complete combat card with the most recent odds earlier than we get to our workers predictions and picks for the PPV portion of the festivities.

UFC 303 combat card, odds

• Alex Pereira (c) -150 vs. Jiri Prochazka +125, mild heavyweight title
• Diego Lopes -145 vs. Brian Ortega +120, featherweights
• Roman Dolidze -145 vs. Anthony Smith +120, mild heavyweights
• Macy Chiasson -110 vs. Mayra Bueno Silva -110, girls’s bantamweights
• Ian Machado Garry -155 vs. Michael Web page +130, welterweights
• Joe Pyfer -300 vs. Marc-Andre Barriault +240, middleweights
• Andre Fili -235 vs. Cub Swanson +195. featherweights
• Charles Jourdain -115 vs. Jean Silva -105, featherweights
• Gillian Robertson -180 vs. Michelle Waterson-Gomez +155, girls’s strawweights
• Payton Talbott -1600 vs. Yanis Ghemmouri +800, bantamweights
• Martin Buday -270 vs. Andrei Arlovski +220, heavyweights
• Rei Tsuruya -470 vs. Carlos Hernandez +350, flyweights
• Ricky Simon -250 vs. Vinicius Olivera +205, bantamweights

With such a large primary occasion on faucet, the crew at CBS Sports activities went forward with predictions and picks for the principle card. Listed here are your choose makers: Brent Brookhouse (Fight sports activities author), Brian Campbell (Fight sports activities author), Shakiel Mahjouri (author), Michael Mormile (producer) and Brandon Sensible (senior editor).

UFC 303 picks, predictions

Pereira vs. Prochazka

Campbell: Whereas their first assembly was a predictably wild affair with each touchdown large photographs, the pace and technical precision of Pereira’s left hook stays an issue for everybody he steps into the cage with. Within the case of Prochazka, his defensive liabilities and infrequently reckless fashion make it a good greater one. Each fighters will probably be making 77-day turnarounds from their respective wins at UFC 300 in April, which does not present a lot of a bonus both method. Pereira’s two damaged toes do not look like holding him again, even when his look at UFC 303 solely got here to be after Conor McGregor broke his personal pinky toe and wanted to drag out. Pereira is working on the peak of his powers and seems to be even higher as a light-weight heavyweight than he was making the troublesome minimize right down to 185 kilos. 

Brookhouse: What cause is there to count on this combat to play out otherwise than the primary assembly? Prochazka is unimaginable to look at for the precise causes Pereira is a horrible opponent for him. Prochazka is defensively wide-open and operates with a equally wide-open aggression. That is only a unhealthy mixture in opposition to a fighter like Pereira, who has pinpoint placing in addition to brutal energy. Prochazka may attempt to take a wrestling-first strategy, however that is not his bread and butter and I am undecided that is a recipe for assured success in opposition to Pereira now that he is had years to be taught takedown protection and sufficient abilities to outlive and get again to his toes when the combat does hit the ground. Anticipate a wild 5 to 10 minutes earlier than Pereira lands the shot that alerts the start of the tip.

Mahjouri: I will not make the error twice of choosing Prochazka over Pereira. The reigning champ’s composure, method and earth-shattering energy are leagues forward of the division’s different strikers. It seemingly takes an elite wrestler or well-rounded fighter who masks takedowns behind strikes to beat this model of Pereira. Prochazka is most comfy in chaos. Prochazka misplaced the technical placing battle in Spherical 1 of his combat in opposition to Aleksandar Rakic earlier than ending Rakic with a nonstop offensive flurry in Spherical 2. Sadly, Pereira has an excessive amount of knockout energy for that to be a accountable sport plan. Prochazka may conform to a defensive fashion however he’ll seemingly be outpointed by Pereira, the superior technical striker. Prochazka will probably be compelled to pressure the problem and can seemingly get taken out by a ferocious counterpunch. 

Lopes vs. Ortega

Campbell: Discuss a enjoyable, last-minute providing as a brand new co-main occasion. Key positioning throughout the featherweight rankings is out there for each however it’s Lopes who has been extra energetic and using an enormous lightning bolt of momentum. Though Ortega rebounded properly to submit Yair Rodriguez of their February rematch, he absorbed large punishment (as normal). Except we see an Ortega who’s dedicated to shifting his head and defending himself inside battle, this can be a combat that may be one on the toes by the surging Lopes, even to the purpose of a knockout offered the sturdy grappling video games of one another cancel out. 

Brookhouse: There are such a lot of components that make this a tough combat to choose. Each males are coming in on quick discover, for starters. Each are additionally not nice at defending incoming assaults whereas having the ability to get their very own dynamic assaults going. Lopes is on a hell of a roll, however Ortega is used to the massive stage. Sure, Ortega took some harm in opposition to Yair Rodriguez earlier this yr however taking harm is a part of his sport, for higher or worse. If Ortega can survive the first-round blitz, I feel he takes over the combat within the second and third, however I say this with little confidence.

Mahjouri: There is no such thing as a method this combat will probably be boring. Ortega and Lopes are dynamic, offense-oriented fighters who wield knockout energy and thrilling submission video games. It is a toss-up stylistically. Ortega has the benefit of high-level expertise. “T-Metropolis” has collected a variety of harm however has by no means been stopped cleanly, solely by physician stoppage. Lopes could not have as a lot high-level UFC expertise however he is competed 10 extra occasions professionally than his opponent. Lopes carried out tremendously in a shedding short-notice debut in opposition to Movsar Evloev final yr. One thing tells me he’ll deal with the fast turnaround higher than Ortega, significantly contemplating how a lot harm Ortega took in a successful efficiency in opposition to Yair Rodriguez in February. My largest concern in siding with Lopes is his paltry 37% placing protection within the UFC. That may stability out with Ortega’s surprisingly low 38% placing accuracy. I will trepidatiously take Lopes inside the gap.

Dolidze vs. Smith

Campbell: Initially booked in what’s now a cursed co-main occasion slot as a alternative for Khalil Rountree Jr., Smith stays the final man standing after Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg proceeded to comply with Rountree in withdrawing. Smith’s opportunistic nature helped him in staying on the cardboard as the one fighter who would comply with face him on excessive late discover was middleweight Roman Dolidze. Smith not solely has the dimensions and expertise edge as a former 205-pound title challenger, his grappling abilities may give Dolidze large points as Smith makes an attempt to construct on the momentum of his first-round submission win over Vitor Petrino in Could to cease a shedding skid.

Mahjouri: Do not be fooled by Dolidze’s latest performances. Dolidze’s losses to Nassourdine Imavov and Marvin Vettori are forgivable, significantly contemplating Imavov’s latest stoppage win over Jared Cannonier. Dolidze has principally been a KO artist in MMA however wields a powerful grappling background. Dolidze has gained a number of grappling championships and competed on the prestigious ADCC Worlds Event. Dolidze has additionally fought as excessive as heavyweight so I do not suppose he’ll be bothered by the short-notice soar from middleweight. Smith’s chin is compromised and his defensive response time has slowed. “Lionheart” presently is at his finest when capitalizing on opponents’ inexperience. I am undecided how persistently Dolidze will land on the toes however he has energy and sufficient abilities to keep away from making a detrimental error.

Who wins UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka 2, and the way precisely does every combat 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.