UFC 303: 4 Substitute Fights for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler Foremost Occasion

UFC 303 was purported to be one of many promotion’s largest exhibits of the yr, however with Conor McGregor seemingly out of the principle occasion, it is unclear what sort of card we’ll find yourself with.

The Irishman was set to return from a three-year absence within the June 29 card’s headliner, taking up former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in a battle we have been ready to see because the pair served as opposing coaches of The Final Fighter final yr.

But when a Dublin press conference involving McGregor and Chandler was canceled on the final minute, followers rapidly started to invest that one of many two males was out of the battle.

Regardless of offering some motive for optimism concerning the contest final week, famend fight sports activities journalist Ariel Helwani is reporting that McGregor is most definitely out of the battle and the UFC is scrambling to discover a alternative principal occasion for the cardboard.

Helwani famous that there aren’t many viable choices for a short-notice principal occasion, however fortunately, there are a number of potentialities that may get followers excited—even when they fall wanting any battle involving McGregor, who stays the most important star in MMA historical past.

Listed here are 4 fights that would find yourself headlining UFC 303 on June 29.

Simply because McGregor is seemingly out of the UFC 303 principal occasion does not imply Chandler will not nonetheless be concerned. After all, he isn’t practically as massive a star because the Irishman and would wish a high-profile opponent to maintain his headlining spot.

Enter Max Holloway.

The previous UFC featherweight champion is without doubt one of the biggest fighters of this technology. He’s driving one of many largest wins of his profession, a last-second knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, and as luck would have it, the battle was contested at light-weight.

With a significant win over a high light-weight contender behind him, Holloway is a particular light-weight contender himself, which might make him a justifiable opponent for Chandler. In reality, given he simply beat Gaethje, he may very well be thought-about a step down for the previous featherweight champion.

Since beating Gaethje, Holloway has acknowledged repeatedly that he intends to drop again right down to featherweight to problem champion Ilia Topuria for the belt. He additionally appears to be vacationing in Japan together with his household for the time being.

Nonetheless, cash talks, and the UFC would undoubtedly put the Hawaiian and his family members on a non-public jet again to Las Vegas if it meant saving UFC 303.

Probably the most extensively mentioned potentialities for a alternative UFC 303 principal occasion is a rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.

They first met final November in New York Metropolis, with the promotion’s vacant mild heavyweight title on the road. The pair are, arguably, the most well-liked mild heavyweights on the roster, as a result of their enigmatic personalities and shared propensity for highlight-reel knockouts.

And in the long run, their battle delivered, as Pereira received the belt by second-round TKO.

It was an important efficiency from the Brazilian, who beforehand held the middleweight belt, however there was some suggestion that the battle was stopped early and Prochazka ought to have been given extra of an opportunity to get better from being rocked.

That instantly gave the 31-year-old a powerful argument for a rematch, and the Czech solely strengthened his declare when he knocked out Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300.

Pereira was additionally in motion at UFC 300, knocking out one other former champ in Jamahal Hill in the principle occasion, however took nearly no injury in that battle and may very well be satisfied to run it again with Prochazka at UFC 303 with the fitting provide.

Whereas he is nonetheless no Conor McGregor, bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley has rapidly develop into one of many largest stars within the UFC and will assist salvage UFC 303 if the Irishman is out of motion.

O’Malley final fought at UFC 299 in March, when he battered Marlon “Chito” Vera in a one-sided resolution victory. He is had loads of time to get better from the minimal injury he acquired in that battle, and curiously, not too long ago supplied to step up and save UFC 303 by combating influencer and boxer Jake Paul.

Paul, in fact, outweighs O’Malley by no less than 50 kilos and can be sure by an unique contract with the Skilled Fighters League on the subject of competing in MMA, in order that clearly is not taking place.

Nonetheless, O’Malley’s offer to fight Paul at UFC 303 implies he may very well be obtainable to compete on the occasion if the promotion calls, and there’s no scarcity of viable opponents for him.

Probably the most deserving contender is Georgia’s Merab Dvalishvili, who has received straight fights, together with wins over Jose Aldo, Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. Nonetheless, if he is not obtainable for UFC 303 or just prefers to battle O’Malley with a full camp, then the promotion may name upon different contenders like Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, who’re set to fulfill in Abu Dhabi in August.

That will pressure matchmakers to discover a new principal occasion for the Abu Dhabi card, however they have loads of time to make that occur.

UFC 303 was purported to be the McGregor present, however the Irish famous person’s comeback battle with Chandler was not the one alluring merchandise on the invoice.

Earlier on the cardboard, English knockout artist Michael Web page will collide with undefeated Irishman Ian Garry in a battle that would produce the subsequent title contender at welterweight.

If all else fails, the UFC may push this battle into the principle occasion spot. Garry has already acknowledged that he would really like the battle to be upgraded from three to 5 rounds, which might seemingly be a requirement if it was moved to the principle occasion slot.

Web page, in the meantime, is a showman by way of and thru, and he would certainly relish the chance to headline the occasion.

Individuals will not be glad if that is the principle occasion we find yourself with—neither Web page nor Garry has headlined a UFC card earlier than—nevertheless it’s a superb battle with main implications, and the promotion might in the end determine it is the best choice obtainable.

It is actually one of the inexpensive choices, because the promotion would not should shell out a pile of cash to persuade the likes of Holloway or O’Malley to take a battle on brief discover.