UFC 303: 4 Substitute Fights in Place of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler

UFC 303 was speculated to be one of many promotion’s largest reveals of the 12 months, however with Conor McGregor seemingly out of the primary 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 over former Bellator champion Michael Chandler in a combat we have been ready to see because the pair served as opposing coaches of The Final Fighter final 12 months.

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

Regardless of offering some motive for optimism in regards to the contest final week, famend fight sports activities journalist Ariel Helwani is reporting that McGregor is most certainly out of the combat and the UFC is scrambling to discover a alternative important occasion for the cardboard.

Helwani famous that there will not be many viable choices for a short-notice important occasion, however fortunately, there are just a few prospects that may get followers excited—even when they fall in need of any combat involving McGregor, who stays the largest star in MMA historical past.

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

Simply because McGregor is seemingly out of the UFC 303 important occasion doesn’t suggest Chandler will not nonetheless be concerned. In fact, he’s not practically as massive a star because the Irishman and would want a high-profile opponent to maintain his headlining spot.

Enter Max Holloway.

The previous UFC featherweight champion is likely one of the best 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 combat was contested at light-weight.

With a serious 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 of a step down for the previous featherweight champion.

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

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

One of the crucial extensively mentioned prospects for a alternative UFC 303 important occasion is a rematch between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.

They first met final November in New York Metropolis, with the promotion’s vacant gentle heavyweight title on the road. The pair are, arguably, the preferred gentle heavyweights on the roster, because of their enigmatic personalities and shared propensity for highlight-reel knockouts.

And ultimately, their combat delivered, as Pereira received the belt by second-round TKO.

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

That instantly gave the 31-year-old a robust 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 primary occasion, however took virtually no harm in that combat and may very well be satisfied to run it again with Prochazka at UFC 303 with the correct supply.

Whereas he is nonetheless no Conor McGregor, bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley has shortly turn 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 well from the minimal harm he acquired in that combat, 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 certain by an unique contract with the Skilled Fighters League in relation to competing in MMA, in order that clearly is not occurring.

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

Essentially 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. Nevertheless, if he is not accessible for UFC 303 or just prefers to combat O’Malley with a full camp, then the promotion may name upon different contenders like Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, who’re set to satisfy in Abu Dhabi in August.

That might drive matchmakers to discover a new important occasion for the Abu Dhabi card, however they have loads of time to make that occur.

UFC 303 was speculated to be the McGregor present, however the Irish celebrity’s comeback combat 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 combat that would produce the following title contender at welterweight.

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

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

Folks will not be blissful if that is the primary occasion we find yourself with—neither Web page nor Garry has headlined a UFC card earlier than—but it surely’s combat with main implications, and the promotion might finally resolve it is the best choice accessible.

It is definitely one of the reasonably priced choices, because the promotion would not must shell out a pile of cash to persuade the likes of Holloway or O’Malley to take a combat on quick discover.