Biggest Winners, Loser From UFC 303

UFC 303 put a bow on International Fight Week last night (Sat., June 29, 2024) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a light heavyweight title fight that saw Alex Pereira defeat Jiri Prochazka via second-round technical knockout (TKO) to retain his title (see it again here). In the co-main event, Diego Lopes defeated Dan Ige — who accepted the fight on four-hours notice — via unanimous decision.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Biggest Winner: Alex Pereira

The legend of “Poatan” just keeps growing. Pereira secured his second stoppage victory over Prochazka thanks to a striking masterclass that nearly gave him the win in round one if he had a few more seconds. No fret, Pereira used a laser-like head kick to retain his 205-pound strap a few moments later to kick off round two. I am literally running out of things to say about this man. He makes it look easy, he barely breaks a sweat and he seems to get better each fight. That is a terrifying thought for all of his future opponents, which could soon include heavyweights.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Runner Up: Roman Dolidze and Dan Ige

This card underwent so many changes, including one four hours before the event started after Brian Ortega bowed out of his co-main event scrap against Diego Lopes due to an illness. But thanks to Dan Ige stepping up to the plate, the co-main event was saved. Indeed, Ige agreed to face Lopes at 165 pounds, and then proceeded to put on a great performance, even winning round three. Even though he lost, he won in so many ways. He won the respect of the UFC execs, fight fans and his colleagues alike. I’m positive UFC will take care of him financially, and I hope they give him a spot at Noche UFC he so desires. Of course, we also have to give credit to Lopes for agreeing to yet another change, and for winning the fight, but we all are on the same page in giving Ige his flowers.

As for Dolidze, he answered the call to move up to light heavyweight to face Anthony Smith after Carlos Ulberg bowed out of the fight. And by answering the call, Dolidze won in a big way by taking it to “Lionheart,” upsetting him with a stellar performance when many expected him to lose. Thanks to his upset, Dolidze has options now to stay at 205 pounds after beating the No. 10 guy, or move back down to middleweight. For now, he can enjoy the huge win he earned on one of the biggest cards of the year.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Biggest Loser: Anthony Smith

Leading up to the fight, Smith was adamant so many light heavyweights turned him down, which is why UFC had to resort to recruiting a middleweight to take the fight. Now, I am not saying “Lionheart” overlooked Dolidze, but all of his talk backfired on him after getting upset by the No. 10 ranked 185-pound fighter in the world. Smith was “expected” to win against a smaller man moving up a division on short notice, but he fell flat and ultimately paid the price. That title shot against Pereira he so desired is long gone and it likely won’t come back. It was a disappointing performance by the former title contender.

---

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 303: “Pereira vs. Prochazka 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.