UFC 303 delivered in ways that didn’t seem possible weeks ago, including legacy-defining moments for Alex Pereira and Diego Lopes.
A 13-fight card at UFC 303 in Las Vegas was headlined by a dominant title fight performance from Alex Pereira-Jiri Procházka. In the co-main event, Dan Ige stepped in on short notice, but Diego Lopes put the promotion on notice that he’s ready for the center stage. But what were the biggest moments from International Fight Week and who were the biggest standouts on the card? Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim offer their final thoughts.
Wagenheim: It just keeps getting better for Alex Pereira. Merely agreeing to this title fight, taking it on just two weeks’ notice and while he was out of the country and far away from his training gym, was legendary enough. But his performance on Saturday elevated the UFC light heavyweight champion into the stratosphere.
Pereira’s head-kick knockout 13 seconds into Round 2 of the UFC 303 main event, after dropping former champ Jiri Procházka with a left hook right at the horn ending the opening round, left the crowd at T-Mobile Arena stunned and eager for more from this electrifying powerhouse. Maybe it’ll be another title defense at 205 pounds, or perhaps he’s ready for a move up to heavyweight.
In Pereira’s post-fight interview inside the cage, commentator Joe Rogan was already trying to sell the heavyweight move, which could catapult « Poatan » toward an unprecedented achievement. In just nine trips inside the Octagon, he has already captured the championship at middleweight and light heavyweight. No one has ever won UFC belts in three weight classes.
« I think that’s in my future », said Pereira, who was a two-division kickboxing world champ in another sporting life. « I said that last time I was here. . There didn’t seem to be much interest in the organization. . I think the fans have a lot of say in this — whatever they want. In the end, these are the people paying for this. If this is what they want, it is going to be inevitable. »
On the one hand, the UFC’s heavyweight division doesn’t need to add to the existing gridlock between champion Jon Jones, interim champion Tom Aspinall and ex-champion Stipe Miocic. And the 205-pound division could still use Pereira’s star power, which was shining brightly before this night but now is dazzling.
