UFC 303 takeaways — No theatrics wanted, Alex Pereira is MMA’s greatest star

A 13-fight card at UFC 303 in Las Vegas was headlined by a dominant title battle efficiency from Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Procházka. Within the co-main occasion, Dan Ige stepped in on quick discover, however Diego Lopes put the promotion on discover that he is prepared for the middle stage. However what have been the most important moments from Worldwide Battle Week, and who have been the most important standouts on the cardboard? Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim provide their ultimate ideas.

Wagenheim: It simply retains getting higher for Alex Pereira. Merely agreeing to this title battle, taking it on simply two weeks’ discover and whereas he was in another country and much away from his coaching health club, was legendary sufficient. However his efficiency on Saturday elevated the UFC gentle heavyweight champion into the stratosphere.

Pereira’s head-kick knockout 13 seconds into Spherical 2 of the UFC 303 predominant occasion, after dropping former champ Jiri Procházka with a left hook proper on the horn ending the opening spherical, left the group at T-Cell Area surprised and looking forward to extra from this electrifying powerhouse. Possibly it will be one other title protection at 205 kilos, or maybe he is prepared for a transfer as much as heavyweight.

In Pereira’s postfight interview contained in the cage, commentator Joe Rogan was already making an attempt to promote the heavyweight transfer, which might catapult “Poatan” towards an unprecedented achievement. In simply 9 journeys contained in the Octagon, he has already captured the championship at middleweight and light-weight heavyweight. Nobody has ever gained UFC belts in three weight courses.

“I feel that is in my future,” mentioned Pereira, who was a two-division kickboxing world champ in one other sporting life. “I mentioned that final time I used to be right here. … There did not appear to be a lot curiosity within the group. … I feel the followers have lots of say on this — no matter they need. Ultimately, these are the folks paying for this. If that is what they need, it’s going to be inevitable.”

On the one hand, the UFC’s heavyweight division would not want so as to add to the prevailing gridlock between champion Jon Jones, interim champion Tom Aspinall and ex-champion Stipe Miocic. And the 205-pound division might nonetheless use Pereira’s star energy, which was shining brightly earlier than this night time however now could be dazzling.

However there is not any micromanaging a phenomenon like Pereira. In the event you’re the UFC, you discover him probably the most intriguing alternatives on the market and let him obtain extra of what, just some quick years in the past, nobody noticed coming.

This isn’t the second coming of Conor McGregor, whom Pereira changed on Saturday. The Irishman is the most important star the game has ever seen, however his affect was constructed far past the cage and, nowadays, is almost all about melodrama. Pereira, in contrast, is all fighter. His mic time is easy and spoken by means of an interpreter. What makes him a star like nobody else within the UFC is all about what occurs as soon as he steps into the cage. It begins along with his chillingly stoic stare throughout introductions and ends with a chillingly scary knockout. Followers will fortunately eat up extra of that relatively than drained theatrics.

Lopes and Ige earn star therapy after UFC 303

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Dan Ige, Diego Lopes battle to resolution in short-notice co-main occasion

Dan Ige and Diego Lopes battle all three rounds within the co-main occasion of UFC 303.

Hale: Sure, Diego Lopes picked up the victory and prolonged his successful streak to 4 in a row with a unanimous resolution win over Dan Ige. Nevertheless, the true story is simply how this battle ended up occurring and the way Lopes and Ige delivered regardless of having no thought they’d be combating each other till about 4 hours earlier than it occurred.

Let’s begin with Ige.

On Saturday morning, he was going to the fights as a fan. By Saturday night time, he was within the co-main occasion and had a robust ultimate spherical as he sought to tug off what would have been a exceptional upset in a battle he had no enterprise being in.

As for Lopes, he might have pulled out of this battle at any time. He might have shot down the burden restrict for his battle with Brian Ortega being bumped as much as 155 kilos on Friday morning. When Ortega fell unwell and needed to pull out, Lopes did not should threat going through one other opponent, particularly one as robust as Ige, at a catchweight of 165 kilos. However he did it.

Successful and shedding do not essentially matter as a lot as the heart it took for each fighters to maintain this co-main occasion collectively and ship an thrilling battle for the followers.

Ige has now etched his title within the historical past books and established a legacy that shall be remembered. No matter he desires subsequent, give it to him — as long as it would not intervene with Lopes’ plans.

As for Lopes, his arrow was already pointing on the ceiling. If he desires to battle at UFC Noche at The Sphere, do it. If he desires a battle with somebody corresponding to Alexander Volkanovski — whom he referred to as out afterward — give it to him. If Volkanovski is down.

Stars have been born on this night time, whatever the victor. Stars typically obtain favorable therapy due to their standing, and Lopes and Ige ought to really feel inclined to name in a favor or two going ahead.

Second of fact coming for Machado Garry

Okamoto: The UFC has orchestrated Ian Machado Garry’s profession superbly. Actually. And Machado Garry has repaid the UFC by evolving and turning himself into a correct welterweight contender. He has taken appropriately timed steps up in competitors, and it hasn’t all the time regarded like a stroll within the park, however that is likely to be an excellent factor. An in depth break up resolution win in opposition to Geoff Neal in February and one other shut one on Saturday in opposition to Michael Web page — these experiences are beneficial to his general arc, and he has maintained his excellent file even in these shut ones.

That mentioned, there isn’t a constructing now. Machado Garry has entered the echelon of the division the place it should be exhausting to seek out holes to take advantage of. Nearly as good as it has been to see him come out of those difficult conditions on prime, there’s additionally one thing to be mentioned about these difficult conditions themselves. Machado Garry has not all the time regarded supremely snug in numerous sides of those fights. He has overcome that with self-belief, wonderful decision-making and superb expertise, however once more, there will not be such clear paths to victory in opposition to future competitors.

By the best way, his historical past of bouncing round gyms would not appear to be holding him again. And in reality, it is exhausting to say it is a unhealthy factor that in a battle just like the one in opposition to Web page, he has educated Dutch-style kickboxing with the likes of Henri Hooft, however now additionally has the Muay Thai Chute Boxe type in his nook, to not point out Demian Maia. Typically, it is often not considered as a fantastic factor when fighters bounce round gyms, nevertheless it definitely appears to be working for Machado Garry.