Which 5 UFC 303 fighters are underneath most duress?

Michael Web page has talked an enormous sport since signing with the UFC and making a profitable debut in opposition to Kevin Holland in March. He must get by way of Ian Machado Garry if he desires to again any of it up.

“Venom” has already proven folks he’s worthy of this stage with an octagon win over a high quality foe in Holland, however his desires are a lot greater than that. Web page (22-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has talked about getting a struggle with former longtime champ Kamaru Usman if he wins this weekend. He’s additionally forecasted a megafight in a U.Okay. stadium vs. present welterweight titleholder Leon Edwards in the event that they each maintain profitable.

All these concepts sound incredible, however none of them occur if he doesn’t beat Garry, and do it in an entertaining method. At 37, “MVP” isn’t going to have many possibilities to reset off a UFC loss. That is his finest probability to get thrust to the highest by capitalizing on the intrigue and pleasure round his title as a recent face in UFC, so he’s acquired to get this one carried out.

Initially, I had Brian Ortega larger on this record going into his co-main occasion showdown with Diego Lopes, which got here collectively on 17 days’ discover. Nonetheless, after my latest interview with “T-Metropolis,” my perspective on what this struggle means to his profession has considerably modified.

Ortega’s (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) revelation that he’d already accepted a transfer to the light-weight division previous to this short-notice alternative, in addition to his rationalization of why he nonetheless intends to maneuver up from his longtime residence at featherweight, makes me really feel like this struggle doesn’t have fairly the identical influence.

If he’s going to be making a recent begin regardless, then Ortega’s place at 145 kilos is moot. In fact it might be higher to take the momentum of a victory into a brand new division against a loss, however initially it appeared like he was taking the danger of combating approach down within the rankings in opposition to Lopes, and that would eternally kill his title hopes within the division.

It appears Ortega is already satisfied these title hopes are useless, so this case turns into much less tense for him.

How is Alex Pereira, the reigning and defending champion who’s placing his belt on the road in opposition to an opponent he’s already overwhelmed on extraordinarily brief discover, not within the No. 1 spot on this record? Enable me to elucidate.

I’d be fairly shocked if Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) weren’t assured an instantaneous trilogy struggle with Prochazka for stepping up underneath these circumstances, ought to the consequence not go his approach. The UFC refuses to acknowledge Magomed Ankalaev with a title shot and Jamahal Hill might be out for some time with accidents, so there’s nothing else fascinating taking place on this division.

Given he was in Australia doing seminars and vacationing when he acquired the decision, and his toes nonetheless apparently banged up from the aftermath of his UFC 300 important occasion win, Pereira has all types of build-in excuses if this struggle doesn’t go his approach.

The Brazilian is so beloved that I doubt the MMA group would activate him if he used these excuses to his favor within the aftermath of a possible defeat.

In an identical vein to what was stated about his opponent Web page above, the speaking that has come from Ian Machado Garry main into struggle evening places an incredible burden on his shoulders to ship a win.

Garry (14-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is not going to hesitate for a second to let you know that he isn’t eager on combating “MVP.” He needed a higher-ranked opponent, and solely agreed to the matchup between it might’ve positioned him on the identical card as his idol Conor McGregor. Everyone knows that’s not taking place, so it’s simple to query what Garry’s motivation appears to be like like.

Moreover, Garry is outright dismissive of Web page as a threatening opponent. Garry has reiterated again and again that he doesn’t suppose Web page is on his degree by way of expertise, and has promised a one-sided, harmful efficiency once they step into the cage.

With the quantity of bravado he’s spoken with, together with in my interview with him a couple of days in the past, something apart from delivering on his guarantees will likely be met with frustration from followers. And if Garry managed to lose this struggle, the backlash to dropping his undefeated file will attain a fever pitch for the outspoken Irishman.

Normally the champion has extra strain than the challenger coming right into a title struggle, however in my view, that’s not the case for Jiri Prochazka coming into his rematch with Pereira.

I defined above how Pereira has some built-in excuses with a defeat. Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) has a lot much less of that moving into his favor, even regardless of the short-notice nature of this case.

In line with Prochazka, he’d agreed to the rematch and began to mentally put together roughly per week previous to Pereira accepting. The previous titleholder considers himself a samurai and true warrior, and stated it’s his philosophy to all the time maintain in good condition and be prepared for a majority of these alternatives.

My total vibe is that Prochazka is extra prepared for this, so if he loses, it’s not going to be nice for him. Going 0-2 in head-to-head matchups with Pereira would basically disqualify him from the title image until Pereira is not champion, and that’s a scary spot to be in.

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 303.