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 brief discover, however Diego Lopes put the promotion on discover that he is prepared for the middle stage. However what have been the largest moments from Worldwide Combat Week, and who have been the largest standouts on the cardboard? Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale and Jeff Wagenheim provide their last 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 overseas and much away from his coaching fitness center, 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 major occasion, after dropping former champ Jiri Procházka with a left hook proper on the horn ending the opening spherical, left the gang at T-Cell Area shocked and anticipating extra from this electrifying powerhouse. Perhaps 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 lightweight heavyweight. Nobody has ever received UFC belts in three weight lessons.

“I believe 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 believe the followers have lots of say on this — no matter they need. Ultimately, these are the individuals paying for this. If that is what they need, it’ll be inevitable.”

On the one hand, the UFC’s heavyweight division does not want so as to add to the present 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 isn’t any micromanaging a phenomenon like Pereira. Should you’re the UFC, you discover him essentially the most intriguing alternatives on the market and let him obtain extra of what, just some brief 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 largest star the game has ever seen, however his affect was constructed far past the cage and, nowadays, is sort of all about melodrama. Pereira, in contrast, is all fighter. His mic time is easy and spoken by way 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.

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Lopes and Ige earn star remedy after UFC 303

Hale: Sure, Diego Lopes picked up the victory and prolonged his profitable streak to 4 in a row with a unanimous resolution win over Dan Ige. Nevertheless, the actual story is simply how this battle ended up occurring and the way Lopes and Ige delivered regardless of having no concept they’d be preventing 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 powerful last 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 load restrict for his battle with Brian Ortega being bumped as much as 155 kilos on Friday morning. When Ortega fell sick and needed to pull out, Lopes did not must threat dealing with one other opponent, particularly one as powerful as Ige, at a catchweight of 165 kilos. However he did it.

Successful and shedding do not essentially matter as a lot as the center 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 identify within the historical past books and established a legacy that might be remembered. No matter he desires subsequent, give it to him — as long as it does not intrude 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 reminiscent of Alexander Volkanovski — whom he known as out afterward — give it to him. If Volkanovski is down.

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

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Second of reality 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 at all times appeared like a stroll within the park, however that could be a great 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 invaluable to his general arc, and he has maintained his good document 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 may be exhausting to seek out holes to take advantage of. Pretty much 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 at all times appeared supremely snug in several sides of those fights. He has overcome that with self-belief, glorious decision-making and excellent abilities, 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 does not appear to be holding him again. And actually, it is exhausting to say it is a dangerous 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 fashion in his nook, to not point out Demian Maia. Typically, it is normally not considered as an important factor when fighters bounce round gyms, but it surely actually appears to be working for Machado Garry.