The highlight of International Fight Week is the main event of UFC 303 this Saturday. Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will defend his title in a highly anticipated rematch against top contender Jiri Prochazka. Their five-round bout headlines the main card, starting at 10 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. International Fight Week is a special time for combat sports enthusiasts, with major promotions hosting events to honor their fans. This week, the UFC has organized numerous meet-and-greet sessions, allowing fans to connect with their favorite fighters. The climax of the festivities is the action-packed UFC 303 fight card on Saturday night.
In the latest odds for UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2, Pereira is the favorite at -160 (bet $160 to win $100), while Procházka is the underdog at +135. The co-main event features top featherweight contenders Diego Lopes (-150) facing off against two-time title challenger Brian Ortega (+125). Before you place any bets on UFC 303, check out the expert predictions and betting tips from SportsLine’s Daniel Vithlani.
Vithlani dives deep into the MMA betting scene, analyzing fight footage, keeping a close eye on fighters and their training camps, and monitoring smart money movements and market trends. His expertise extends beyond just analysis; he also trains amateur boxers and frequently talks with MMA fighters to gain a deeper understanding of the sport’s intricacies.
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Since joining SportsLine in January 2023, Vithlani has made quite an impression, starting off with a perfect 5-0 record on the main card for UFC 283. He has continued his winning streak, maintaining a consistent track record. In the past 12 UFC pay-per-view events, Vithlani has achieved an 8-4 record on main-event picks, and his main-card selections have brought in over $1,500 in profits for his followers.
Vithlani’s standout predictions include calling Sean O’Malley’s upset win (+210) over Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292, as part of a 4-1 main card. At UFC 299, he successfully picked underdogs Poirier (+190) against Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) over Kevin Holland (-130). Those who have followed his advice have seen substantial returns.
With UFC 303: Pereira vs. Procházka 2 approaching, Vithlani has thoroughly analyzed the entire fight card and released his top picks. You can find his expert selections and detailed analysis exclusively on SportsLine.
In under two years, Pereira (10-2) has skyrocketed from a UFC unknown to one of the sport’s biggest active stars. The keyword here is “active.” This 36-year-old Brazilian striker is headlining his second pay-per-view event in just 10 weeks, stepping up on short notice once again to save the day amidst the promotion’s matchmaking challenges.
Pereira (10-2) was fast-tracked by the UFC to become a potential rival for former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who was running out of strong challengers. Having already defeated Adesanya twice in professional kickboxing, Pereira made his mark by knocking out Sean Strickland in the first round of their title eliminator in July 2022. He then went on to stop Adesanya and claim the title in November that same year.
Since then, he has also secured a second title in the light heavyweight division, but his fame has soared largely due to his role in saving critical events. When the UFC failed to deliver a promised super fight for the landmark UFC 300 card in April, Pereira and Jamahal Hill stepped up on short notice to headline. Pereira sealed the deal with a first-round knockout victory.
Both Pereira and Procházka fought on the UFC 300 card and quickly agreed to headline UFC 303 with just two weeks’ notice. Procházka (30-4-1), known for his relentless and daring fighting style, claimed the UFC belt in only his third bout with the promotion. He secured a thrilling second-round knockout over Aleksandar Rakic, earning a prestigious $300,000 performance bonus and setting the stage for a rematch with Pereira.
The McGregor vs. Chandler fight faced uncertainty when a kickoff press conference in Ireland was canceled, and McGregor officially withdrew from UFC 303 the following week. Shortly after, UFC president Dana White revealed that Pereira vs. Procházka 2 would step up to take its place as the main event at UFC 303, becoming the focal point of this week’s UFC betting action. For additional UFC 303 predictions, visit SportsLine.
