WHATS UP FIGHT FANS! The Goose is dead. Long live the Phil. Or the king. Whatever works. But I’ll be going by my real name from now on.

This weekend we head to Las Vegas for UFC 303 that headlines international fight week. This cards had more changes than Conor McGregors had steroids, with fights chopping and changing week in week out! We all know what happened with the original card, so let’s just embrace what we’ve got and enjoy this absolute BANGER of a card!

IAN MACHADO GARRY V MICHAEL VENOM PAGE

The main card opens in an absolutely stunning way, as two of the world’s best will go to war for our entertainment. Garry is of course still riding a professional undefeated streak, with a record of 14-0 with 7 of those wins coming in the UFC. MVP comes in off the back of a UFC Debut win against Kevin Holland, and a storied career in Bellator boasting a pro record of 22-2.

I’ve flipped back and forward on this fight all week. Very few fights have ever had me unable to genuinely side with 1 fighter. But this 1, is maybe the closest fight we’ve had for some time. Both men are strikers, who can throw crazy shots from all angles. Garry has more of an orthodox fighting style, and MVP likes to switch it up.

I don’t see either guy winning by finish. Not because they lack the ability to do it. I just think we are going to see a more karate point style type of fight, with the decision been left in the hands of the ever unreliable Vegas judges.

PICK – Ian Garry to beat MVP via split decision.

Next up we head to the ladies 135 division.

MAYRA BUENO SILVA V MACY CHIASSON

This is a fun match up for the main card. We have the taller, longer, number 8 ranked Macy Chiasson. Going up against the submission specialist and number 5 ranked Brazilian Myra Bueno Silva.

Chiasson comes in off a win last time out against Pannie Kianzad. Brazils Silva enters following a world title tilt she lost to Raquel Pennington at UFC 297. Both fighters have similar records with Chiasson boasting a 9-3 record, whilst silva holds a fight resume of 10-3-1.

This is a pretty close fight if you look at the betting odds. I was surprised to see it as a pick ‘em contest. This fight is going to go to the mat at some point and both ladies have slick submission games. Chiasson edges the stand up but I don’t think she’s what I’d class as a great striker. So for me it’s going to come down to who’s got the better submission game. For me that’s Silva. Plus I rather think it suits her being the shorter fighter in this one. I expect her to duck under Chiassons strikes and get her to the mat as soon as possible.

PICK – Myra Bueno Silva defeats Macy Chiasson via 1st round submission. 

3rd fight on the main card. We head to the light heavyweight division. For the 1st fight of 3 fights including guys who were never on the original card.

ANTHONY SMITH V ROMAN DOLIDZE

People might not be raving about this fight. Both guys come in on short notice. Dolidze on even shorter notice, filling the void left by the injured Carlos Ulberg. Who was originally scheduled to face the injured Jamahal Hill. But this could well end up being a 3 round fire fight. Both guys love a war, but bother guys are also partial to a finish.

Smith comes in an off a huge surprise win against the highly fancied prospect Vitor Petrino, via 1st round submission. Dolidze enters on a 2 fight skid, but both where close decision loses against ranked fighters in Vettori and Imavov. Before that he was on a 3 fight winning streak. All coming by the way of knockout.

For this writer, I think this one’s going to be bloody! I’m still split on if someone gets a finish. But this article isn’t for sitting on the fence so I’ve got to ride with one! Dolidze is far more seasoned than Petrino, and he’s not going to make the same errors for Smith to capitalise on. So with that, I’m riding with the superior striker in Dolidze. Smith will still be a danger for the 1st round. He might be able to lock up a submission win. But even though I’m a Smith fan, I just think when it comes to him beating seasoned pro’s his best days are behind him.

PICK – Roman Dolidze to beat Anthony Smith via 2nd round KO.

Already at the CO MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!

BRIAN ORTEGA V DIEGO LOPES.

I literally had to rewrite this part of the article after today’s announcement that the fight will now take place at 155. I was still flipping between the 2 when it was at 145, but now with what’s happened I have to ride with Ortega.

Let me make it crystal clear. I LOVE Diego Lopes. But this is his toughest fight to date at 145, so now it’s at 155 I just think it’s too big an ask. Ortega isn’t daft and he knows this is going to give him an advantage. But in fairness he said way before the fight he plans on moving up. As it’s just to big a cut on his body now. However it’s a cheap move still. Should have made it at 155 regardless a month ago. Lopes would have still said yes.

I’m just going to sit back and enjoy this one. Two absolute technicians going at it. Both capable of WTF moments! Both coming off great wins. I just think the weights going to be too much of an advantage for Ortega regardless.

PICK – Brian Ortega defeats Diego Lopes by 3rd round submission.

Main Event time. I’d get Bruce Buffer to write the introductions if I could! But he ghosted me. Still love the guy! THIS IS THE MAIN EVENT OF THE EVENING!

ALEX PEREIRA (c) v JIRI PROCHAZKA – 5 ROUNDS FOR THE UNDISPUTED LHW WORLD TITLE.

I picked Alex to beat Jiri in the first fight, and that’s exactly what he did. Now I could be just hoping for a trilogy, but I really like Jiri for a win this time around.

As we know Jiri likes to block with his face, abandoning defence and going for the kill. That sounds like is meat for Alex. But if this goes past 1, with the short training camps I think Jiri will take over. Jiri is super focused pretty much all year round, living like a Samurai. Hell he even locked himself away for 3 days in a shed after he accepted the fight to mediate. I just think he will be the better prepared. Alex was sunning himself in Australia at this point.

We all know about these guys stand up games. Both highly skilled strikers. Both love to trade. It’s a pick’em fight. But I’m riding with the Samurai to even the score, take the title and set up a trilogy in November at MSG. Where it all began.

PICK – Jiri Prochazka beats Alex Pereira by 3rd round submission. (Yes I said submission)  

Thanks for reading – X @PhilBPDean