If you were worried about UFC 303 not having a title on the line in any fight, that’s still the case, but another major bout has been added to spice up the International Fight Week card.
On Friday, UFC CEO Dana White announced the addition of No. 7 Ian Machado Garry vs. No. 13 Michael Venom Page.
This matchup of pure strikers will undoubtedly land on the main card behind the main event that will see the return of Conor McGregor against former Bellator champion Michael Chandler.
Garry had been chasing a fight with Colby Covington, but the brash American showed little interest in facing the equally outspoken up-and-coming welterweight. Garry is coming off an impressive win over Geoff Neal at UFC 298 in February.
Fighting on the undercard with McGregor, a fighter Garry has patterned his style after, is likely an honor, and it provides a massive platform for the undefeated Irishman to grow his fanbase. However, it won’t be an easy night for Garry.
MVP is one of the premier strikers in combat sports. After a long career in Bellator, Page shined in his UFC debut against Kevin Holland at UFC 300 in April. Page easily dismantled Holland with his quickness, striking accuracy, and elusiveness. He will represent Garry’s stiffest competition, and the winner seems destined to face a Top-5 opponent in their next battle.
Here is a look at the entire card as of May 24. Because 11 fights have already been confirmed, per UFC.com, and a rumored battle between Andrei Arlovski and Martin Buday could be announced soon, we could be close to a finalized card. The fights for the June 29 event for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas are here.
- Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler
- Jamahal Hill vs. Carlos Ulberg
- Ian Machado Garry vs. Michael “Venom” Page
- Mayra Bueno Silva vs. Macy Chiasson
- Ricky Simon vs. Vinicius Oliveira
- Michelle Waterson-Gomez vs. Gillian Robertson
- Joe Pyfer vs. Marc-Andre Barriault
- Cub Swanson vs. Andre Fili
- Charles Jourdain vs. Jean Silva
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Carlos Hernandez
- Payton Talbott vs. Yanis Ghemmouri
Even if the Arlovski-Buday fight is added, a case could still be made for one more main-card-level addition to the event. McGregor is a major attraction, but it still feels light from a star-power standpoint. One more matchup with two ranked fighters would put this card in a lovely spot.
More Recent UFC 303 News
Initially, Jamahal Hill was set to face Khalil Rountree on the UFC 303 main card. However, Rountree was suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. The UFC quickly pivoted to provide Hill with a strong opponent. In steps Carlos Ulberg, a 33-year-old rising star from New Zealand.
Ulberg has won seven straight fights, including a 12-second demolition of Alonzo Menifield at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Nascimento earlier this month in St. Louis. Because of his quick finish, Ulberg was readily available to take advantage of an opportunity to leap from No. 11 in the UFC’s light heavyweight rankings to the Top 5 with a win over former champion Hill, currently ranked No. 3.
Hill last fought in the main event of UFC 300 when he was flattened by light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in the first round. He’ll be looking to re-establish himself as a top contender at 205 pounds.
Stay tuned for future developments with UFC 303 and other combat sports events.
