UFC 303 takeaways: No theatrics needed, Alex Pereira is MMA's biggest star

A 13-fight card at UFC 303 in Las Vegas was featured by a overwhelming title battle execution from Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Procházka. In the co-main occasion, Dan Ige ventured in on brief take note, but Diego Lopes put the advancement on take note that he's prepared for the center arrange. But what were the greatest minutes from Universal Battle Week, and who were the greatest standouts on the card? Brett Okamoto, Andreas Solidness and Jeff Wagenheim offer their last thoughts.

Wagenheim: It fair keeps getting way better for Alex Pereira. Only concurring to this title battle, taking it on fair two weeks' take note and whereas he was out of the nation and distant absent from his preparing exercise center, was incredible sufficient. But his execution on Saturday hoisted the UFC light heavyweight winner into the stratosphere.

Pereira's head-kick knockout 13 seconds into Circular 2 of the UFC 303 primary occasion, after dropping previous champ Jiri Procházka with a cleared out snare right at the horn finishing the opening circular, cleared out the swarm at T-Mobile Field staggered and energetic for more from this zapping powerhouse. Possibly it'll be another title defense at 205 pounds, or maybe he's prepared for a move up to heavyweight.

In Pereira's postfight meet interior the cage, commentator Joe Rogan was as of now attempting to offer the heavyweight move, which may catapult "Poatan" toward an phenomenal accomplishment. In fair nine trips interior the Octagon, he has as of now captured the championship at middleweight and light heavyweight. No one has ever won UFC belts in three weight classes.

"I think that's in my future," said Pereira, who was a two-division kickboxing world champ in another wearing life. "I said that final time I was here. ... There didn't appear to be much intrigued in the organization. ... I think the fans have a parcel of say in this -- anything they need. In the conclusion, these are the individuals paying for this. If this is what they need, it is going to be inevitable."

On the one hand, the UFC's heavyweight division doesn't require to include to the existing gridlock between winner Jon Jones, between times winner Tom Aspinall and ex-champion Stipe Miocic. And the 205-pound division may still utilize Pereira's star control, which was sparkling brightly some time recently this night but presently is dazzling.

But there's no micromanaging a wonder like Pereira. If you're the UFC, you discover him the most captivating openings out there and let him accomplish more of what, fair a few brief a long time prior, no one saw coming.

This is not the moment coming of Conor McGregor, whom Pereira supplanted on Saturday. The Irishman is the greatest star the don has ever seen, but his affect was built distant past the cage and, these days, is about all around acting. Pereira, by differentiate, is all warrior. His mic time is clear and talked through an mediator. What makes him a star like no one else in the UFC is all around what happens once he steps into the cage. It starts with his chillingly stolid gaze amid presentations and closes with a chillingly frightening knockout. Fans will joyfully eat up more of that or maybe than tired theatrics.

Lopes and Ige win star treatment after UFC 303

Hale: Yes, Diego Lopes picked up the triumph and amplified his winning streak to four in a push with a consistent choice win over Dan Ige. In any case, the genuine story is fair how this battle finished up happening and how Lopes and Ige conveyed in spite of having no thought they would be battling one another until around four hours some time recently it happened.

Let's begin with Ige.

On Saturday morning, he was going to the battles as a fan. By Saturday night, he was in the co-main occasion and had a solid last circular as he looked for to drag off what would have been a exceptional disturbed in a battle he had no commerce being in.

As for Lopes, he might have pulled out of this battle at any time. He might have shot down the weight restrain for his battle with Brian Ortega being bumped up to 155 pounds on Friday morning. When Ortega fell sick and had to drag out, Lopes didn't have to hazard confronting another adversary, particularly one as intense as Ige, at a catchweight of 165 pounds. But he did it.

Winning and losing do not essentially matter as much as the guts it took for both warriors to keep this co-main occasion together and convey an energizing battle for the fans.

Ige has presently carved his title in the history books and built up a bequest that will be recollected. Anything he needs following, provide it to him -- so long as it doesn't meddled with Lopes' plans.

As for Lopes, his bolt was as of now indicating at the ceiling. If he needs to battle at UFC Noche at The Circle, do it. If he needs a battle with somebody such as Alexander Volkanovski -- whom he called out a short time later -- grant it to him. If Volkanovski is down.

Stars were born on this night, notwithstanding of the victor. Stars some of the time get favorable treatment since of their status, and Lopes and Ige ought to feel slanted to call in a favor or two going forward.

Moment of truth coming for Machado Garry

Okamoto: The UFC has coordinated Ian Machado Garry's career perfectly. Genuinely. And Machado Garry has reimbursed the UFC by advancing and turning himself into a legitimate welterweight contender. He has taken suitably planned steps up in competition, and it hasn't continuously looked like a walk in the stop, but that might be a great thing. A near part choice win against Geoff Neal in February and another near one on Saturday against Michael Page -- these encounters are profitable to his by and large bend, and he has kept up his idealize record indeed in these near ones.

That said, there is no building presently. Machado Garry has entered the echelon of the division where it's going to be difficult to discover gaps to abuse. As great as it's been to see him come out of these challenging circumstances on best, there's too something to be said approximately those challenging circumstances themselves. Machado Garry has not continuously looked especially comfortable in diverse aspects of these battles. He has overcome that with self-belief, great decision-making and exceptionally great aptitudes, but once more, there won't be such clear ways to triumph against future competition.

By the way, his history of bouncing around exercise centers doesn't appear to be holding him back. And in truth, it's difficult to say it's a terrible thing that in a battle like the one against Page, he has prepared Dutch-style kickboxing with the likes of Henri Hooft, but presently moreover has the Muay Thai Chute Boxe fashion in his corner, not to say Demian Maia. In common, it's as a rule not seen as a incredible thing when warriors bounce around exercise centers, but it certainly appears to be working for Machado Garry.