UFC 303 Preliminary Card Odds, Picks & Predictions (2024)
UFC 303 may have lost its biggest fight after Conor McGregor (broken toe) pulled out of his match against Michael Chandler, but this is still a stellar card. It is star-studded from top-to-bottom and features several veterans that never fail to entertain the fans. The main event between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka is the best possible fight to replace the lost one, so it should be a great night of action.
The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. EDT and feature eight fights before the main card, which starts at 10 p.m. EDT. Several veterans on the card love to please the crowd, so do not miss the early fights. I will give two of my favorite plays from the prelims below!
UFC 303 Preliminary Card Odds, Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Charles Jourdain (-118) vs. Jean Silva (-102)
Charles Jourdain let his last fight against Sean Woodson slip through his fingers because he was not active enough in the first two rounds. He is a slow starter, but Jourdain finds his groove in the third round of all his fights. Jean Silva is entering his second UFC fight after knocking out Westin Wilson in the first round. Both men have similar reach and striking stats, but Jourdain has more experience against higher-level opponents.
Silva will be the one to change levels if either man does, but he has not shown an ability to control opponents on the mat. Jourdain is also a top-notch submission threat, so it may not be wise for Silva to wrestle. Jourdain has finished five fights via submission, including one in September 2023 over Ricardo Ramos. The odds for this are spot on, but Jourdain has the experience to finish this fight, with 13 UFC bouts.
Bet: Charles Jourdain (-118)
Cub Swanson (+200) vs. Andre Fili (-245)
Fan-favorite Cub Swanson is 40 and nearing the end of his career. He is facing Andre Fili, who lost via brutal knockout to Dan Ige his last time in the octagon. Both men have been around the sport for an eternity, and the fans should be raucous for this fight. Swanson is 14-9 in the UFC and 5-3 with the WEC prior. Fili is 11-10 (1 NC) in the UFC and has faced the best competition in the bantamweight division. Swanson could be walking off into the sunset after this fight; there is no official announcement, but he has spoken about retirement after his last fight. He will not compete for a belt anytime soon, but he has looked good against recent opponents, winning four of his previous six fights.
This matchup is much closer than the odds make it seem. Swanson is more defensive than Fili, defending 59% of strikes. He also lands more significant strikes (4.70) per minute than Fili (3.85). Fili’s advantage is in the grappling department, where he lands 2.16 takedowns per 15 minutes, but Swanson is not one to lay on his back. This fight likely takes place standing up, and Swanson is the cleaner striker. It may be difficult, but Swanson can get the job done on the scorecards and land more damage over three rounds.
Bet: Cub Swanson (+200)