An event that will mark the return of one of the sport’s most popular stars, UFC 303 promises to be a fantastic showcase in Sin City. Set for later this month and kicking off your UFC 303 betting rundown, the main event of this contest features a welterweight fight between a returning Conor McGregor and former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion, Michael Chandler. McGregor of course is a former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion and the biggest pay-per-view draw in the history of mixed martial arts, but he has not fought since July 2021. In the other main fight of the event, former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill squares off against Carlos Ulberg. Hill’s opponent sports a career MMA record of 10-1 and is coming off a sensational 12-second knockout win over Alonzo Menifield in May.
In this report, SBS will be covering what to look for from each fighter along with some predicted matchup winners and even more information about UFC 303 betting and beyond.
| UFC 303 Main Event Bouts | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler | McGregor | -105 | -105 | -105 |
| Carlos Ulberg vs. Jamahal Hill | Hill | -120 | -120 | -120 |
Fighter Spotlight: Conor McGregor
A renowned fighter during his career, “The Notorious” has accrued a ton of accolades to date in MMA. As noted above, he is a former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, becoming the first UFC fighter to hold UFC championships in two weight classes simultaneously. With an overall career record of 22-6, McGregor has accrued 19 knockout wins since he started in MMA and is known for his tremendous counter-striking skills, striking precision, and of course, knockout power. He also uses mental warfare against his opponents to get them out of their normal rhythm as they enter their matchups with each other. While he of course is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time, his past couple of fights have been disappointing with the Irish fighter posting a mark of 1-3 in his last four contests.
Fighter Spotlight: Michael Chandler
McGregor’s opponent in this matchup will be an MMA veteran in the form of Chandler who has a strong resume and career to date as well. A former high school wrestling champion in Missouri, the American fighter had an extremely accomplished career in Bellator, notching the promotion’s Lightweight Championship three times while also winning the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. With a career MMA mark of 23-8, he also has had some tough matches in his last four bouts. While a mark of 1-3 is not what Chandler wanted, all of these fights were either Performance of the Night/Fight of the Night bouts, a title fight, or Fight of the Year (Justin Gaethje) worthy which shows he is always a tough opponent for anyone. This will be his first bout since November 2022.
Prediction: An interesting bout between two veteran fighters, McGregor has the slight edge here thanks to his strong knockout pedigree. However, he would be unwise to take his opponent lightly as Chandler will score the win here if his opponent is unprepared for this bout.
Fighter Spotlight: Jamahal Hill
The former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Hill has a career record of 12-2 which includes seven career knockout victories. While he lost his title to Alex Pereira earlier this year at UFC 300, he is still considered a top-three light heavyweight per the UFC rankings. Prior to that fight, he had won four straight bouts, including three in a row via KO/TKO. His championship fight win over Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 earned him Fight of the Night honors with a spectacular decision victory over the MMA legend.
Fighter Spotlight: Carlos Ulberg
Ulberg has been riding a hot streak as of late, scoring six consecutive victories dating back to February of 2022. During this time, Ulberg has notched four TKO/KO wins along with a submission victory over Jung Da-Un at UFC 293. While he is still ranked just outside the top 10 in the UFC Light Heavyweight rankings, that could change quickly if he scores a huge win over Hill. Obviously, he has sensational knockout power as evidenced by his 12-second victory over Menifield last month. The concern here though is if the New Zealand fighter will be able to compete again on such short notice.
Prediction: Another very close battle, take Hill to score the narrow win here. This bout could really go either way, but Hill has a more established resume and is ready for a rebound since losing his championship.
After you are all squared away in relation to the latest gaming news coming from the UFC, make sure to of course tap into the awesome array of info for you only at SBS. For even more information on your UFC 303 bets and beyond, check out the UFC betting sites guide. On this page, you can find the latest UFC betting markets that can potentially help you build the best UFC 303 bets and more down the road. Conversely, for those interested in maximizing their UFC 303 picks, make sure to peruse the best bonus betting sites breakdown which goes over a catalog of welcome bonus offers and tips for promotions. Finally, another route to possibly explore for your UFC 303 betting card is the VIP sports betting sites rundown which goes over the perks of VIP betting.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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