#UFC #ufc303 #UFCCountdown
UFC 303 Countdown previews a rematch for the light heavyweight title, as current king Alex Pereira, faces former champion Jiri Prochazka. Plus, UK striking phenom Michael “Venom” Page battles Ireland’s rising star, Ian Machado Garry at welterweight. Main card action kicks off this Saturday, June 29th at 10pm ET / 7pm PT.
UFC 303 Countdown previews a rematch for the light heavyweight title, as current king Alex Pereira, faces former champion Jiri Prochazka. Plus, UK striking phenom Michael “Venom” Page battles Ireland’s rising star, Ian Machado Garry at welterweight. Main card action kicks off this Saturday, June 29th at 10pm ET / 7pm PT.
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00:00Each year in Las Vegas, rising temperatures herald another sweltering summer and the build-up
00:09to the UFC's marquee event at the T-Mobile Arena.
00:16International Fight Week is a celebration of the UFC's worldwide representation.
00:20There's nothing like International Fight Week here in Vegas.
00:23It is massive energy going into this fight card.
00:27This notion is reflected once again in 2024, with a card brimming with talent from all
00:32corners of the globe.
00:33The UFC's annual summer blockbuster has arrived and with it all the star power you have come
00:39to expect from the combat sports leader.
00:42We have some fantastic fights.
00:44In the main event, Brazilian UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira puts his title on the line
00:50in a rematch against the former champion from the Czech Republic, Iri Prochaska.
00:55This is a life-or-death battle for the soul.
01:08Oh, nice job by Iri.
01:09A big right hand.
01:10Oh!
01:11He did it again!
01:12That is gonna do it, Alex Pereira!
01:14And new UFC light heavyweight champion!
01:18Thank you, Alex.
01:19Thank you for this fight.
01:21For me, it's a big learn.
01:24Let's work on that and be back stronger than ever.
01:39When you want to be the best, first you have to see that.
01:42And when you can believe in that, that way is possible.
01:51Just watch me.
01:54Oh!
01:55That was a big right hand!
01:56Iri Prochaska!
01:57Prochaska applies pressure!
01:59How about the rally tonight?
02:01The Czech Republic's Iri Prochaska!
02:05It's important to come out with the win.
02:07Whether it's the points, the knockout, the final.
02:09Four punches, hard and fast.
02:11I want to come out with the win.
02:13He's got that nuclear option.
02:15You cannot make a mistake.
02:17Oh!
02:18Oh!
02:19Big early knockdown from Poch.
02:21Oh my goodness!
02:22And still Alex Pineda maintains the throne!
02:29Setting the stage in a featured main card bout
02:32is two of Europe's brightest welterweights.
02:35Undefeated contender Ian Machado-Gerry
02:38gets the opportunity to show why he is the future of Irish MMA.
02:42I am the new generation of striker in the world.
02:44Oh!
02:45Lined him up, all knocked him out.
02:47Ian Machado-Gerry!
02:49How about the Irishman?
02:51I'm learning, I'm growing.
02:53In the next couple of years, I'm having a belt strap around my waist.
02:56Looking to hand the Irishman his first defeat
02:59is UK striking sensation Michael Venom Page.
03:02He's competing in boxing, kickboxing, karate, MMA.
03:07After an impressive performance in his UFC debut,
03:10Page looks to build momentum as he continues his rise in the rankings.
03:14He's going to look bad, I'm going to look great.
03:16And he's going to go to sleep.
03:18I've got the snooze button right here.
03:20He's one of the more interesting strikers to ever compete in MMA.
03:24He's going to be fearful for his life
03:26because this is the first time in his life
03:28where he's meeting someone that's faster than he is.
03:30Oh!
03:31Huge right counter!
03:32That's it.
03:33Ian-Gerry coming up large!
03:35UFC, you have a new star in town.
03:37It all goes down on June 29th
03:40when the spotlight shines on Las Vegas once again
03:43in preparation for this monumental moment.
03:45Holy smoke.
03:47This is an unbelievable card.
03:48So much hype.
03:50Here we go!
03:52This is UFC 303.
03:57Countdown.
03:58Unstoppable.
04:08At UFC 303,
04:12light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira
04:14will put his title on the line.
04:17In a rematch against the former champion,
04:20Yuri Prohaska.
04:23The match up on June 29th
04:25will be the next chapter in the storied careers
04:27of two fighters that have been intrinsically linked
04:30since their arrival on the sport's biggest stage.
04:37The Czech Republic's Yuri Prohaska
04:39shot to fame in Japan.
04:46As an established champion,
04:48he set his sights on a bigger prize.
04:50Signing with the UFC
04:52with the intention of immediately proving his status
04:55as a top contender.
04:57So here he is, the Czech Republic's Yuri Prohaska.
04:59A man that studies martial arts,
05:01lives and breathes the sport.
05:04I just had one thing in my head
05:06to be the UFC champion, to have a belt.
05:10Oh! This man is all out action.
05:12He can get the job done everywhere.
05:14Oh!
05:15When you want to be the champion,
05:17you have to defeat whoever.
05:19I have to go through my opponent.
05:25If you want to win, go there and win.
05:27That's my attitude.
05:30Do you think you're ready to face the next title holder?
05:33Let's do that. Let's do that. Yeah.
05:35For his first shot at UFC gold,
05:37Prohaska stepped up to face the champion,
05:40and Alex Pereira's head coach, Glover Tishema.
05:43It was an honor to fight this legend.
05:46Oh, come on!
05:48I mean, the impact, you can hear it.
05:50He's going to go for a ride.
05:52Oh, arm triangle. Arm triangle.
05:54Oh, it's tight.
05:55Oh, Yuri went over the elbow.
05:56Wow!
05:57Incredible defensive work from Prohaska.
06:00This fight has had it all.
06:02It's one of the greatest experiences
06:04in the hardest situation
06:06to do what is necessary for a win.
06:08Oh, he taps!
06:09He taps!
06:10Yuri Prohaska has done it!
06:12There is a new light heavyweight champion!
06:15The Czech Republic has got one!
06:22An injury in preparation for the rematch with Tishema
06:25halted the reign of the first Czech champion.
06:28Really unfortunate news that Yuri Prohaska
06:30is suffering a very severe shoulder injury.
06:33I canceled that fight.
06:34Sorry to Glover.
06:37That's life.
06:38That was a tough time, but the show must go on.
06:42Yuri Prohaska has vacated the belt
06:45so that the division can keep moving along.
06:48The announcement of the vacant title
06:50sparked a series of events that sent
06:52the light heavyweight division
06:53into a state of flux over the next year.
06:55UFC did offer Glover Tishera
06:57the title fight against Nagomet Ankalaev.
07:00Glover Tishera declined.
07:01Ankalaev versus Jan Vlahovic
07:03is the new main event.
07:05This contest is declared a split draw!
07:10There was supposed to be a champion that night.
07:12Shockingly, it goes to draw.
07:13There was no champion.
07:14The title's still vacant.
07:15What do you do now?
07:16We do Glover versus Jamal Hill for the vacant title.
07:19Jamal Hill defeated a former world champion
07:22in his hometown in one of the most dominant
07:25light heavyweight fights in UFC history.
07:28And now Jamal Hill is the champion of the world.
07:33Jamal Hill has torn his achilles.
07:35He is going to be out indefinitely
07:37so he has vacated the title.
07:39Light heavyweight has no champion.
07:43Who should be next then?
07:53As Prohaska approached the return to competition,
07:57a new contender emerged.
08:00The end is near.
08:02The end is near.
08:03The end is in that pressure.
08:05That pressure.
08:06That brutal pressure.
08:08Yes, yes.
08:09Don't stop. Yes.
08:11Alex Pereira's impact on the UFC
08:13was equally effective.
08:16When I got there,
08:17a lot of people criticized me.
08:19They said,
08:20it's just another strike,
08:21it won't do anything.
08:22He doesn't know jiu-jitsu.
08:23He doesn't know how to defend a fall.
08:26This is one of the most feared strikers
08:29to ever fight in kickboxing.
08:31Smash knockout power.
08:36He is a truly exceptional striker.
08:39Knocked out Israel Adesanya with one punch
08:41with kickboxing gloves.
08:43The only glory two-division simultaneous champ ever.
08:47This man is a monster.
08:48I used him as motivation.
08:55What good is that?
09:10You know when you stand and trade,
09:12this guy is as dangerous as it gets.
09:22Any mistake you make with him,
09:23it's night-night.
09:26Massive left for Pereira.
09:27That's it.
09:28Alex Pereira has done it again.
09:31You cannot stand in front of that man.
09:34That power is different.
09:36Just one year after his UFC debut,
09:39Pereira was given his first title shot
09:41against a middleweight king.
09:43Fighter first.
09:44We've only seen Alex three times,
09:46but that speaks to how special this guy is.
09:49I knew it would be fast,
09:50but things were going beyond my expectations.
09:53When I fought Israel Adesanya,
09:55I said to myself,
09:56I'm going to take it easy,
09:57I'm not going to be scared.
09:58I know my potential.
10:00I'm a professional who takes things seriously,
10:03and that's my job.
10:05And that's what I did.
10:22Middleweight champion!
10:23I don't believe it!
10:29After conquering the middleweight division,
10:31a move up to 205 pounds
10:33offered a new challenge for his second belt.
10:53A surefire light heavyweight title eliminator.
10:56There's that low kick.
10:57He comes so sneaky.
10:59Oh, big power by Pereira.
11:01Oh, and then a good shot.
11:03He's stung him with that one.
11:06An impressive performance against a former champion.
11:09Perfectly positioned Poetan
11:11for a shot at light heavyweight gold.
11:22When I moved up,
11:23people already knew my potential,
11:25so they wanted me to deliver this fight fast.
11:28Gilles had left his belt due to an injury,
11:31so I knew he could come back at any moment
11:34and he would be one of the first
11:36because he had that right.
11:38So I was prepared for that.
11:41Former light heavyweight champion Yuri Prohaska
11:43faces former middleweight champ Alex Pereira
11:47for the vacant 205 pound title.
11:50Prohaska is fully recovered.
11:52He's still undefeated in the UFC
11:54and he wants his belt back.
12:09In 2022,
12:11newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Yuri Prohaska
12:16vacated the title after suffering an injury.
12:21The nature of Prohaska's departure
12:23earned him an immediate title shot upon his return.
12:26And with the arrival of a formidable contender
12:28in the form of Alex Pereira,
12:30the fight was set for the undisputed title
12:33at UFC 295.
12:35Live from Madison Square Garden
12:37in New York, New York, USA,
12:39this is UFC 295,
12:41Prohaska versus Pereira.
12:43This particular main event matchup
12:45is truly as good as it gets.
12:47Yuri Prohaska is back.
12:49He has regained his health.
12:50Tonight, he'll try to regain the title
12:52he never lost in the octagon
12:53while on the other side, Alex Pereira
12:55has his sights set on history
12:57as he tries to become just the ninth
12:59two-division champion in UFC history.
13:01People love him, and how can you not?
13:04When he has been here for two years
13:06and he has made this type of impact.
13:08He has beaten champions.
13:09He has held the belt.
13:11This is a special talent.
13:12The fight with Jiri is a guy
13:14that shows a lot of coldness.
13:18A true student of the mixed martial arts game.
13:21Here is the former UFC light heavyweight champion
13:23and now number one ranked contender,
13:25Yuri Prohaska.
13:26He's a serious guy.
13:28I knew he wouldn't come to play,
13:30and he didn't come to play.
13:32It's more or less my style,
13:36with the differences,
13:38but it's similar.
13:39Prohaska gets back on the proving ground tonight,
13:41and he is mostly confident he will regain the throne.
13:44Look at this stare down.
13:46Intensity.
13:47Whoa.
13:48The face-off moment,
13:50there is no place for thinking.
14:03You have to show just who you are.
14:05And he's a warrior.
14:07I am the warrior.
14:10And that's what the people can see.
14:15Oh, man.
14:16Oh, my goodness.
14:18These guys have not taken their eyes off each other the whole time.
14:20That's the most intense stare down I've ever seen.
14:30Oh, look at that.
14:31I mean, crazy, crazy, crazy power.
14:35Another one.
14:36Right away.
14:37You can't.
14:40Oh, his legs already hurt, Joe.
14:42It's a real problem, that kick.
14:44And he does it better than anyone in the world.
14:48Oh, my goodness.
14:49Yeah, he's already got that leg beat up, man.
14:51First round with Alex was under my control.
14:55It was a good few kicks from him,
14:58but I know I controlled that round.
15:02The awkwardness of the angles that Prochaska's shots come at
15:05is so hard to prepare for.
15:07Yuri's trying to take him down.
15:08That's smarter, Yuri.
15:09Getting on the single leg.
15:19He's deep on that neck.
15:20He's deep on that neck.
15:21Yeah, that's tight.
15:22Yuri might be in trouble here.
15:24Yeah, he can't just sit here and do it.
15:27He doesn't have the second hand.
15:32Early takedown for Prochaska.
15:35Great job by Yuri.
15:37Oh, big shots.
15:38Big shots from Prochaska.
15:40And now he's getting back up to his feet, which is huge.
15:43Could be huge, you're right.
15:44Yeah.
15:46Oh, nice right hand from Pareda.
15:48Now Prochaska advances.
15:50The leg kicks could have been enough for Pareda to get ahead.
15:57All right, here we go, round two.
16:00Prochaska switched to southpaw now.
16:02He'll go back and forth.
16:03Second round, same like first round.
16:06It was in my hands, and until the finish, same.
16:13Oh, big shot by Prochaska.
16:16Oh, and now Pareda returns fire and lands.
16:19Pareda's body from Prochaska.
16:21Yuri's got him hurt.
16:22In the second round, I knew he was going to be more aggressive
16:24because he was stronger than me.
16:26If he keeps Alex up against the fence,
16:28he's going to have a lot more success faking a takedown
16:30and coming up with strikes.
16:31In that last moment, when he was hunting,
16:34I think he got a little scared
16:36and wanted to try to finish the fight.
16:40After my right punch,
16:43he catched me with a right direct and left hook.
16:48I was able to defend myself,
16:50and I was able to finish the fight.
16:53I was able to defend myself,
16:55and I came back with a right and a cross.
16:57He fell, feeling the blow,
16:59and I was able to catch him with my elbows.
17:02Oh, now that's going to hurt!
17:04That is going to do it for Alex Pareda!
17:06Welcome to the history books!
17:15And new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion,
17:19Alex Pareda!
17:21The ninth two-division champion in UFC history!
17:25I felt very happy.
17:28I had already been a light heavyweight champion,
17:31which was a great happiness.
17:33And winning two belts,
17:35everyone knows how hard it is to achieve that.
17:38And in such a short time, I was able to do that.
17:42So it's a huge happiness for me.
17:46So, Alex Pareda,
17:48in just his seventh UFC fight,
17:50has realized world titles in two divisions.
17:54He won. I accept that.
17:57I knew that I was better than that.
18:00But right now, I know what to do,
18:03what not to do in the next fight.
18:08For me, it's to be clear.
18:11Let's work on that,
18:13and be back stronger than ever.
18:16Thank you, Alex. Thank you for this fight.
18:19I'll be back. I'll be back.
18:21Yuri Prohaska, ladies and gentlemen.
18:23Thank you, sir.
18:43In November of 2023,
18:46Oh, cannot take too many of those.
18:48former middleweight champion Alex Pereira
18:51Oh!
18:53became the ninth fighter in UFC history
18:55Oh, big elbows!
18:57to earn belts in two divisions.
18:59So, Alex Pareda, in just his seventh UFC fight,
19:02has realized world titles in two divisions.
19:05When he defeated Yuri Prohaska
19:08for the vacant light heavyweight title,
19:11five months later,
19:12the two would feature on the same card yet again
19:16as part of the historic UFC 300 event.
19:19The milestone event is officially upon us.
19:24For the former champion, Yuri Prohaska,
19:26a high-profile matchup against ranked contender
19:29Alexander Rakic
19:31provided him with an opportunity to stay in contention
19:33with a statement performance.
19:35Tonight, we'll see if the Czech Republic's top dog
19:38can put his creative weaponry
19:40on the towering contender Alexander Rakic.
19:43Alexander Rakic was one of the hardest opponents
19:47in the light heavyweight division.
19:49I've worked on the strategy
19:51and what to do, what not to do in that fight.
19:55He's got a golden opportunity at UFC 300
19:57to gain some major traction en route to the world title.
20:02Mental and physical toughness personified.
20:05Enter light heavyweight contender Alexander Rakic.
20:09That fight was, for me, so important,
20:11so I was emotionally totally in it.
20:15Representing the Czech Republic
20:17here is the Muay Thai and karate striker Yuri Prohaska.
20:20He's so wildly unorthodox.
20:23He's so difficult to prepare for.
20:25Things come from so many different angles.
20:27And just the way he prepares,
20:29punching trees in the woods,
20:31very unusual human being.
20:35I expected that when I will win,
20:37then I will have the chance for the title fight again.
20:42And I believe I am ready for a win.
20:56Rakic's much more traditional in his approach
20:59with his techniques and his movement,
21:01whereas Yuri is very unorthodox.
21:04But Yuri just looks almost disdainful.
21:09See, there he is.
21:10He stung him. He stung him.
21:12That's why Yuri's so dangerous.
21:16Rakic hit a big right hand a moment ago.
21:19Uppercut and a right hand follows up for Rakic.
21:25We got a fight, ladies and gentlemen.
21:28It's very important to note that in that round,
21:30Alexander fought a great first round,
21:32but Yuri had a moment.
21:33And in that moment,
21:34it looked like he might get him out of there.
21:37Rakic right back to work early round two.
21:40Oh!
21:41Nice behind that sneaky jab.
21:44I sacrificed a lot of leg kicks,
21:47a lot of punches,
21:48to just set up the right distance,
21:52right technique.
21:54I catched him in a stand-up with the right...
21:56Oh!
21:57That was a big right hand!
21:59He hurt him bad!
22:01Rakic nearly out on his feet.
22:03Oh, big knee now!
22:05I threw him to the ground.
22:08And then I continued to hunt his head.
22:12Rakic is in deep, deep trouble.
22:14This could be it.
22:15Oh, my goodness.
22:17That'll do it!
22:18How about the rally tonight?
22:20The Czech Republic's Yuri Prohazka moving on up!
22:24We all need to be inspired by something.
22:29And no matter who will win tonight,
22:32in the main event,
22:34I want to face the champion.
22:36Yuri Prohazka, ladies and gentlemen!
22:42We have arrived at our championship main event.
22:44Hodeida versus Hill.
22:46What a championship matchup we have
22:48between light heavyweight strikers.
22:50Alex Pereira's position as the headline attraction
22:52for this marquee moment
22:54was indicative of just how far his stardom had come.
22:58Everyone said I wouldn't make it,
23:00that I'd be left behind.
23:02It was just a strike.
23:04I've been proving it to everyone.
23:07And I'm a two-time champion,
23:09so there's no argument against it.
23:13Everyone knows how to make a main event fight
23:16the biggest card in the history of the UFC.
23:19I think I was recognized as one of the best fighters in the UFC.
23:25So I was very happy.
23:28For his first title defense,
23:30Poetan marched into battle
23:32against yet another former champion.
23:35Alex Pereira is confident he will cement his reign
23:38against a fighter who never lost his belt in the Octagon,
23:41Jamal, Sweet Dreams Hill.
23:45We're at a level where there's no easy fight.
23:49All the opponents there have a lot of experience
23:51to be fighting for the belt.
23:54But I think my qualities were better than his.
23:57Mentally.
24:00Technically.
24:02I think I take things more seriously than Jamal.
24:07I'm never sure about things.
24:09We don't know what happens.
24:11But I was almost certain I would leave with my belt.
24:16That's another day at the office.
24:18That's another day at the office.
24:21Well, at this time last year,
24:22the path to UFC light heavyweight gold
24:24went through Grand Rapids, Michigan
24:26and Jamal, Sweet Dreams Hill.
24:28And now, this plus athlete
24:30returns to the proving ground
24:32in a championship setting once again.
24:34And he believes he is going to knock out Alex Pereira here tonight.
24:38All right, so the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion,
24:41Poetan Alex Pereira,
24:43making the deliberate shot here to the octagon.
24:46This dude has the scariest walkout.
24:49He really does.
24:50When he gets here, here it is.
25:09Two outstanding strikers, albeit with different styles.
25:12Just about ready to engage
25:14for the UFC light heavyweight championship
25:17of the world.
25:25All right, final act for UFC 300 is upon us.
25:32Oh man.
25:33Oh boy.
25:34This one is going to be crazy.
25:39Nice body kick.
25:40Good right hand.
25:41Heel goes high.
25:42Pereira saw it coming.
25:44Pereira will stab that jab to the body
25:47and use it to set up the left hook.
25:48Yeah, you better not start to reach down
25:50for that jab to the body.
25:56Please, get out of here.
26:12So Abitur came to interrupt,
26:14to see what he was doing,
26:15to see if everything was all right.
26:16I just made a sign with my hand there.
26:19I said everything was all right,
26:20and he said, get out of the fight.
26:27I was in a moment there,
26:28in a very good distance.
26:30I managed to connect a left hook,
26:33a very strong hook.
26:35Well, he fell, and I went up there
26:37and finished my job.
26:41Still, Alex Poiton.
26:45Pereira maintains the throne.
26:47Wow.
26:48My goodness.
26:49My goodness.
26:50This guy right here, what a killer.
26:56On the strength of accomplishment,
26:57that man just became an all-time great
26:59in the UFC in two and a half years.
27:02Insane.
27:03Just insane.
27:12Just two months after this iconic event,
27:16Pereira returns to the T-Mobile arena
27:20to once again put his title on the line
27:24in a rematch of epic proportions.
27:41The ninth two-division champion in UFC history.
27:55Nice and relaxed, nice and relaxed.
27:57Just watch your combo, yeah.
28:02That's all.
28:04We have arrived at the end of day.
28:08His ability inside the octagon
28:10when it comes to striking is second to none.
28:12He just knocks them dead.
28:26His power is extraordinary.
28:30Extraordinary.
28:31He flatlines the best fighters in the world.
28:36Massive left for Pereira.
28:43After the first fight with Alex,
28:45I went back to the hard work,
28:47to the roots where I started
28:50and for the passion from the martial arts.
28:53And I just kept working
28:56on my technique,
28:57on my cardio,
28:59on every aspect.
29:01Puts people into the dark lands.
29:03To show that I'm able to be the best.
29:06Oh my God!
29:08Spinning elbow!
29:10The name of this preparation,
29:12I named Perfect Storm.
29:14To be dangerous in every aspect,
29:17not just on the ground,
29:18not just in the stand-up,
29:19but everywhere.
29:21To be untouchable and dominant.
29:24This is a life or death battle for the soul.
29:27And this man believes
29:29that he is the best in the world.
29:31Yuri Brohadsky, boy!
29:33It's the mental strength.
29:49We've seen a lot of heavy knockout artists.
29:52He is the most impressive.
29:55It's not about revenge.
29:57It's to show that I'm the better fighter.
30:00He is mostly confident.
30:01He will regain the throne.
30:02I believe I'm better in every aspect.
30:04He is a savage.
30:05To be the light heavyweight champion
30:07is the main target.
30:09It's everything.
30:12He's going to lose his calm.
30:14I think he might get a little scared.
30:16Get out of here.
30:18Oh!
30:20This guy right here.
30:21What a killer.
30:31Look at this stare down.
30:32Intensity.
30:34Oh, my goodness.
30:35These guys have not taken their eyes off each other
30:37the whole time.
30:38Their souls are linked in eternity.
30:41Truly as good as it gets.
30:43I cannot wait.
30:52The rise of Conor McGregor
30:55inspired a generation of young Irish athletes
30:58to follow in his footsteps.
31:02Dublin-born Ian Machado-Gerry
31:05was drawn to combat sports from an early age.
31:09But the emergence of a national hero
31:12provided a new path for the aspiring young fighter.
31:15Conor's rise to stardom
31:17motivated me to be where I am today.
31:20I was a kid from Dublin, Ireland.
31:22In love with boxing and judo and martial arts.
31:25And then this other kid from Dublin, Ireland
31:28popped off.
31:29An entire country
31:31is standing on their feet right now.
31:33And just took over the entire planet.
31:36That's the real deal, ladies and gentlemen.
31:38That's the real deal.
31:40That's the real deal.
31:43That's the real deal, ladies and gentlemen.
31:45Make no mistake about it.
31:47He's the most iconic figure our sport's ever seen.
31:51History has been made!
31:54He talked the talk, he walked the walk.
31:56The double champ does what the f*** he wants!
31:59He's that guy.
32:03When you're a kid from Dublin, Ireland
32:04and you see this
32:05and you're so close to this person
32:07and you have such similar interests
32:10and aspirations of being one of the best in the world
32:15it wasn't until I'd seen him go through his journey
32:18till I knew what I wanted to do as a kid
32:20and I went, that's it.
32:22That's what I want to do.
32:24The future
32:26Iain Gary!
32:31He's got the star quality, he's got the personality.
32:34He's just the full package, really.
32:36Oh, big shot from Iain Gary!
32:38Being a martial artist from Europe
32:40there's a very clear path of what gets you to the UFC.
32:44That was Cage Warriors.
32:50He's called the future, he's definitely got a bright future.
32:53You do well in Cage Warriors, you're going to the UFC.
32:57UFC!
32:58That was pretty spectacular.
33:00Here is the man who has been all the rage, Iain Gary.
33:04He makes his UFC debut here today.
33:06He's got that I-believe-I-am-the-man mindset.
33:09Confidence that I have not seen since Conor.
33:12When you put me in a stage
33:14with all of these people watching,
33:16all of these people talking.
33:18Has an IQ to find weak spots on fighters.
33:21And you give me that platform to compete
33:23and go out there and prove that I'm right.
33:26Oh!
33:27Two strike counter, Iain Gary!
33:29Coming up large in the debut!
33:32I go out there and I will do it every single time
33:34because that is what I love to do more than anything else.
33:36Married to the game, doesn't even begin to describe it.
33:40So well-bounded, so crisp on his feet.
33:43This kid's fast, he is accurate.
33:47People can see the talent I possess.
33:49What a combination!
33:50The hype is real!
33:52F*** right it is!
33:54People can see how incredibly gifted I am.
34:00And the more and more I fight,
34:01the more and more my hand gets raised.
34:03Head kick from Gary.
34:05Oh, Rodriguez is hurt.
34:06Oh, he's hurt bad.
34:07It's over.
34:08This has got to be it.
34:09Machado Gary!
34:11He does have the ability to become a massive star
34:13if he continues to win
34:14and deliver on the things that he promises.
34:21He can do whatever he wants to do with Magny right now.
34:23And now he goes high!
34:25This is the Iain Machado Gary show.
34:27There is going to be a time
34:29where it's all said and done when my career is finished.
34:32Oh, beautiful knee!
34:34And people will say Iain Machado Gary
34:36is one of the greatest martial artists of all time.
34:38And still undefeated,
34:41I'm going to be a world champion
34:42whether you guys want it or not.
34:44Machado Gary's journey continues
34:47at UFC 303,
34:50where he aims to take one step closer to contention
34:53in a featured main card bout
34:55against a crowd-pleasing UK standout.
34:59London-born Michael Venom Page
35:02garnered notoriety in kickboxing
35:04for his gifted ability and flashy style.
35:09His flair and talent was perfectly implemented into MMA.
35:13That's a spinning kick!
35:14That is unbelievable!
35:16Michael Venom Page!
35:28As an established star in other promotions,
35:31his arrival in the UFC
35:33brought with it a swell of fanfare and intrigue.
35:37It's nice to get the support from the fans.
35:41Looking to make a statement in his first Octagon appearance,
35:44the flamboyant Brit touched down in Miami
35:46to take on ranked welterweight Kevin Holland at UFC 299.
35:52MVP, he is out to prove his style
35:55can excel on the greatest proving ground in the sport.
35:59I was always confident in myself,
36:01being able to perform in the UFC.
36:03He's so incredibly creative
36:06and he's one of the more interesting strikers
36:08to ever compete in MMA.
36:12I always like to bring to the cage
36:14moments for people to talk about
36:16and say, did you see what MVP did?
36:20There is a new showman in the UFC.
36:23Enter the credentialed Michael Venom Page.
36:28It's been a long time coming
36:30and we've all been waiting.
36:32You know what this guy can do.
36:34His power, his accuracy,
36:36his creativity inside the Octagon.
36:39Touching down on the famed canvas
36:42of the UFC Octagon for the first time,
36:44one of few guys in welterweight who can match the size
36:47of his opponent tonight, Kevin Holland.
36:50This is a very difficult ask
36:52in his first opportunity inside the Octagon.
36:55You ready? You ready?
36:57Round one, Page in white.
36:59Holland is in black and we are underway.
37:01Page with that very sideways stance.
37:04Oh, so creative.
37:06Look at this. It puts on a show.
37:08Kevin Holland is a tough man.
37:11It went according to plan in terms of
37:13the types of punches, kicks,
37:15movement that I needed to do.
37:17How I frustrated him.
37:19How I had him struggling for ideas.
37:25When I watched it back, hearing him talk
37:27after the first round to his coaches,
37:29he's like, he's a lot faster than we thought.
37:33Faster than we thought.
37:34Yeah.
37:37Oh, right hand by Page.
37:40Seeing that shows you how much I can demoralize somebody.
37:43Oh, there's that same elbow that he did at the end of the first.
37:49Two rounds down.
37:52This is the one, yeah? It's the one, Mikey.
37:54I don't consider myself a UFC athlete
37:56just because I've signed a contract.
37:59Round three, Holland has finally met his match.
38:02Oh, heavy right hand by Venom.
38:04Nice kick to the body. Oh, the right hand.
38:07A lot of gamesmanship.
38:09Oh!
38:11Kevin looks a little bit frustrated
38:13and it looks like he's slowing down.
38:15Yeah.
38:18In all likelihood, Michael Venom Page
38:20has done enough to win the UFC debut.
38:22Michael Venom Page!
38:27But after that first fight,
38:28I not only consider myself a UFC athlete,
38:31but I consider myself one of the best UFC fighters
38:34in the world right now.
38:36I don't consider myself a UFC athlete,
38:38but I consider myself one of the best UFC athletes,
38:41especially in my division.
38:42Michael Venom Page is now upon us.
38:45I remember hearing at certain points
38:48that I'm not even going to be able to compete
38:50at the top ten in the UFC.
38:52And now I'm fighting someone that is number seven
38:55and that's my lucky number.
39:07At UFC 303,
39:10undefeated welterweight Ian Machado-Gary
39:13takes on UK standout Michael Venom Page.
39:21In preparation for this pivotal matchup,
39:24the Irishman has once again linked up
39:26with the team at Shooto Box in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
39:32After traversing the globe perfecting his craft,
39:35Machado-Gary believes he has found the team
39:38that will help him realize his full potential.
39:49I'm training at the world-famous Shooto Box,
39:52where we have people like Diego Lima.
40:01Diego Lima has the biggest heart
40:03out of anyone I've ever met.
40:05He cares so much about those people
40:07that walk through his door.
40:08And there's just a different family energy
40:11when it comes to Shooto Box.
40:13That inspired me to want to be here
40:15and to want to come here and to want to be involved.
40:17I have really found someone to learn from
40:20and grow from and add to my game
40:22in so many different ways.
40:29And for me to come here and immerse myself
40:32in the Brazilian culture, learn the language,
40:35it was a no-brainer for me,
40:37and I've loved every second of it.
40:39Ian Machado-Gary, confidence, ego, violent mind.
40:43He's got it all. He's going to be one of the best in the world.
40:47I used to follow him as a fighter.
40:49I used to admire him a lot.
40:51And we ended up meeting on social media and talking.
40:54He said he wanted to come to Sao Paulo
40:56and train with us, and he did.
40:58He has traveled all over the world
40:59in search of better training.
41:00He is training with the Brazilians in Brazil.
41:06Leg kick after leg kick.
41:08He broke him down.
41:09Complete domination by Ian Machado-Gary.
41:12I am the new generation of striker in the world.
41:18He's on a roll and he's getting better and better.
41:25He's just so sharp.
41:26Look at the discipline and the focus.
41:31Diego is an amazing man,
41:33and I'm just forever grateful that he opened his doors to me.
41:43Nice.
42:01He's a full-fledged fighter,
42:02and he's fighting with praise.
42:20I came to Brazil because I felt a pull.
42:31I felt a pull in regards to connection.
42:48There's just a different energy in Brazil
42:51when it comes to vibrancy and life.
43:01One, two, kick the ball!
43:11For me, that energy means everything.
43:14One, two, three, kick the ball!
43:25As a kickboxer looking to transition
43:27into mixed martial arts,
43:29English striking sensation Michael Venom Page
43:32commenced the search for a team
43:34that could nurture his unique ability,
43:37leading him to a well-renowned gym
43:39in the country's capital.
43:41We went around to so many different gyms.
43:43Finally came to London Shoot Fighters,
43:46the first MMA gym in the UK.
43:49Come to find out,
43:50this is probably the toughest gym to be in.
43:52One, two.
43:53Come on.
43:56They train hard.
43:57They fight hard.
43:58They spar hard.
44:01Everything in here is not easy,
44:03but I just loved everything about it.
44:09I fell in love with how they are as a team
44:12and just haven't looked back since.
44:17It's so important to have somebody like Alexis Dimitrious
44:20on your team because I'm scared to death of him.
44:22You don't make the shot.
44:23It's always your fault.
44:24It's not his fault.
44:25He wants to hit you.
44:26The point is,
44:27you guys have to make sure you're switched on
44:28after your shot.
44:29He's like a serious uncle
44:31that you don't want to cross.
44:33You have to have somebody
44:35that is willing to keep you accountable,
44:37keep dragging you forward,
44:38and Alexis is that guy.
44:40Axes on, fronts on.
44:41Hey!
44:42Back on it.
44:44Having that person that is leading from the front
44:47has kept me here.
44:48Time.
44:49Very nice.
44:50I think Michael's style,
44:51keeping it very unorthodox and dangerous,
44:53is what's appealing about Michael Page.
44:55The spins that he does,
44:56to see punches before they're thrown,
44:58draw them out,
44:59place himself in a good position.
45:01I think that's one of the main reasons
45:02why people enjoy seeing him.
45:03With MVP fighting Ian Gary,
45:06Ian's a complete fighter.
45:07He's a very tough guy,
45:08but I think Michael's fight IQ
45:09is what will separate that fight.
45:11He knows I'm a problem
45:13because, you know,
45:14when he's starting in his career,
45:15my name was already out there.
45:17When I start landing punches,
45:18landing kicks,
45:20when he misses his first punch,
45:21misses his first kick,
45:23all that's gonna come flooding back.
45:26And it's just gonna further and further demoralize him.
45:28Then, you know, the MVP continues to shine.
45:31He's got style!
45:32He's got charisma!
45:34Knockout power!
45:35I'm gonna be the one landing all the shots.
45:37I'm gonna be the one frustrating him.
45:39I'm gonna be the one pressuring him.
45:41He is a sniper!
45:43I'm gonna turn him into a wrestler.
45:45Scrambling to take it away from his best asset
45:49because his best asset
45:51will be nowhere near mine.
45:53Another right hand by Beach!
45:54His distance management is exceptional.
45:57UFC 303,
45:58he's gonna look bad,
45:59I'm gonna look great.
46:01Oh!
46:02Spin around elbows.
46:03And he's gonna go to sleep.
46:05A straight-up killer!
46:07I'll help him with that.
46:08I got the snooze button right here.
46:09These guys that have that championship medal,
46:12we see them rise.
46:13And that's what we're seeing from Ian Machado Gary.
46:16MVP is elusive against people that are slow.
46:20His movements is all to distract you
46:22and get you to freeze and faint,
46:24so he jumps in and cracks you.
46:26I am someone whose entire career
46:28has been based on distance, feints, reads.
46:31Huge right counter!
46:33Machado Gary sends him home!
46:35So when MVP meets me in this octagon,
46:37he's gonna be fearful for his life.
46:39Highly aggressive knockout power.
46:42Because I am fast.
46:44This is the Ian Machado Gary Show.
46:46UFC 303,
46:47we are going to put on a show
46:49that every striking fan on the planet wants to see.
46:53The All-Europe Showdown
46:55kicks off an electrifying main card
46:57on June 29th in Las Vegas.
46:59Before light heavyweights collide in the main event,
47:02as Alex Pereira looks to defend his title.
47:04Oh!
47:05Alex Pereira!
47:08For a second time against former champion Yuri Prohaska.
47:11Oh!
47:12He's so wildly unorthodox.
47:14Oh, big knee now!
47:16It all goes down during International Fight League
47:19at UFC 303.
47:22The world champion, ladies and gentlemen,
47:24Alex Pereira!
47:27That man just became an all-time great in the UFC.
47:30Rematches don't always go down the same way.
47:32And I can't wait to get to Las Vegas 4.