UFC 303 has undergone yet another setback to its main card. A light-heavyweight bout between Carlos Ulberg and Anthony Smith that was put together on short notice just last week is no longer happening.
Ulberg withdrew from the June 29 event, the UFC announced Friday following an initial report from Australian MMA reporter Benny P on X. The reason for Ulberg’s withdrawal was not disclosed. Ulberg was riding a six-fight winning streak and made quick work of Alonzo Menifield in May before he initially accepted the fight with Smith.
Smith is coming off an upset win at UFC 301 in May, when he defeated the previously unbeaten Vitor Petrino via first-round guillotine-choke submission. The 35-year-old will now face the current No. 10-ranked middleweight contender Roman Dolidze who’s moving up a weight class on just eight days’ notice.
This 205-pound matchup originally began as Jamahal Hill vs. Khalil Rountree Jr., was changed to Hill vs. Ulberg after Rountree tested positive for a banned substance, then it became Smith vs. Ulberg when Smith stepped in on short notice after Hill sustained an injury.
UFC 303 was originally supposed to be headlined by Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, but the UFC pivoted and named Alex Pereira vs. Jiri Prochazka the new main event and added a Brian Ortega vs. Diego Lopes co-main event to supplement the Las Vegas card taking place at T-Mobile Arena during International Fight Week.