Hill out of UFC 303, Ulberg to face Smith

Jamahal Hill

A scheduled co-main event between former 205-pound titleholder Jamahal Hill and Carlos Ulberg is being pulled from UFC 303 after Hill reportedly sustained an injury.

Replacing Hill against Ulberg will be Anthony Smith, Dana White announced Thursday night. The fight will still be on the main card, but has been replaced by a co-main event between Brian Ortega and Diego Lopes.

Alex Pereira will face Jiri Prochazka in the other co-main event after a bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler was cancelled due to an injury to McGregor.

Ulberg had initially stepped in for Khalil Rountree Jr., who was removed from his matchup with Hill after the fighter announced he had tested positive for a banned substance and Rountree accepted a two-month suspension retroactive to May 4.

Hill (12-2) was looking to bounce back from a first-round loss to reigning light-heavyweight champ Alex Pereira in the UFC 300 main event in April. Hill is currently the No. 3-ranked contender in the division. The 33-year-old won the 205-pound title by defeating Glover Teixeira in a vacant title bout in January of 2023 following knockout wins over Thiago Santos, Johnny Walker and Jimmy Crute only to vacate the belt later that year when he ruptured his Achilles tendon. UFC 300 was his first fight back from injury.

Ulberg (10-1) is riding a six-fight winning streak after making quick work of Alonzo Menifield in May, earning a 12-second knockout and rising to the No. 11 contender in the 205-pound weight class.

Smith, 35, last competed at UFC 301 when he defeated Vitor Petrino in the first round via a guillotine-choke submission.

UFC 303 is scheduled to take place June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.