Alex Pereira TKOs Jiri Prochakza, requires heavyweight title

If Alex Pereira will get his want, he will probably be combating for a title in a 3rd division after stopping Jiri Prochazka for the second time.

In the primary occasion of UFC 303 at T-Cell Area in Las Vegas, Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) met Prochazka (30-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) for a short-notice title rematch after the unique headliner Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fell aside. Pereira’s legacy as one of the crucial harmful knockout artists grew by stopping Prochazka simply 13 seconds into Spherical 2.

After a really prolonged, intense staredown, the hard-hitting mild heavyweights went to work. Pereira discovered the vary with a couple of kicks and clipped Prochazka with a pleasant left hand early.

Prochazka darted ahead with a mixture however was caught once more by a pleasant counter from Pereira. Prochazka feinted strikes repeatedly and located a gap to deliver the champ into the fence with a clinch. With lower than a minute to go, Pereira separated and linked with a couple of leg kicks earlier than detonating a left hand on the chin on the buzzer, dropping Prochazka.

Prochazka waved Pereira in, however the spherical was over.

Then, Spherical 2 started and promptly ended.

Pereira threw a swift left head kick out of the gate, instantly placing Prochazka down once more. The champ swarmed with follow-up punches, and referee Herb Dean got here in to cease the combat.

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There was no celebration from Pereira, only a stone-faced walk-off. He even returned to examine on Prochazka, however was waved away as his opponent struggled to get his ft underneath him.

Apart from explaining what “chama” means throughout his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Pereira instructed the UFC commentator that he would love a possibility to combat for a 3rd title at heavyweight after profitable middleweight and light-weight heavyweight gold.

“I believe that’s in my future,” Pereira stated by way of an interpreter. “I stated it final time I used to be right here. … I’m right here, I’m out there, and I do assume that’s in my future.”

With the win, Pereira information his second mild heavyweight title protection whereas extending his profitable streak to 4. Pereira gained the vacant title by defeating Prochazka at UFC 295 in November and efficiently defended for the primary time towards former champion Jamahal Hill in April at UFC 300.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 303 outcomes embrace:

• Alex Pereira def. Jiri Prochazka through knockout (head kick, punches) – Spherical 2, 0:13
• Diego Lopes def. Dan Ige through unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Roman Dolidze def. Anthony Smith through through unanimous resolution (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
• Macy Chiasson def. Mayra Bueno Silva through TKO (physician’s stoppage, reduce) – Spherical 2, 1:58
• Ian Machado Garry def. Michael Web page through unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Joe Pyfer def. Marc-Andre Barriault through knockout (punches) – Spherical 1, 1:25
• Andre Fili def. Cub Swanson through unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jean Silva def. Charles Jourdain through knockout (punch) – Spherical 2, 1:22
• Payton Talbott def. Yanis Ghemmouri through knockout (punches) – Spherical 1, 0:19
• Gillian Robertson def. Michelle Waterson-Gomez through unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Martin Buday def. Andrei Arlovski through cut up resolution (29-28, 28-29, 30-27)
• Rei Tsuruya def. Carlos Hernandez through unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Vinicius Oliveira def. Ricky Simon through unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 303.