LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alex Pereira first grew to become a champion kickboxer after which moved to the UFC and received title belts within the middleweight and light-weight heavyweight divisions.
And, after Saturday evening’s convincing victory over top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka in UFC 303, he won’t be finished.
Pereira may transfer as much as heavyweight and do what no UFC fighter has ever achieved — win championships in three weight lessons.
He put himself in place after delivering a vicious left kick to Prochazka’s head after which pounded him, ending the battle 13 seconds into the second spherical to retain his gentle heavyweight championship.
“I feel that’s in my future,” Pereira, who’s from Brazil, mentioned by means of an interpreter. “I mentioned that the final time I used to be right here. I’m right here, I’m accessible and I feel that’s in my finest curiosity.”
UFC President Dana White wasn’t able to commit, noting his respect for heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
“We’ll see how this entire factor performs out,” White mentioned.
Pereira (11-2) now has overwhelmed Prochazka (30-5-1) twice since November to finish any doubts about who reigns in that weight class.
A lot of the drama at UFC 303 occurred outdoors the octagon within the weekend and even the hours main as much as the occasion.
“Hell of a month,” White mentioned. “It’s been difficult, however enjoyable.”
Officers needed to act rapidly after a late change was wanted within the co-main occasion when an sickness compelled Brian Ortega to drop out. Dan Ige already was in Las Vegas coaching for one more battle and wound up taking over Diego Lopes within the light-weight battle.
All three judges scored the battle 29-28 in favor Lopes (25-6) of Brazil. Ige (18-8), who’s from Honolulu however lives in Las Vegas, was cheered loudly for displaying up with little discover.
The UFC additionally scrambled to pair Pereira and Prochazka after scheduled headliner Conor McGregor’s damaged toe compelled him to withdraw. They got about two weeks to organize after Pereira had his Australia trip disrupted and Prochazka was interrupted whereas at a three-day meditation retreat.
A packed crowd of 18,881 that included New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, sitting subsequent to former Inexperienced Bay Packers teammate Marcedes Lewis, watched. Lewis now performs tight finish for the Chicago Bears.
At $15.9 million, it was the fourth-highest gate in UFC historical past. White had hoped to interrupt the file, however not having the star energy of McGregor doubtless stored that from occurring. The best gate is $17.7 million for UFC 205 in November 2016 at New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard.
Pereira and Prochazka engaged in a prolonged staredown that carried by means of Bruce Buffer’s fighter introductions and referee Herb Dean’s directions.
Each fighters spent the opening spherical feeling one another out, however there was a powerful trace of what was to return because it ended. Pereira knocked down Prochazka with a left hand, but it surely occurred after the bell.
Then Pereira completed the job.
“I’ve been saying all week that I used to be going to return out and be victorious,” mentioned Pereira, who turns 37 on July 7. “I didn’t understand how I used to be going to win.”
Prochazka, a 31-year-old from Czechia, was not made accessible to the media. If Pereira does transfer as much as heavyweight, that might assist Prochazka in his effort to reclaim the belt he held briefly two years in the past.
Second-ranked challenger Magomed Ankalaev and No. 3 Jamahal Hill additionally may have a giant say in who guidelines the division. Hill initially was scheduled to battle within the co-main occasion, however a knee harm whereas coaching compelled him out.
Prochazka’s bout with Pereira was a rematch from Nov. 11 at Madison Sq. Backyard. Pereira received the championship that evening with a technical knockout at 4:08 of the second spherical to assert the vacated gentle heavyweight champion.
Then Pereira cemented his maintain on the belt by beating earlier title holder Hill with a first-round stoppage in UFC 300 on April 13 in Las Vegas. On the identical card, Prochazka recorded a second-round TKO of Aleksandar Rakic to place himself in place for the earlier-than-expected rematch.
Mayra Bueno Silva (10-4-1) suffered a gash so large in her bantamweight battle that the ring physician known as the battle at 1:58 of the second spherical in favor of Macy Chiasson (11-3). Blood poured down Silva’s face, who requested to proceed.
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